Austin Country Club opens Tuesday

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 9, 2000

A number of years ago, in the mid-1980s, the Austin Country Club opened early one March, only to have a snowstorm strike the area a week later.

Thursday, March 09, 2000

A number of years ago, in the mid-1980s, the Austin Country Club opened early one March, only to have a snowstorm strike the area a week later.

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"We didn’t reopen until the end of April," said Jeff Follett, the general manager of Austin Country Club.

Such a scenario could be at hand again this year.

Follet announced on Wednesday that Austin Country Club will open for business at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

But the opening – and staying open – will depend on Mother Nature.

"It’s all dependent on the weather," Follet said. "If we get a couple of inches of rain this weekend we may have to postpone the opening."

As it stands, the country club course is "the driest we’ve seen in a number of years," Follet said. "It’s in real good shape."

It’s in such good shape that officials are planning to allow cart-use right away. Usually, only walkers are allowed on the course to start the season. But the current dry conditions make it so carts won’t damage the course.

The average opening date for the members-only Austin Country Club is April 10.

"We’re a month ahead of schedule," said Follet, who realizes he may be singing a different tune if the weather downshifts back into winter.

Until then, no tee times are needed for Tuesday’s opening. It’s just show up and play.