{"id":23890,"date":"2019-05-17T18:16:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-18T00:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/after-last-years-dry-start-summit-county-golf-clubs-expect-best-conditions-in-years-thanks-to-heavy-snowpack\/"},"modified":"2019-05-17T18:16:00","modified_gmt":"2019-05-18T00:16:00","slug":"after-last-years-dry-start-summit-county-golf-clubs-expect-best-conditions-in-years-thanks-to-heavy-snowpack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/local-news\/after-last-years-dry-start-summit-county-golf-clubs-expect-best-conditions-in-years-thanks-to-heavy-snowpack\/","title":{"rendered":"After last year\u2019s dry start, Summit County golf clubs expect \u2018best conditions in years\u2019 thanks to heavy snowpack"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.6176470588235\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-366070-597\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/GolfPreview-SDN-051819-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/GolfPreview-SDN-051819-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | A portion of Breckenridge Golf Club is seen on the evening of Thursday, May 16, in Breckenridge.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A portion of Breckenridge Golf Club is seen on the evening of Thursday, May 16, in Breckenridge.<\/strong><br \/>Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/GolfPreview-SDN-051819-2.jpg\" alt=\"A portion of Breckenridge Golf Club is seen on the evening of Thursday, May 16, in Breckenridge.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/GolfPreview-SDN-051819-2-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/GolfPreview-SDN-051819-2-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Antonio Olivero \/ aolivero@summitdaily.com | Mitchell Lince putts on the 18th green at The River Course at Keystone Resort during the course's opening day for the 2019 season on Friday.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Mitchell Lince putts on the 18th green at The River Course at Keystone Resort during the course&#8217;s opening day for the 2019 season on Friday.<\/strong><br \/>Antonio Olivero \/ aolivero@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/GolfPreview-SDN-051819-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Mitchell Lince putts on the 18th green at The River Course at Keystone Resort during the course's opening day for the 2019 season on Friday.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/GolfPreview-SDN-051819-2-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/GolfPreview-SDN-051819-2-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com | A portion of Breckenridge Golf Club is seen on the evening of Thursday, May 16, in Breckenridge.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A portion of Breckenridge Golf Club is seen on the evening of Thursday, May 16, in Breckenridge.<\/strong><br \/>Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/05\/GolfPreview-SDN-051819-2-2.jpg\" alt=\"A portion of Breckenridge Golf Club is seen on the evening of Thursday, May 16, in Breckenridge.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/after-last-years-dry-start-summit-county-golf-clubs-expect-best-conditions-in-years-thanks-to-heavy-snowpack\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/after-last-years-dry-start-summit-county-golf-clubs-expect-best-conditions-in-years-thanks-to-heavy-snowpack\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">If you ask Keystone Resort PGA professional Phil Tobias, when it comes to start-of-season weather, golf-course pros and operators such as himself like everything to be \u201cnormal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As the golfing season gets underway this spring throughout Summit County the question is, how close to \u201cnormal\u201d are the conditions at local golf courses? Considering the copious snowfall the county received this winter, especially later in the season, how did it all affect courses throughout the county?<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">From Copper Creek Golf Course at the county\u2019s westward boundary to Keystone at the east, the answer to that question is slightly different at each location. But, all in all, leaders at all three clubs, say the golf grounds have emerged from beneath this spring\u2019s snowpack looking better than they have in years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019ve been here 20 years,\u201d Tobias said of Keystone\u2019s River and Ranch golf courses, \u201cand, truly, this is one of the best years I\u2019ve seen coming out of the winter at both courses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Last year, though some county courses were able to open early, dry spring weather affected the golf grounds in a different way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s a 180. It\u2019s not even comparable,\u201d Tobias said of The River Course at Keystone\u2019s condition. \u201cWe\u2019re in awesome shape.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The River Course opened for the season on Friday, a week before Keystone\u2019s Ranch Course will open next Friday, May 24.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Moments after chatting in The River Course\u2019s clubhouse, snow descended on the county. It was a reminder to golfers at the county\u2019s two open courses, The River Course at Keystone and The Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks \u2014 which was the first county course to open earlier this month \u2014 that Old Man Winter hasn\u2019t completely unfurled his grip on the High Country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For Tobias and Erroll Miller, the longtime director of golf operations at Breckenridge Golf Club, the key to a good start to golf season in the mountains revolves around Old Man Winter not blessing the county too much. Fortunately for Breckenridge Golf Club, Miller said the consistent insulation of a thick snow layer at the club throughout the winter, combined with some strong days of sunshine to melt the snow in recent weeks, has helped the club cultivate some of the best conditions, from tee to green, in years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Considering how much more snow descended on Breckenridge compared to Keystone, Miller said the club\u2019s maintenance work is a little behind. As a result, on Friday, May 24, Breckenridge will only open 18 of its 27 holes. Due to the more north-facing slope of the club\u2019s Elk 9, it will open up a week after the Bear and Beaver 9s. Despite that, Miller is pleased with the success of the club\u2019s agronomic practices since they applied fungicide in mid-March \u2013 during the height of this winter\u2019s snowfall \u2014 to prevent snow mold on greens and tees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The short-term drawback to all the snow: snow removal has been a hefty task. The long-term good news: The golf club likely won\u2019t have to ration water like last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt seems a lot of years the more snow we get, the better insulation we have from winds and desecration, et cetera,\u201d Miller said. \u201cWe come out of it pretty darned good and, fortunately, 2019 is one of those years. \u2026 This year, with the amount of snow that the area received, we are ecstatic we are getting everything going next Friday. Usually by July 1, the course is in great shape. This year, gosh, by June 1 the course will be in great shape. I\u2019d say this is the best we\u2019ve probably seen in four years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Over at Copper Creek Golf Course, golf pro Zach Dobrota said the plan is to open June 7, a week before Copper Mountain Resort will open up its on-mountain offerings for the summer season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">If any county golf course was hit hardest by this winter\u2019s snowfall, it just might be Copper. Dobrota said on Friday the back nine of Copper\u2019s course has some snow on it still. Dobrota said that next week Copper Creek crews will delve into portions of the shady back nine where 8-foot snow banks remain alongside the course.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But a lingering layer of insulation is better than, say, three separate freeze-thaw cycles on delicate, early spring sod. Dobrota said this time last year many of Copper\u2019s putting surfaces were a kind of burnt-brown. This year, Dobrota described what he\u2019s seen as looking like the best early season golf conditions he\u2019s seen in his 13 years in the county.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe need a little more snow to disappear to get our heads wrapped around what we are seeing,\u201d he said. \u201cBut, so far, it\u2019s looking awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">Summit County golf 2019: What\u2019s new<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Dobrota said Copper Creek moved its golf shop to the north side of the Copper Station building this year. The course also will roll out a new fleet of golf carts that will amount to half of the course\u2019s carts. The other half debuted at Copper Creek last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As for the somewhat-discussed redevelopment, and potential redesign, of the back nine of the course \u2014 which is in relation to a potential hotel development at the resort \u2014 Dobrota said that won\u2019t happen this summer. As such, any changes or limitations to Copper Creek won\u2019t occur until May 2020, at the earliest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Over at Keystone, Tobias said the River and Ranch courses will soon debut a GPS system dubbed \u201cTag Marshall.\u201d This golf course intelligence software will work via a mobile GPS that is adhered to golf carts. Once on the cart, the software provides a dynamic user-experience for golfers where they can do such things as monitor their pace of play, see how close they are to the cart ahead and gauge the distance to such checkpoints along the course as, say, the center of the green and sand traps. Previously, Keystone featured a cellphone application that provided a similar type of service to golfers. Tobias emphasized Tag Marshall is a major step forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI can tell you where every single one of our golf carts are at any time on our golf course,\u201d Tobias said. \u201cIt\u2019s really robust. We can message out to the guests in the golf carts. The guests can message back to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Keystone will also offer what Tobias called \u201cunlimited same-day golf.\u201d What this effectively means is, if a golfer finishes their round on, say, the River Course, and would like to continue to play on the Ranch Course, they can check tee-time availability and, if there\u2019s room, book 18 more holes for no extra charge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Tobias also highlighted the latest technological evolution thanks to Keystone\u2019s partnership with the Callaway Golf Company: the Callaway Fit Cart. The Fit Cart provides golfers with a chance to utilize Callaway\u2019s immediate, real-time, swing-analysis technology to build clubs ideal for their body-type and play-type. The technology also provides golfers with data related to such variables as launch and spin-way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Keystone River Course\u2019s pro shop on Friday featured a Callaway Fit Cart, a contraption complete with dozens of shafts, heads and lofts. Tobias said interested golfers can go through a fitting process for $25. If a golfer makes a Callaway purchase as part of their fitting process, the $25 fee is waved.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cGolf is a lot like skiing,\u201d Tobias said. \u201cWhen it comes to getting the right equipment \u2014 the right boot, the right ski \u2014 it\u2019s definitely worth getting professionally fit to make sure it\u2019s fun and easy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/sports\/after-last-years-dry-start-summit-county-golf-clubs-expect-best-conditions-in-years-thanks-to-heavy-snowpack\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A portion of Breckenridge Golf Club is seen on the evening of Thursday, May 16, in Breckenridge.Hugh Carey \/ hcarey@summitdaily.com Mitchell Lince putts on the 18th green at The River Course at Keystone Resort during the course&#8217;s opening day for the 2019 season on Friday.Antonio Olivero \/ aolivero@summitdaily.com A portion of Breckenridge Golf Club is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-23890","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-11 00:38:08","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KIFT - The LIFT FM","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23890"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23890\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}