Golf courses in Milwaukee County Parks open for season



MILWAUKEE CO. (WITI) -- Milwaukee County Parks officials celebrated the opening of the golf season with a group tee-off at Currie Park in Wauwatosa on Wednesday, April 24th.

The golf courses were expected to open as soon as conditions warranted. This year, it has been a long time coming -- and that means a lot less revenue for the Milwaukee County Parks System.

"We run our revenues on a five-year average. And so it takes out those weather swings," said Jim Keegan, Interim Parks Director. "So if we were comparing to last year, we would be significantly down. But over the five-year trend, we'll be where we need to be."

Rick Binder is testing his swing a little later than usual this year. But he says it's no less enjoyable.

"To be able to get out at lunch time and hit a few balls on the practice green over here at Brown Deer is a good break from inside watching the snow fall," said Binder.

Charles Randolph would certainly agree. He says the temperature is not perfect, but it's good enough.

"So if you just sit around at home and wait for the weather to get to 70 degrees, that makes for a very short season for you," said Randolph. "So if you really want to get out and work on your game, you have to come out right now. "

Randolph says he's much more concerned about his short game than the temperature. He says when it gets a little cold, just dress in layers.

Now that the golf courses are in full swing, officials say there's time to catch up a big. Over last weekend, the courses generated more than $50,000.