They’re hooked

PALMER — Duffers tired of watching Tiger’s antics on the tube can now ditch the Doritos and grab a bag of clubs.

In fact, the die-hards among Mat-Su golfers have been out on the links since the last week of February at Fishhook Golf Course in Palmer (745-7274), where co-owner Skip Pelletier said he’s been letting golfers out since Feb. 22.

“This is actually getting toward the end of the season,” Pelletier said Sunday, when dozens of golfers turned out under sunny skies to tackle the course’s nine-hole layout.

Fishhook is playing with just one temporary green (the first hole, which located in one of the few shady areas of the wide-open, links-style course), though the others are fast and relatively smooth. Fairways at the converted hay farm are still damp in some places, though most standing puddles were still frozen over the weekend.

Though his spring season is in full swing, Pelletier is still charging winter rates, meaning golfers can get around for just $7 for nine holes. The driving range is open for business as well at the course, which is located just off the Glenn Highway on Palmer Fishhook Road.

The mild winter has also got things in gear at Palmer Golf Course (745-4653), where superintendent George Collum said he’s planning on opening up for the season on Friday.

“We’re real close,” Collum said Monday.

Collum said the 18-hole course will be charging $20 for early-season play, with the driving range likely to open within a week or two. Overlooking the Matanuska River, the Palmer Golf Course can be reached by heading south on the Glenn Highway out of Palmer. Take a left on Inner Springer Loop, then go straight until you hit the course.

Sunny weather recently has dried the course out enough to allow for walking only this weekend, with carts likely to make their first appearance by the middle of next week. Collum said there’s just two temporary greens in play (holes 6 and 7) at this

time.

Though the Mat-Su is famous for its early golf seasons, Collum said things are running ahead of schedule even by the Valley’s mild standards.

“We’re fully a month ahead of any other year,” he said.

The Valley’s other two golf courses — Settlers Bay (376-5466) in Knik and Sleepy Hollow (376-5948) in Wasilla — are still closed, though they typically open a couple weeks after those in Palmer.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com