Golf is back in Winnipeg, but for one local driving range it never left

While it seems like The Shooters Family Golf Centre’s driving range was the first to open, staff say they never really closed, giving golf fanatics in Winnipeg the chance to tee up all 12 months of the year.

“I’ve been coming here since I was just a young golfer and I’ll be here till I die,” said Easton Swain, a golfer.

While golfers haven’t played a full game since the golf course officially closed on December 7^th, Owner Guido Cerasani says they had their driving range open periodically throughout the winter months, which he says is a first in 31 years of business.

“There’s never been where we golfed all 12 months outside, we golfed occasionally at the beginning of November but never into December, January, or February,” said Cerasani.

Cerasani says during those winter months, a lot of golfers braved cold conditions just to get some reps in but says after talking to them, he heard the exact same thing.

“Everyone has the same feeling, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and they’re not gonna miss out on it. They’re so happy to be out here even if it feels cold like plus 1 plus 2, they’re still out here loving every minute of it.”

With temperatures planned to be in the double digits for the next two weeks, golfers were out in numbers, excitedly testing out their swings and getting ready for the season.

“I think this is probably the earliest I’ve seen, previously I think it was around later April, so its really nice to see early April were starting to get some golf in,” said Swain.

Chris Sitarz adding, “I’m excited to shoot 120, no seriously I’m excited to get some vitamin D and hit the course and I’m pretty sure I figured out gold this year.”

Cerasani says if everything goes to plan and temperatures continue to rise, they are shooting for April 10^th to officially open the course.