Golf season kicks off in Sisters

The snow is barely melted around Sisters, but Aspen Lakes has opened its golf course for the year.

The first twosome off the tee box to brave the brisk morning weather last Friday morning were two local part-time residents Kathy Spere and Heidi Peyton. The women took that first swing after a number of anxious looks to the sky, with a weather forecast indicating a possibility of snow in the afternoon.

"I am really excited to go golfing when it is 30 degrees. I heard that this is a warm weather sport but not here in March. I went cross country skiing yesterday and will be biking and golfing today, so this will be a really full weekend," said Spere.

Peyton, on the other hand, looked almost guilty as she gathered up her clubs to head for the tee box. She wasn't about to let the chilly morning air dampen her enthusiasm.

"I'm playing hooky today. I'm the boss, so I can do it, but I sure didn't tell them where I was," she said.

Even though this year's opening is earlier than usual, spring golf is always a little risky.

"I hope this is going to be a good year," said Derek Johnson, the head golf professional at Aspen Lakes. "We opened a couple of years ago on March 11 and then it snowed for three weeks. I am crossing my fingers this year. We usually open around the middle of March, but we are a little early this year because the long-term weather forecasts look OK."