As February comes to a close, Southeast Michigan appears to be experiencing a mild reprieve from the harsh winter. The temperatures are climbing into the upper forties, causing the snow to melt and transform into vast puddles scattered across the landscape.
Yesterday afternoon, I decided to pay a visit to Washtenaw Golf Club, curious to see how things were progressing. As you can see from the photo above, the course was still holding onto the remnants of winter.
I swung by once more this afternoon:
With a few more days of temperatures staying above freezing, we might see all the snow vanish. The next step will be waiting for the course to dry out.
It’s important to keep in mind that this doesn’t signal the end of winter just yet. March, April, and sometimes even May, can surprise us with chilly spells and unexpected snowfalls. I can still recall coaching my high school girls at the state regionals in May, with snow flurries dancing around us. Before we even teed off, the players were close to throwing in the towel.
One of my most memorable chilly rounds was at Greywalls during June. The winds from Lake Superior refused to let the temperatures rise above the fifties, making it feel significantly colder.
My first July in Michigan, more than three decades ago, delivered an unexpected twist with flurries filling the air at our cottage just north of Gaylord. Coming from Maryland and West Virginia, I was unprepared and had to dash into town for jeans, having packed only shorts for the summer.
But enough about the unpredictable Midwest weather. I genuinely can’t wait to return to the golf course more regularly. This spring marks the first time in over thirty years that I won’t be tied down by classroom duties. Exploring various courses and witnessing the spring transformation across the state is truly something I look forward to.
