Golfers are hitting the links earlier than ever before in Whitehorse.

Meadow Lakes Golf and Country Club officially opened for business April 9 – a record for the nine-hole course, general manager Johnny Enns told the Star yesterday.

Last year, the course opened April 24. In 2014, it opened on May 10.

“Last year was the earliest opening prior to this year, but it was much colder,” noted Enns.

Apparently golfers have the itch, as opening weekend saw 125 groups hit the narrow fairways of Meadow Lakes, located southeast of the city on the Alaska Highway.

“It’s the combination of a low snow year, mild winter and warm spring,” Enns said of the early opening.

The course wintered well, with little to no mould on the greens. And while the ponds are still frozen and puddles can be spotted along some fairways, it hasn’t hindered business thus far.

Regardless of the timing of opening day, the club typically remains open until late October, meaning Meadow Lakes will be reaping the benefits of a full month of extra green fees and concession sales.

“It’s extra revenue and everyone has the itch to golf, so it’s really a win-win,” Enns said.

One feature that will carry over from last season is the choice of a standard or eight-inch cup on the greens.

The oversized cups proved to be “quite popular,” said Enns, and gives golfers hoping to play 18 holes a different look the second time through the scenic course.

Meanwhile, across the city, Mountain View Golf Course is set to open on temporary greens tomorrow.

That also marks a record for the 18-hole course in Whistle Bend, which opened last season on April 25.

“We will start on temporary greens until we can get the irrigation system up and going, which we anticipate happening near the end of April,” said Jeff Wiggins, director of golf for the club.

“The course wintered extremely well and is in phenomenal shape. We expect course conditions will be better than ever this season.”

Mountain View’s driving range opened on April 9.