LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Hot temperatures helped open the golf season early and it's been off to a running start at Seven Spruce Golf Course in Fort Simpson.

Kristen Campbell lines up her shot. She was enjoying the hot Victoria Day at Seven Spruce Golf Course. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

"The course is good," said Travis Wright during a round on Victoria Day.

"The grass is coming in pretty nice. The temperature's been perfect for golf. No bugs!"

Allison Anderson, clubhouse manager, said the course has been busy since opening on May 9.

"We have a beautiful course," said Anderson. "We've been doing a lot of work to the course over the last year."

A committed team of volunteers and groundskeepers have helped remove excess brush on the course, aiding visibility.

"We have bears that come down, a lot of wildlife, so they've been taking out a lot of the brush so that we can see," said Anderson. "They've been doing a lot of work to this place and getting it all up to par."

Seven Spruce is known for big tournaments in the summer, including the Kingland and Canadian Zinc events, and is well-liked among residents and tourists.

"It's been full force since we've opened," said Anderson.

"It's always been that way though. People in Fort Simpson love their golf."

On a relatively chilly and windy Saturday last week, she estimated there were at least 35 players out.

Not much is different on the inside of the clubhouse this year, but big changes are coming.

The club is working on renovations inside the clubhouse, including new windows and replacing some of the floor that is rotting.

The club will be looking to the territorial government for funding to help with that.

"(Players) really like the improvements that have been done," said Anderson. "But there is still lots more that needs to be done. We're hoping to get it up to par in the next year or two."

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