WILKES-BARRE -- This was the warmest day we've had since the end of October, nearly six months ago. It was perfect timing for opening day at a Wilkes-Barre city golf course and we found golfers at Hollenback thrilled to be back on a day like this.
Hollenback Golf Course is finally swinging into the season, and in golf language, sunshine and temperatures in the 70s could be considered a birdie, even an eagle, for opening day.
"Oh, it's great, fantastic, gotta loosen up here now. It's been a long winter!" said Fabian Fall of Bear Creek.
That makes this great start mean even more for the many people filling the fairways.
"The only thing is it brought too many people out. It's crowded," said one golfer.
"I've been golfing myself for 38 years, grew up on this course. I take a lot of pride in this course," said course manager David Iskra.
Iskra is thrilled to be the new manager at Hollenback. The mayor only named him to the job running this city-owned course last week.
"When I was given this position, I was very thankful. I'll put a lot of heart into it and do whatever I can for the next 20 years."
Just like in your backyard, winter can take its toll. At the course the manager says there's still a lot to clean up. But those golfing on this first day say it's not that bad, considering how bad the winter was.
"It was murder. I didn't think the course was going to be as good as it is right now because of the winter. It's actually a nice course right now," said Mark Holvey of Ashley.
It's the golfers who say after so long off the course, they need to do some cleaning up to their game.
"Oh yes, I'm rusty. I'm very rusty. I'm hitting it to the left a lot, so that will have to straighten," Holvey said.
The new manager plans some upgrades here this summer, but on this opening day, just being out in nice weather makes conditions on the course perfect.