Photos: Hitting the links for the last time locally in 2024

Posted by Admin November 9, 2024 Golf

DULUTH — One of the longer local golf seasons in recent memory has come to a close, unless Mother Nature gives us a mulligan with another mild winter.

With temperatures near 50 degrees, more than two dozen golfers teed off during the second weekend in November, likely for the last time for the 2024 season in the Twin Ports area.

Jaaren Jorgenson, of Duluth, watches his shot after teeing off on the fifth hole at Grand View Golf Links in Duluth while his stepson Wyatt Cooper, 5, of Duluth, looks on Saturday.

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

Grand View Golf Links

was the last remaining local course open for play, with Saturday serving as their fall finale. An employee with the course said around 3 p.m., about 25 golfers had already stopped by for a round at the nine-hole course. Among those were Eric O’Hara of Duluth.

“100 percent, we had a good last day, so gotta do it,” O’Hara said while putting on the practice green.

A man putting a golf ball while on a practice green. — Eric O’Hara, of Duluth, works on his putting while on the practice green at Grand View Golf Links in Duluth on Saturday.

On March 1, Big Lake Golf Resort in Cloquet was the first local course to open.

While it isn’t known if that was the earliest opening date ever for all Northland courses, it was the earliest opening for the nine-hole par-3 course. Assuming a green December doesn’t happen, golfers will still be able to say they had opportunities to play locally during nine months in 2024.

A man putting a golf ball during a long attempt on a course. — Brian Chastek, of Duluth, watches as his birdie putt approaches the hole on the fourth green on Saturday at Grand View Golf Links. Chastek ended up with a par.

A young boy and a young man ride in a golf cart while at a course. — Wyatt Cooper, 5, of Duluth, left, rides in a cart with his stepdad Jaaren Jorgenson, of Duluth, at Grand View Golf Links in Duluth on Saturday.

A man prepares to swing a golf club and hit a ball while playing a round. — Steve Kaake, of Hermantown, prepares to tee off on the first hole at Grand View Golf Links in Duluth on Saturday.

A man takes out a golf club from his bag while getting ready to play a round. — Greg Kaake, of Hermantown, smiles while removing a club from his bag before teeing off on the first hole at Grand View Golf Links in Duluth on Saturday.

Two men playing golf in the background behind a golf cart. — Austin Chastek, of Duluth, left, putts while his dad Brian Chastek, of Duluth, looks on while on the fifth green at Grand View Golf Links in Duluth on Saturday.

Two men riding in a golf cart while playing a round at a course. One man is waving. — Steve Kaake, of Hermantown, right, laughs while his dad Greg Kaake, of Hermantown, waves as they travel in a golf cart on the first hole at Grand View Golf Links in Duluth on Saturday.

A man swinging a golf club while teeing off. — Loren Van, of Esko, tees off on the first hole at Grand View Golf Links in Duluth on Saturday.

Dan Williamson joined the Duluth News Tribune in June 2021 where he’s involved in digital content such as video, photos and podcasts as well as covering breaking news. Previously, he worked in television broadcasting as a Sports Director/Anchor at WDIO-TV in Duluth, Sports Director/Anchor in Bismarck, N.D., News and Sports Anchor at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, and Reporter/Photographer/Editor with the syndicated show “Life to the Max” in Eden Prairie. He was also the Development Director for the Duluth Salvation Army. Williamson grew up in Alexandria, graduated from St. Cloud State University and has lived in Duluth since 2012.