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barn, but currently things are going well. They are top dressing all over the place, and with the warmer weather the grass is really starting to grow. The front nine greens are ahead of the back, and the back fairways are ahead of the front at the moment, but that is just from some being sprigged in and what was sodded. But all of it is looking good and there is a lot of progress being made. We are really shooting to get that range open before the Onion Festival to start building excitement for the course and getting some people out there.'

Excitement in the community is already evident. Recent job fairs hosted at the course yielded an abundance of interest, with over 120 applications submitted within the first 24 hours of posting. Meanwhile, Course Superintendent Hampton Kicklighter and his grounds crew are working tirelessly each day. A current focus for the crew is managing drainage, identifying where water tends to hold on the growing fairways, and taking the necessary steps to remedy those problem areas.

As for the big question on everyone's mind, the official opening date for the full course remains fluid. Roper added, 'I know the pressing question for everyone is, when are we going to play golf? We would love to be able to set a date but we do not want to set one and then not meet that mark. We are so dependent on what Mother Nature gives us, and with this initial grow in we just have to let it happen. We know we are getting close, we know that things are going in the right direction, and we are excited with the progress.' City officials hope to lock down a firmer timeframe for the course opening as they get further into April and May.

In addition to the golf amenities, thoughtful touches have been incorporated into the broader complex design. Spaces dedicated to hosting food trucks have been added at the edge of the parking lots. This will be a great feature for when the course hosts charity events and golf tournaments, or when the neighboring Recreation Department multipurpose fields are bustling with football and soccer tournaments. Warmouth Sands is shaping up to be a premier destination, and very soon, the community will finally be able to tee it up.