Northeast Wisconsin Golf Courses Struggle with Slow Start to Season

Inconsistent spring weather delays openings and forces adjustments for local high school and college teams

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:18am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a golf course, golfers, and the Masters Tournament in an abstract, fragmented style, conveying the challenges of the slow start to the season in Northeast Wisconsin.The fragmented, cubist depiction of a golf course and the Masters Tournament reflects the disjointed start to the season in Northeast Wisconsin due to unpredictable spring weather.Green Bay Today

As the golf world focuses on the Masters Tournament, courses in Northeast Wisconsin are just beginning to open for the season due to periods of rain, cold temperatures, and wind that have led to a slow and soggy start. Ledgeview Golf Course owner Steve Payant says it's been a challenge to communicate with golfers about the ever-changing course conditions, with several local high school and college teams having to travel to find playable courses to start their seasons. Despite the slow start, the excitement around the Masters is helping draw golfers out, though the conditions in Green Bay still pale in comparison to the lush fairways of Augusta National.

Why it matters

The slow start to the golf season in Northeast Wisconsin highlights the impact that unpredictable spring weather can have on local courses and the athletes who rely on them. As climate change brings more extreme and variable weather patterns, golf course operators will need to find ways to better communicate with players and adapt to changing conditions.

The details

At Ledgeview Golf Course, greens are just starting to open, but the inconsistent weather has forced course operators to constantly adjust their plans. Periods of rain, cold temperatures, and wind have made it difficult to keep the course playable, leading to a 'start and stop' situation where the course may be open for walking one day but not allow carts the next. Several local high school and college golf teams have had to travel to find courses that are open, as many in the Green Bay area remain closed.

  • The golf season in Northeast Wisconsin is only just beginning in early April 2026.
  • The Masters Tournament is underway this week in Augusta, Georgia.

The players

Steve Payant

The owner of Ledgeview Golf Course in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Tyler Arvey

A senior golfer at Green Bay East High School.

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What they’re saying

“'In the last two weeks, it's been a lot of start and stop, start and stop. The toughest thing to do in the spring is communicate with everyone that yes, we are open, but we are walking only. Or yes, we have carts today but might not tomorrow.'”

— Steve Payant, Owner, Ledgeview Golf Course

“'It's been pretty wet, cold and windy. We've gone out here as much as we can, but we've had to go a lot of places because a lot of courses in Wisconsin are not open right now.'”

— Tyler Arvey, Senior Golfer, Green Bay East High School

What’s next

As the weather continues to improve, more golf courses in Northeast Wisconsin are expected to open in the coming weeks, allowing local high school and college teams to begin their seasons in earnest.

The takeaway

The slow start to the golf season in Northeast Wisconsin due to unpredictable spring weather underscores the challenges that course operators and athletes face in adapting to changing climate conditions. As extreme weather events become more common, the golf industry will need to find innovative ways to communicate with players, maintain course conditions, and ensure the long-term viability of the sport in the region.