It’s early April in Minnesota and the golf courses are in full bloom. That is, there are plenty already open with golfers walking the slowly greening fairways. After a mild winter and an early spring (some tracks were open in early March), we are experiencing another early spring for Minnesota golf courses.

Call it global warming, El Nina or El Nino or whatever you want, but I’m calling it glorious. The weather has cooperated and so have the golf courses, so I am planning to get out there as soon as possible. Here are a few courses that would be worthwhile checking out for an early spring round.

Some of the courses in northern Minnesota may not be open yet, as the conditions for golf ripen a little later every season, but there are plenty of options in the Twin Cities to get you back in the “swing” of things. The Minnesota Golf Association’s website has up-to-the-minute openings, so check to see when your favorite course is ready for play. But in the meantime, here are some great courses awaiting your next tee ball.

Stonebrooke Golf Club in Shakopee was one of the early openers this season, allowing golfers to tee it up on March 6. The weather is warm enough now so you won’t need an extra layer for that ferry ride across Lake O’Dowd after your tee shot on No. 8.

Braemar Golf Course in Edina has opened their regulation course for play this season (on March 9), but the driving range won’t open until April 15, according to the MGA. […]