KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Golf is typically a summer sport enjoyed by many in the Kansas City area five months out of the year; Mother Nature has given golfers a mulligan in 2026.
The unseasonally warm temperatures from November through the second week in January have allowed golfers to enjoy their sport longer than expected.
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Nate Croner is the General Manager at Royal Meadows Golf Club in Kansas City.
“This time of year, we have to be ready at all times with carts and stocked up,” he said.
The Royal Meadows Golf Club is a public course that has seen a record number of players on the course this winter.
“(Tuesday) we had 88 golfers,” Croner said with a smile. He admits he owes the big swing in attendance to the unusual winter.
“This year it’s been nice, it’s been really great getting golfers out here early, showing all the improvements my grounds crew has done during the fall and get everybody excited for the golf year.”
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Royal Meadows has also used the bonus weather to make improvements to the course ahead of schedule. That also came with some extra sales in the pro shop.
“We constantly had to restock our shelves with balls and hats.”
Croner also admits it’s a mixed golf bag. The good weather may put him slightly behind in planning for the year, but it’s a welcome change – especially after last year’s hazard.
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“The week of Christmas, we set a record in the amount of play we had, and then, the beginning of January has been the complete opposite of what it was last year,” Croner observed.
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“Last year, having the blizzard and 20 inches of snow, we had no business, that really sets you behind for the beginning of the year and you have to chase the rest of the year chase the rest of 11 months and hopefully get some type of records.”
The course conditions need to be above 40 degrees for a sustained period of time to allow golfers on the course. A frozen ground can rip grass out of the ground by its roots beyond repair. This means Tuesday was likely the last rounds of golf for a while.
But Royal Meadows can at least head to the clubhouse with some unexpected green to start of the year that’s already well above par.
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