The azaleas of Augusta, Georgia — where the Masters tournament tees off next Thursday — have barely blossomed, and yet, a few thousand kilometres north, Calgary golfers are already being treated to mid-season, smooth putting surfaces.

At least that was the word from Riley Boothby, the pro at The Links of GlenEagles, one of a number of Calgary golf industry professionals who spoke to the Calgary Eyeopener Friday about the unexpectedly awesome state of early-season Calgary courses.

GlenEagles, a privately owned public golf course located in Cochrane, is benefitting from its layout. It's southwest facing, with high wind exposure — all of which has contributed to it opening early last Thursday, Boothby said.

"It's in great shape," Boothby said. "The greens are rolling fantastic."

GlenEagles is part of a group of courses that are open, including Blue Devil in southeast Calgary, where they are also opening Lil Devil, a nine-hole course.

Also, HeatherGlen in Rocky View opened last Saturday and Serenity Golf Club, which is a 10 minute drive east of McKenzie Towne, opened Thursday.

Practice greens at Blue Devil Golf Club in southeast Calgary. (CBC)

Silverwing and Boulder Creek

The upbeat early season greens condition were corroborated by David Robinson, golf operations manager of Silverwing Links in northeast Calgary and Boulder Creek Golf Course in Langon, just east of the city.

Robinson's early-season scouting report on the course conditions was bullish.

"The courses — they're fantastic," he said. "It's great to see golfers out there. They both wintered very well and greens are in good shape and that's exciting to be playing golf this early."

Robinson said the permanent greens on both courses were covered with tarps that helped preserve them against the winter, but no one was quite certain how they'd fared until the spring melt.

The course superintendents removed the tarps, like a grounds crew at a baseball game after the end of a long rain delay.

"They pulled back the tarps and they were in great shape, so it was pretty exciting," Robinson said.

"That moment when you look underneath the tarp, it's a huge relief. It's kind of like Christmas if it goes well — and it went well," Robinson said.

Greg Shymanski, the golf course lead for the city, said courses are open ahead of schedule and in good shape. (CBC)

Although everything looks good, there are a few spring rules in order, he added.

"A lot of the bunkers are not quite in play yet," he said, "but in terms of the golf course we recommend to everybody, just get out [and] play the ball if you want to — there's no scorekeeping right now, we're not playing for anything, we're just to have fun and everybody seems to be pretty excited to get out there."

City courses

The Eyeopener also checked in with Greg Shymanski from the City of Calgary, who reported that Shaganappi Point Golf Course is open, in modified form.

"It's the front nine of the 18 holes and what's called the valley in the same location that's open today, and has been since March 30, along with the driving range at that location," Shymanski said, adding that this weekend, they will open the back nine as well.

Maple Ridge Golf Course opened Thursday on permanent greens, with 18 holes open, he said. Friday, the Confederation Golf Course opened — nine holes as well as the driving range, he said.

Shymanski added the newly-renovated McCall Lakes course will be opened in stages, starting with the par 3 course and driving range next week.

"All of the other facilities are pretty darn busy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday," he added, "So if you're really interested in getting on them weekdays are always your best bet — you're more likely to get the tee time that you're looking for.

"But having said that, there's always tee times available, even through the weekends at this time of year."