The perpetual rain and snow plaguing northern Illinois is not stopping area golf courses.

Courses have had to battle through the ever-changing weather this year in order to get ready for the golfing season.

“On the golf courses, the saying is ‘If you lose May, you lose the season,’” said Kirk Lundbeck, head golf professional at Sycamore Park District Golf Course. “That means you can lose part of March, and maybe April, but if weather or something else delays business in May, then you won’t have a good season.”

Rain and snow haven’t kept the grounds crews from getting things ready for the season, though.

“The weather has been warm enough to get work done,” Lundbeck said. “When it’s too cold, we try to get other projects out of the way.”

That formula has worked since the 18-hole Sycamore Park District course opened March 28, in time for the Easter holiday.

On March 30, Lundbeck said the courses were filled with people.

“There were people golfing, but we also sold a lot of season passes,” Lundbeck said.

When it snowed Monday, golfers were out at the course, but by noon the course was completely empty, Lundbeck said.

“We haven’t had the weather people like,” he added.

In DeKalb, the Buena Vista and River Heights golf courses fought through the weather to open and get the season started.

“We’ve got the cups changed, the tees cut and the markers out,” said Jay Randolph, golf operations administrator for the DeKalb Park District.

The Buena Vista golf course, a nine-hole course at 131 Buena Vista Drive, opened Easter weekend and saw many people teeing it up, Randolph said.

The River Heights golf course, an 18-hole course at 1100 S. Annie Glidden Road, which Randolph also manages, is open year round as long as the weather permits, he added.

Despite the amount of golfers last weekend, that isn’t the ideal time for targeting golfers.

“We try to target the time around The Masters, which is a week from now,” Lundbeck said. “The afternoon of the Saturday round, we see a lot of people in the golf frame of mind.”

Upcoming events for the DeKalb Park District include the Spring Shoot Out and a four-man scramble on May 18 at the River Heights golf course. Also in DeKalb is the Parent/Child Alternate Shot on June 9 at the Buena Vista golf course.

The Sycamore Park District course will host the Spring Kickoff Classic, four-man scramble, on May 4.

While everyone is welcome at the courses, Lundbeck urges people to call ahead and set up a tee time.