The loss of most cruise ship traffic to town will hurt Muskeg Meadows again this summer, but the golf course is open and it’s already on its third tournament of the season this weekend.
Back in 2019, before the pandemic shut down cruise ship travel, a local tour operator would book golfers in advance, meet the ship and
drive the visitors to Muskeg Meadows, sometimes as many as 20 a day, said Bill Messmer, who works at the course.
The package would include clubs and golf cart rentals. “That was a huge day for us,” he said.
The course still expects a lot of play from golfers coming to town from Ketchikan and Petersburg, Messmer said. The two Southeast neighbors lack their own courses, unlike Sitka, Juneau and Haines, which have golf courses.
Muskeg Meadows currently is open Wednesday through Sunday. The early week closure is due to a lack of staff, Messmer said. “The main thing is we haven’t been able to find anyone to work,” to sell snacks and beer and rent out clubs and carts.
Because the shop closes when it rains, employee hours can be uncertain, he said. “It is ideal for someone who is retired, like me,” but hard on an employee who needs the hours and dependable pay.
Weather permitting, Muskeg Meadows opens at noon Wednesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Season’s pass golfers often play in the mornings, before the pro shop opens, Messmer said. “They like that, because there’s nobody else around.”
The winners at this year’s first tournament, the Angerman’s 9 Hole Best Ball on May 1-2, were the Friday team of Jim Brooks, Matt Kramer and Joe Delobrue. Saturday’s winning team was Jerry Bakeburg, Frank Roppel, Brett Woodbury and Jim Brooks.
Tournaments are scheduled most every weekend — except the Fourth of July — through the first week of September. For more information, go to http://www.wrangellalaskagolf.com.
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