ROCHESTER, Minn. – Two southeast Minnesota golf courses, both in Rochester, have been cleared to open Saturday — the earliest in living memory. Tee times began at 12 noon. at the Soldiers Field course and the Northern Hills driving range. Experts say other courses may follow depending on elevations, sun exposure, turf conditions and other variables. If greens are too soggy, premature traffic can leave divot and ball mark that could take until June, maybe July to recover. The Rochester courses, however, weren’t first in the region. A few days earlier were the Pine Creek course near LaCrescent and the Fox Hollow course near Barre Mills.
