Opening day is marked by the Golf Association of Michigan as the first day it collects valid scores for handicaps.

Royal Scot Golf Course, 4722 W. Grand River Ave., in Lansing, opened Monday for about an hour but was shut down because of heavy rainfall, manager Dave Greeley said.

The course last opened this late in 2002, when April 7 signaled the first day for golfers.

“If we wouldn’t have had any rain, we would have had carts running,” Greeley said. “But it’s a lake out there.”

Tuesday’s winds helped courses dry, Greeley said, but prevented customers from hitting the links.

“Rain holds us back, wind holds customers back,” he said.

The blustery day prevented Forest Akers Golf Courses from opening, pro shop manager Stephene Benkert said, but the courses are expected to be open today.

To ensure course quality, golf courses must wait for frost to completely melt before allowing customers to play. If they don’t, greens can be bumpy for the entire season.

The late start cuts into courses’ spring revenues, when they expect to bring in ambitious golfers who have been cooped up for the winter.

Courses are ready to add to a year that saw regional rounds increase by 1.2 percent, according to the National Golf Foundation.

The foundation also reported golf rounds declined 0.5 percent nationally among public and private courses.

Despite a failing economy, rounds in Michigan increased 2 percent, said David Graham, executive director of the Golf Association of Michigan.

“Michigan is a state of golfers,” Graham said. “How extreme ranges, of course, as does every pocketbook, but we’re doing well.”

J.C. Petersen, owner of Indian Hills Golf Course, 4887 Nakoma Drive, in Okemos, said there are plenty of golfers waiting to get out.

“People are ready to play,” he said.

“They’re eager and we’re eager to have them.”

All it will take to bring back customers is a little warm weather, Petersen said.

“As soon as we have a sunny and 50 (degree) day, it should look like business like normal.”