Seven months after shutdown, Alvamar Golf Course officially will reopen to the public May 4.

“It was a long winter for me,” Alvamar pro Brad Demo said, “and I’m really happy.”

Alvamar Development Corp. officials closed the course Oct. 5 to replace the original greens on the 18-hole layout that opened in 1968.

The greens were fumigated, then replanted with a contemporary Crenshaw bentgrass. Now, the new greens have been deemed mature enough for public play.

Members of the Jayhawk Golf Club were the first to test the rebuilt greens Sunday, although the club golfers didn’t use the Quail Creek Nine. They played the Jayhawk Nine twice.

“The greens are fantastic,” Demo said. “They’re fast, and I can already see maintenance will be easier because the ball marks are easier to correct. Balls don’t go as deep and take one hop and stop.”

In conjunction with the greens replacement, the driving range located adjacent to the Nos. 10 and 11 holes has been upgraded. Target greens of closely mowed zoysia have been added and berms installed between the two holes and the range.

Moreover, the concession area and the pro shop have been repainted and recarpeted.

Alvamar officials won’t divulge the cost of the greens-replacement project or estimate how much revenue was lost during the seven-month hibernation, but they haven’t raised greens fees to recoup their losses.

In fact, they lowered the weekend greens fee from $46.50 to $40. That decision, Demo said, was competition-driven.

“We checked the fees from 22 courses around the area and found the costs averaged about $40, so that’s what we decided on,” the Alvamar pro said.

Alvamar also is holding the line on weekday fees ($31) and cart fees ($15 per person).

At the same time, Alvamar is offering a Covey Connection discount card. By purchasing the card for $30, golfers will receive $10 off weekend green fees, $11 off weekday fees, plus a subscription to a golf magazine and a $20 gift certificate for pro shop merchandise.

The card offers an even better deal for golfers over the age of 65. Senior card holders will receive a 40 percent discount on both greens fees and carts.

Although the renovated course won’t open to the public until May 4, private tournaments are scheduled Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday on the new links.

A morning tourney also is on tap a week from today, but the afternoon will be available and if someone wants to get a head start on the official opening, said Demo, “they certainly could.”