There aren’t too many places in the world where you can ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon, or vice versa, at the same resort. In Maine, we are fortunate to have two such resorts — Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley and Sunday River in Newry.

For the second straight year, Sugarloaf will host a “Ski and Tee Weekend” on May 14-15.

“Weather and conditions permitting, you can ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon or play golf in the morning and ski in the afternoon,” said Ethan Austin, Sugarloaf’s communications manager.

The golf course will open nine holes that weekend. It will close after that and reopen for good on Memorial Day weekend.

The mountain still has plenty of snow, with 112 trails open. There’s still some snow on the course, but it should be gone for the ski and tee weekend, said Austin.

The cost for nine holes for the weekend is $39 on both Saturday and Sunday. For anyone who shows a lift ticket or a New England Pass valid for that day, the cost is $25 for nine holes.

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The organizers hope for weather like last year when it was sunny and 70 degrees, which led to all tee times being booked.

Sugarloaf was named Maine’s No. 1 golf course in the May issue of Golf Digest. It’s the 25th time the course has earned the top billing from the magazine. Sugarloaf was followed by Belgrade Lakes, Portland Country Club, Sunday River and Samoset, according to Golf Digest’s panel of volunteer course rankers.

Golf Digest began ranking the top 100 courses in 1966. Augusta National in Georgia, home of The Masters, is ranked No. 1.

The magazine also ranked the top courses in each state. Courses are ranked on seven criteria: shot values, resistance to scoring, design variety, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning and ambience.

“We’re definitely very happy with the ranking,” said Austin.

“Golf Digest is considered the preeminent course-ranking publication. It’s always good to be on the top of that.”

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Sugarloaf Golf Club is home to the State of Maine Championship and the Carrabassett Valley Academy Golf Classic each summer.

 

THE MAINE STATE Golf Association Scholarship Fund Committee has announced 12 new scholarship awards of $1,500 each for the 2011-12 academic year. The MSGA scholarship is renewable on good academic standing for a maximum of four years of undergraduate study.

The fund has been in existence since 1950 and is intended for Maine young people of good character who show an active participation in golf as a player or employee at a Maine club, along with a demonstrated financial need and a strong academic record.

The MSGA, its member clubs and its member players commit more than $45,000 each year to scholarships.

The new MSGA scholars are: Colby Blanchard, Thorndike, son of Robert and Diane Blanchard (Blanchard is also the recipient of the Winchenbach Award as the top scholar among the new recipients); Gavin Hannon, Oakland, son of Cliff and Dale Hannon; Alex Harris, Lee, son of Randy and Patricia Harris; David DuBois, Island Falls, son of David and Debra DuBois; Tyler Moody, Augusta, son of Rick Moody and Jennifer Rigg; Mike Arsenault, Gorham, son of Michael and Robin Arsenault; Jacob Roddy, Belgrade, son of Michael and Laurie Roddy; Justin Conant, Canton, son of John and Jennifer Conant; Meghan Bickford, Cumberland, daughter of Brian and Cindy Bickford; Ian Gervais, New Limerick, son of Marty and Leslie Gervais; Ryan Bartlett, Trenton, son of Henry and Robin Bartlett; and D’Mitri Monroe, Jonesport, son of Judson and Heather Carver.

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All portions of MSGA revenue are designated for the scholarship fund.

In addition, the proceeds from three tournaments go directly to the fund.

They are the Charlie’s Maine Open pro-am and two scholarship classics at Belgrade Lakes on May 31 and at Prouts Neck on Sept. 27.

For more information about the MSGA Scholarship, contact Lee Spaulding at Waterville Country Club, 465-2838, or Nancy Storey or Jane Gildart at the MSGA office, 829-3549.

 

TEE TO GREEN: In the opening Maine State Golf Association weekly amateur April 22-23 at Biddeford-Saco, Mark Plummer of Manchester took overall low gross honors with a 70. Tied for second were Keith Patterson and Matt Greenleaf with 74s. Joe Alvarez was next with a 75.

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Bob Blais was first in Class B with a 78. Wayne Johnson was second with a 79.

Peter Freyer won Class C gross with an 81.

This weekend’s tournament was at Fox Ridge in Auburn.

 

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

 


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