Although last weekend’s snowstorm pushed back the start of the season for some Maine golf courses, it may be rainfall that will allow them to open sooner.

“We still have frost in the ground,” said Brian Enman, head pro at Bangor Municipal Golf Course. “The truth is, moisture will bring up the frost.”

Early snow cover helped keep the frost somewhat at bay – when it stayed where it fell, said Carl Brown, owner of Country View Golf Club in Brooks.

“Where it blew off, the frost went deep,” said Brown, who had been planning to open this weekend.

Long stretches of subzero temperatures in January and February were responsible for pushing the frost deeper in the uncovered areas.

Brown spent Tuesday clearing snow off parts of the course to help speed the process.

“It’s time we were rid of the snow,” he said.

But a normal April will be even more beneficial, said Enman.

“If we get some sun, wind, and rain, it’ll be fine,” he said.

Golfers have been eager to get going.

“There’s a lot of cabin fever running around,” said Enman, adding, “It was not a good fall. A lot of people didn’t get their fill of golf last year.”

Brown has been getting the same questions.

“People are getting anxious, they’re ready to get going,” he said. “I’m as anxious as everybody.”

Brown is looking at opening around the end of next week, but he’s keeping his fingers crossed.

“If Mother Nature gives us another snowstorm, that’ll really put the kibosh to it,” he said.

Enman said he always looks to open between April 15 and May 1.

“I always let Mother Nature tell us when,” he said.

Let’s hope she doesn’t decide to sleep in.

Publinx qualifier at Bangor

Bangor Municipal Golf Course will once again be a sectional qualifying site for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Amateur Championship.

The 36-hole stroke-play sectional will be held June 17. The winner, at least, will advance to the 78th Publinx July 14-19 at Blue Heron Pines Golf Club in Galloway, N.J.

Former Bangor Muni pro Austin Kelly will conduct the local qualifier. Previously, only the winner has advanced, but Kelly thinks if 50 or more players sign up, then the USGA might take two players.

The tournament, according to the USGA, is open only to “amateur golfers who since January 1 of the current year have been bona fide public course players, and have not held privileges at any course which does not extend playing privileges to the general public or privileges of any private club maintaining its own course.”

There are exceptions, but they are few and specific, so read the entry form carefully.

The entry fee is $30, and players must have a handicap index of 8.4 or lower.

Completed entries must be in to the USGA office in Far Hills, N.J., by 5 p.m. on May 28.

Players can enter online at www.usga.org/champs/apply or by mail by either submitting a preprinted form or downloading a form from the USGA Web site.

Kelly has some forms. Call him at 947-7726. They will also be available at area golf courses.

Last year’s qualifier was Adam Williamson of Peru.

Golf ‘Fore’ Women

The Brewer Parks and Recreation Department will be offering a series of lessons for women who want to learn the fundamentals of golf or improve on their current abilities.

The four-week program, called Golf “Fore” Women, will be held Wednesday evenings starting May 7 at Pine Hill Golf Club in South Brewer.

Class sizes will be limited to eight individuals per session with classes held at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Registration is $30 for Brewer residents and $45 for nonresidents.

For more information, call the Brewer Parks and Recreation Department at 989-5199.

Dave Barber can be reached at 990-8170, 1-800-310-8600, or by e-mail at dbarber@bangordailynews.net.