Ryan Garland of Hermon and Robert Herzing of Bangor were enjoying another early-season round of golf at Bangor Municipal Golf Course on Monday afternoon.

“Any day [this early in the year] is a plus,” said Garland.

Many Maine courses opened earlier than usual this spring. Bangor opened April 2, which matches 1995 for the earliest opening date, according to head pro Brian Enman, and Palmyra Golf Course got the jump on everybody – the course was open in mid-February for a while, then opened for good in early March.

Golfers have been taking advantage of the opportunities.

“We joined [Bangor] for the first time this year,” said Garland of he and his playing partner.

“The first day we played was the first day it was open,” said Herzing, a Belgrade Lakes native. “We’ve played four or five times already.

“We should be able to get our money’s worth.”

Ernie Hein of Lucerne is way ahead of Garland and Herzing, but then he was able to get an earlier start, too.

Hermon Meadow Golf Club opened March 18, and Hein was right there.

“That first weekend, I played Saturday and Sunday. … I’ve played near a dozen times already,” said Hein.

Pro Thea Davis said Hermon has seen added interest in memberships, also.

“Memberships are up,” she said. “I don’t know how many, but they figure they can play a full six or seven months.”

With warm temperatures and little precipitation in February and, especially, March, golfers anticipated an early start to the season.

“It’s the earliest [opening] for several years,” said Davis, who tossed out another tidbit.

“We opened all 18 [on opening day] for the first time in history,” she said.

About 30 players went out on opening day at Hermon, despite temperatures hovering just above the freezing mark.

“Guys here are diehard,” Hein said. “Day 1, it’s ‘Let’s go.'”

“The first day, we had about 100 players,” said Enman.

While there are temporary tees at Hermon, all of the greens are in play, and Davis believes the golf course can take the play.

“Our superintendent, John Snyer, is very meticulous,” said Davis. “If he thought the course couldn’t handle it, we wouldn’t open.”

Enman said Mother Nature determines when courses open, and she was kind this year.

“When it’s in the 60s, you have to open,” he said.

“Any days we can be open is good,” added Enman. “We just need a good year for weather. I think we’re due for that.”

Davis seconded that sentiment.

“We’re glad to finally get started,” she said. “Last year, I don’t think we ever got started. [The season] was over before we knew it.”

The 2005 season-killer both Davis and Enman pointed to was the wet spring, from the first of May into early June.

“Sunday is our biggest day, and we had nine Sunday washouts in a row [last year], not a little rain but complete washouts,” said Davis.

“I don’t even want to talk about that,” said Enman. “That was last year.”

Garland hopes that’s in the past as well.

“As long as we don’t get another May like last year, we’ll be all set,” he said.

Ironically, Enman wouldn’t mind getting a little rain – emphasis on “a little.”

“A little bit of worry was that it would dry out too fast,” said Enman of the course.

“With a little moisture, things should really start to pop,” he added.

Do you speak Deutsche?

It’s not even Memorial Day and it’s time to talk about Labor Day.

Tickets for the PGA Tour’s – and more importantly, Tiger Woods’ – closest stop to Maine, the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., are on sale.

The tournament, including practice rounds, runs Aug. 29-Sept. 4, and ticket packages cover a host of options. Visit the tourney Web site, www.dbchampionship.com, for the details.

Advance ticket specials are available through June 30 or until tickets are sold out.

Tickets can be ordered off the Web site or by calling 1-877-849-4322.

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