While the weather outside is frightful, thoughts of golf are sure delightful.

Let us go, let us go, let us go.

One of the thoughts that comes up this time of the year regards the Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament, scheduled for June 13-15.

While much is familiar about this year’s event, what is different is the title sponsor. Whited Ford of Bangor stepped in after R.H. Foster/Mobil withdrew after a four-year run.

The R.H. Foster company told tournament director Skip Chappelle “around the first of the year” that it wouldn’t renew its sponsorship.

“When you have to change a sponsor, it hurts personally,” said Chappelle. “You wonder what’s wrong.

“Then you look nationally, and [college football] bowl games” and other sponsorships “are changing all the time.”

Whited Ford, which specializes in pickup trucks up through large commercial vehicles, has opened a dealership in Auburn that handles recreational vehicles. The company had displays at both the camper/RV and boat shows at the Bangor Auditorium this year. Chappelle promotes both of those events.

“We were talking over coffee one morning {in early March],” said Chappelle. “[Pete Webb of Whited Ford] was the first one I approached.”

Webb (not the well-known basketball official) is the “vice president, general manager, whatever.”

The company, which also has a dealership in Presque Isle, decided to go for it.

“We just thought it was a good thing to do,” said Webb.

Webb is a golfer himself and plays in some tournaments, but has never played in the Bunyan before.

“Never. It’s too much for me,” said Webb, referring to getting the time to play.

The formal sponsorship is only for this year, but it’s quite possible it will continue next year as well.

“It’s year to year,” said Chappelle. “From this end, I’m hoping it lasts.”

Webb said, “We’re verbally committed for two years.”

The 39th edition of the event which draws more than 400 players will be held at the same three courses: Bangor Municipal Golf Course, Rockland Golf Club, and Bar Harbor Golf Course in Trenton.

That first entry form in the NEWS is scheduled to run on April 12, according to Chappelle. Registration is also possible by printing a form off the Internet at www.paulbunyangolf.com and mailing it in.

The cost is the same as last year, $79.

Sugarloaf, Belgrade honored

Sugarloaf Golf Club in Carrabassett Valley and Belgrade Lakes Golf Course in Belgrade have been listed by Golf Digest magazine among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.

Sugarloaf is listed at No. 45, Belgrade Lakes is No. 72.

Thirty-three states have courses named among the top 100, led by Pebble Beach Golf Resort in California.

Pine Valley Golf Club in Pine Valley, N.J., moved to the top of the magazine’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.

The full lists will be published in the May issue of Golf Digest.

McCain’s taking funding requests

The McCain Foods Open Golf Committee is taking applications from charitable organizations that wish to receive funds raised at this year’s 17th McCain Foods Open to be held Aug. 16-17 at Presque Isle Country Club.

More than $426,000 has been raised during the first 16 tournaments, with the proceeds being distributed among organizations such as Battered Women’s Project, Child Development Services, Central Aroostook Association for Retard Citizens, Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, Child Abuse and Neglect Council, Hospice of Aroostook, Temporary Shelter for the Homeless, Central Aroostook Humane Society, American Red Cross, M&M Ministries, DARE Program’s Project P.O.S.T.C.A.R.D., and C.A.N.C.E.R.

Applications are available by calling Myrna McKeen at 488-1218.

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