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Golf Courses Offer Getaway for Nordic Skiers in Southern Maine.

January 28, 2009 - CAPE ELIZABETH — Two feet of light, fluffy, weightless dry snow on a sunny day. And Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, to boot.

Thanks for the holiday, Dr. King.

More than a few who would have been working Monday were out at the quickest, most convenient and cheapest Nordic ski trails they could find ... Maine's golf courses.

There's a lot of breaking trail, no doubt. But the price and scenery are ideal at courses that open their tree-lined open space to skiers.

No cost, no cars, no cares.

Sure, there are ample groomed trails in Maine at Nordic centers where you pay, and many skiers prefer them. But there's something of a bonus in the golf courses many Mainers have in their backyards and use respectfully.

Golf courses are closed in the winter, but many are available to skiers even if they are not groomed. Maintenance staff ask that skiers respect the courses and stay off the greens.

Some courses, such as Purpoodock Club, rope off the greens, making it clear where skiers should not go. Staying out of the roped sections is paramount to successful upkeep of the greens. (At Purpoodock, the public also is asked this year to park in the back, away from the clubhouse, where a renovation is under way.)

Other courses, such as Riverside Golf Club in Portland, groom trails. And out in North Yarmouth, Toddy Brook Golf Course's owners welcome skiers – as well as snowmobilers.

"We leave it open. We don't charge anything. The restaurant is open, and people can come in for hot chocolate or coffee or meals. We just enjoy new people coming out," said Mike Smith, Toddy Brook general manager.

At all courses, whether or not there are ropes, it's a good idea to stay on the outside of the fairways to protect the greens.

Some courses, such as Nonesuch River Golf Club in Scarborough, do not allow skiing at all because the greens are not roped off. There are signs posted to alert skiers.

"A lot of things can happen, including damage to the greens," owner Dan Hourihan said.

At Willowdale Golf Club in Scarborough, there are no ropes – but the owners ask that skiers stay to the outside of this private golf course.

The policies and practices at golf courses are good to know, especially during a winter such as this with ample snow. Skiers should call courses first to ask permission.

On Monday, the Nordic skiers taking advantage of free skiing at area golf courses were out in force. In just three hours between Scarborough and North Yarmouth, we ran into 15 cross-country skiers – mixed among the snowshoers and sledders – at three courses.

"There is always someone who goes out at the crack of dawn and breaks trail," said Rosemary Townsend of Cape Elizabeth at Purpoodock in Cape Elizabeth.

Townsend, a Nordic skier for 20 years, goes out for two to three hours on the weekends.

"I like this. It's pretty quiet, and it's just beautiful," Townsend said.

"The snowshoers are very kind; they're not walking on the ski tracks. Some (skier) broke this trail for me, and they did all the right places."

For those who don't mind breaking trail – or those who know how to find trail that's been broken – it's idyllic.

Mandy Queglly and Danielle Lavoie, both teachers, capitalized on great conditions at Purpoodock.

Queglly raced in high school, and trained for her Nordic ski events at Purpoodock. So rather than hit one of a number of groomed courses in Portland, she and Lavoie drove across the bridge to where it's free, and not very crowded.

The two skiers spent more than two hours on the rustic, wooded Cape Elizabeth course.

"I grew up downhill skiing. The last two years, I've focused on Nordic. I just feel a lot closer to nature," Lavoie said. "It's not so crowded. There are no lift lines. It's quiet."

Townsend said when Mother Nature delivers light snow like Monday's, with no wind and plenty of sunshine, starting the day on Nordic skis is a no-brainer.

"When the weather is right, I get my skis and go. It's kind of like when the sun is out in the summer, you go to the beach," Townsend said.

By DEIRDRE FLEMING, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, January 22, 2009


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