PORTLAND, Maine — By the look of it, at least a few Mainers called out of work Thursday to enjoy the gorgeous weather.
The tee sheet at Nonesuch River Golf Club was nearly filled on its second day of operations for the 2024 season.
"The weather has cooperated yet again, which appears to be the theme of the last several years," Head Professional Matthew Gaynor said. “The course—I have personally never seen it in such good shape as it is this year.”
Early golf is being taken advantage of across the state, as Hermon Meadows Golf Club in Penobscot County and Natanis in Vassalboro are both open.
The fast start to the spring and summer recreation season is good news for many tourism-related businesses, but it was a tough winter season for those stores and rental shops that depend on lots of snow to boost business.
“Yeah, it was rough. I don’t think that we can sugarcoat it," Maine Tourism Association CEO Tony Cameron said Thursday. “It’s always hard to make up the lost days, especially in the tourism, and hospitality business.”
Besides snowmobile rental shops, cross-country centers, and smaller ski areas, Cameron said the restaurants, gas stations, and convenience stores that rely on out-of-state traffic took a hit this winter.
Many visiting from away, Cameron added, come to Maine to take advantage of arguably the best trail system in the Northeast, or even the country.
On a positive note, the upcoming total eclipse is expected to bring tourists and Mainers to more rural areas next month.
“In a time that we wouldn’t normally see it, April is kind of one of those transition months in Maine," Cameron said. “That’s definitely a positive. I think businesses are looking forward to that boost.”
The Maine Tourism Association regularly checks in with Mainers and business owners throughout the year. Last month, Cameron said the organization asked its members what they were expecting this spring and summer.
Seventy-six percent of respondents said they expected "this upcoming year was going to be as good or better than last year."
If last year's early season rain holds off this year, it could benefit Maine high school spring sports teams.
“It’s looking like this spring might be a spring that we could get outside earlier, than in the past," South Portland's athletic director Todd Livingston said. “But we do live in Maine. The weather could change on a dime.”
Livingston and other seasoned athletic directors know that a nice day in March never guarantees sunshine and good field conditions for the rest of the season. Like a few years ago, when the first day of practice was held outside, and then the fields were covered by snow in early April.
High school spring sports include baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, tennis, and track and field.
It's also the season, Livingston said, that is tough for officials to balance if weather causes games to be postponed.
“[Athletic directors] all work well together as colleagues, to make adjustments as needed," he added.
Jason Cooke is one Mainer who is hoping for clear skies this spring. He's the director of field operations at Hadlock Field, home of the Sea Dogs.
“We’ve been pretty fortunate this year to be out on the field, working the infield," Cooke said. "But we’ve certainly seen the other side of things, when we’re chipping 11 inches of ice out of the dugout.”
Cooke and his team will continue to work on the field every day until Opening Day which is scheduled for April 5.
A benefit for the crew, no frost on the grass allows the field to handle any moisture like rain a little better and allows for more runoff.
The South Portland native played baseball his whole life and said he takes a lot of pride in his job and enjoys working to get Hadlock Field in professional shape for the fans every season.