Golf Digest just released its Top 100 Courses You Can Play list for 2007 and I was fascinated with the results (this is possibly because the ski areas cruelly extended their season and I have plenty of time on my hands).

The first thing I look for is to see which Maine courses made the list and both Sugarloaf and Belgrade Lakes did again. No surprise there. What makes their inclusion remarkable is not that the courses are worthy but that they are two of the cheapest on a list of courses that average over $250 a round. For those of you that are bummed that Belgrade Lakes will now set you back $150, take solace in that fact.

What was surprising is that Sunday River did not make it although it was named the 6th Best New course over $75. Think about that. With all the new courses now being built around the country commanding hefty greens fees, there are only 5 better than Sunday River? That's high praise and, if you've played there, very understandable. I'd love to see the other 5.

Maybe the most newsworthy thing about the list isn't who's on it - but who isn't. Only one other New England state has a single course on the list and that's a course in CT. No courses in MA, NH or VT. Zilch. Maine has 2 of the only 3 courses in all of New England.

Digging further into the state by state rankings, you'll notice something else unique about Maine. 4 of our top 5 rated courses are public and, to put that into perspective, the top 17 courses in MA are private. Both VT and NH are also heavily weighted toward private courses as well.

What does that mean? It means our courses are not only spectacular but accessible to the public. Out of our 140 odd courses, only about 10 are private and that is clearly an anomaly in New England. It means get out there and sample from the smorgasbord. Right after you shovel your driveway.

You may have seen the story from a week ago that still has its own segment on MaineToday called "Braving The Bowl."

Winter warriors seeking the ultimate Eastern challenge of Tuckerman Ravine are a breed apart.

You may have noticed that From The Tips sits below not one but three blogs on the Red Sox, one from minor league hockey, and now, incredibly, one by Slugger the SeaDog.

You may have noticed that your local paper doesn't run a regular golf column but runs one for skiing, running, snowmobiling, NASCAR and fishing.

Ever ask yourself why that is?

Let me stop you from firing off an e-mail by stating that all those other "sports" are fine by me and I do not begrudge them their space - nor do I think their fans need professional help. I understand their allure and their place in both Maine's tourist and local economies. I get it.

But I don't get the cold shoulder that golf gets.

Check out these numbers from the National Golf Foundation:

- There are 26.2 million golfers in the United States. A golfer is defined as anyone ages 18 and above who played at least one regulation round of golf in the past 12 months. 36.7 million Americans are golf participants, defined as anyone ages 5 and above who either played a round of golf or visited a golf practice facility.

- More than 45 percent of golfers (11.9 million) are between the ages of 18 and 39. Seniors (ages 50 and over) comprise another 33 percent or 8.6 million.

- There are 5.76 million female golfers, which is 22 percent of all golfers.

- There are 6.1 million junior golfers ages 5-17 who have either played a round of golf or visited a golf practice facility.

- Golfers spent $24.3 billion in 2002 on equipment and fees.

- They spent $19.7 billion on public and private green fees and dues in 2002, which accounted for 81 percent of all spending.

- They spent $4.7 billion on equipment (clubs, balls, bags, gloves, shoes).

- Avid golfers (25+ rounds annually) make up the smallest player segment (23 percent), but accounted for 63 percent of all golf-related spending in 2002.

A study by two University of Maine professors in the Department of Economic Resource and Policy published in 2001 found the following.

Study findings indicate that 1.7 million eighteen-hole equivalent rounds of golf were played in Maine during 1999. Survey results indicate that golfers from outside of the state played about 30 percent of these rounds. The 1.7 million total rounds resulted in an estimated $85.7 million in spending at Maine golf courses, and the out-of-state golfers spent an additional $40.7 million on other goods and services. The total economic contribution of this $126.4 million in spending, including the multiplier effects, is $205.4 million in output. Included in this amount is an estimated $70.2 million in labor income resulting from 4,753 full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs that are directly or indirectly supported by the golf industry.

This is a sport that promotes and honors fair play over cheating (I know there are exceptions and we've all played with them), unlike, say baseball, that winks at rule breakers like Gaylord Perry and his spitball. This is a sport that can be enjoyed inexpensively by all ages, sizes and both genders. This is a sport that is a huge part of Maine's heritage and economy.

So, what gives? Where's the love?

I know the complaints about golf - it's too hard and it takes too long to play - but those are smokescreens. You're telling me skiing isn't hard or take all day?

The media lets you know everytime a ski area is facing financial hardships but when was the last time you read that about a golf course? When they close, it's pretty quiet. In Scarborough we lost a nine hole course last year (Pleasant Hill) and the pressure to develop smaller courses into house lots is near constant. Ask someone who runs a golf course why they do it and it's pretty unlikely you'll hear anything about the financial rewards.

Surprisingly, this time I don't have the answers - just the questions. If you've read this far, I'd love to hear your thoughts...unless you're dressed up as Slugger.

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Ledges is scheduled to open April 1!

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Camp Ketcha's annual golf tournament at Prouts Neck is scheduled for June 7th. Go to the events page at www.golfme.com for more details.