The best month to play golf in Maine and neighboring states is September. After a rainy summer, September has brought us more days of brilliant sun and clear, blue skies than all of July and August. Temperatures the first two weeks were close to ideal. You could walk 18 holes and barely break a sweat.

Halfway through the month, I had carded a pair of rounds at Natanis, one at Portland CC, one at Bretton Woods, one at the Balsams and the annual Maine Golf Hall of Fame scramble at Sable Oaks. All but one round was under those blue skies. Better yet, the scores keep improving. That’s another great aspect of September. The weather is nearly perfect, and the game is coming around after those struggling early outings.

The Balsams round was the semi-annual Ski New Hampshire meeting and golf tournament. Somehow this organization manages to complete every meeting before lunch so they have time for golf in the afternoon.

For me, the Ski NH meetings are an opportunity to find out what’s coming this winter and to get to know some of the managers a bit better on the golf course. On this occasion, I got to play with Doug Irving, Operations Director at Gunstock, and David and Pamela Abraham of the Red Jacket in North Conway.

Twelve-under in the best ball was a stroke out of the money, but we couldn’t complain . Without Pamela’s chip-in for birdie on No. 18, we wouldn’t have been that close. She had two strokes on the hole, and we went from 7-under to 10-under on that one shot.

The Hall of Fame Tournament was set up a bit differently this year with most of the teams built around a member. Low gross in the scramble was a team led by a pair of Hall of Famers, Pete Hatfield and Mark Plummer. Along with Ed and Jason Gall, this Augusta CC group carded an 18-under 52. Second gross went to a team anchored by this year’s inductee, Peter Kostis, joined by Maury Povich, Chris Angis and Bryce Roberts.

First net went to Tim and Marie Flaherty, Paddy Babcock and yours truly with a 58-59. That’s right; because of Tim’s four handicap and Paddy’s position as Head Pro at Sable Oaks, we were a plus-1. That allowed us to just squeak by the Darlings, Bob Jr., Diane, Bob Sr. and Marge, at 60-59. It was a real treat to play with someone who knew exactly how to cut the corners.

The highlight of the day was the banquet and induction ceremony in the evening. Leading up to the induction, this year’s Maine champions were honored along with Special Olympian Chris Vachon, who not only qualified for a Special Olympics Golf Tournament in Ireland but came home with a silver medal.. This was a direct result of Maine PGA and Hall of Fame three-year efforts to provide a “Day on the Links” for Special Olympians, and Special Olympics Director Mickey Boutilier was present to thank Al Biondi for being the driving force behind the program.

Other champions recognized included SMWGA’s Laurie Hyndman and senior champ Barbara Berman; MSGA juniors Shannon Mitchell, Ryan Gay, Cameron Burgess and Jesse Speirs; MSGA champion Ricky Jones and senior Alan Bouchard; Maine Seniors champ Dick Hudgins; Maine PGA champ Bob Darling; WMSGA junior champ Megan Angis; WMSGA Senior champ Pennie Cummings; seven-time WMSGA champ Abby Spector; and Maine Open champ Kirk Hanefeld. The Maine Golf Course Superintendents Association presented its annual award to Gerry White of Point Sebago.

That led up to the reason for everyone being there: Kostis’ induction into the Hall.

I’m sure there are many Maine golfers who are unaware that this popular CBS golf analyst got his start at Sanford CC. He also was a standout quarterback at Sanford High, going to the University of New Hampshire on a football scholarship. A knee injury ended that dream. Said Kostis, “That’s when I got serious about golf.”

It was fitting that Povich made the presentation. His father, the late Shirley Povich, who left Maine to become Sports Editor of the Washington Post and one of the nation’s finest golf writers, was inducted into the Maine Golf Hall of Fame in 1994.

At the Balsams, we noticed some of the leaves beginning to change, and that reminded us that in a few weeks we may want to visit some of those courses that have great views. Norway is one nearby, and Sugarloaf is an obvious choice. Belgrade has the lake and foliage. This discussion could include almost every course in Maine, so we won’t try to list them all, but it is one more reason to get in as many rounds as possible in the coming weeks.

OK, one more time. That Maine Golf Hall of Fame Tournament at Springbrook has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 1. The scramble will have a noon shotgun start. Fee of $75 per players includes green fee, cart, awards and buffet after golf. Call 946-5900 for details.

Freelance writer Dave Irons lives in Westbrook.