With a crusty layer of snow covering the mud that once was yard, it’s nice to think about golf, even if the prospects of a round are months away.

We learned last week that the next Charlie’s Maine Open will be played at Fox Ridge Golf Club in Auburn. It’s the biggest golf event in the state and draws some of the top professional and amateur talent from around the Northeast, and accepts 150 players.

The tournament has been held in Portland since 1997. It’s almost 20 years since the event visited the Lewiston-Auburn area. From 1984 to ’86, it was held at Springbrook Golf Club in Leeds.

The Maine Open is the biggest fund-raiser for the Maine State Golfers Association.

The tournament will give Fox Ridge great exposure in the golfing community and will draw fans to the Twin Cities for the four-day event.

With Christmas just barely in the rearview mirror and the winter’s sharp teeth in front of us, it’s a pleasant diversion to think about bright sun, green grass and great golf.