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Photo by Hans Hallgren

Linda Showalter puts her putter away Wednesday after finishing up on the first hole.

Photo by Hans Hallgren

Wes Nelson, left, exits the tee box on the first hole as playing partner Ted Leonhardt steps up for his first tee shot of the season.

Photo by Hans Hallgren

Wolfgang Glaeser, lower right, performs routine maintenance on a golf cart Wednesday in preparation for the 2009 season.

Craig — The snow isn't quite melted, and the ground has yet to fully thaw.

Ice still can be been found along the edges of the river that cuts through brown and yellow fairways, and a chilly wind still blows through its leafless trees.

But, none of that seemed to matter to the steady stream of golfers flowing in and out of the Yampa Valley Golf Course clubhouse Wednesday afternoon.

Craig's links opened for the 2009 season a day before, and for many ball strikers found teeing up Wednesday, the opening came at just the right time.

"I'm ready to golf," said Ted Leonhardt, a Steamboat Springs resident, as he and his friend, Wes Nelson, prepared to tee off for the first time this season.

"It's time. We were here in the fall right before they closed, and we're here in the spring as soon as they open. It's never too early to come out and have some fun."

To YVGC club pro Brett Etzler, the constant foot traffic in and out of the clubhouse brought a smile to his face, while the continuous ringing of the clubhouse phone was music to his ears.

"This is early for us," Etzler said. "I think we opened a month later last year. It's great. I'm as excited as could be."

So are many other golf enthusiasts from around the Yampa Valley.

One after another, groups of wannabe PGA and LPGA professionals teed off on the first hole in search of some respite from winter's fading wrath.

"We probably called to check in about four times," Craig resident Linda Showalter said. "We couldn't wait to get started."

Although the course isn't as lush as one would find in the heart of summer, Etzler said the conditions are ripe for scoring.

"The ground isn't quite thawed out yet," he said, "so you can get an extra 20-yards of roll on your tee shot."

Leaves or no leaves, green grass or yellow, Adam Hawkins doesn't care.

The Craig resident has been enjoying YVGC for as long as he can remember, and the self-proclaimed golf fanatic is tired of waiting for winter to be over.

"I've been itching to get out bad," he said. "I played a bit in Nevada over the winter, but there's nothing like being out on your home track. This is a great course. It's very well taken care of. It's probably one of the best one's in the state."

Hawkins wasn't the only golfer present Wednesday who appreciates well-manicured greens, rolling fairways and ideal pin placements.

"This course is always in good shape," Showalter said. "They run it awesome. I've been coming out here awhile, and I'm never disappointed."

Many of the golfers out Wednesday said they weren't trying to break any scoring records, hit 300-yard drives or drain a 40-footer for birdie.

Most said they were simply searching for a good time.

"I'll be lucky if I can break 100," Showalter said laughing.

As Leonhardt and Nelson approached the tee box on hole No. 2, the duo kidded around as the music of Bob Marley could be heard coming from an Ipod in Nelson's bag.

Nelson's tee shot hit a tree about 100-yards up the fairway and fell to the ground.

Leonhardt followed his playing partner's drive with a tree-hugger of his own.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

"We never said we were any good," Nelson said. "We're just glad to be out here, relaxing and having a good time.

"Winter is gone now, so it's time to golf."