Midwest golf opens for business. Up for a ski-and-golf day at Shanty Creek Resorts?

The e-mails and facebook posts from golf courses in Michigan normally trickle in this time of year.

These days, they are flooding my inbox and wall, all with the same message: We’re open! Come and play!

The forecast the next four days reads like dream golf scores if I ever sign up for a tournament: 67, 72, 73, 70.

The Midwest golf scene is officially open for business a shocking full month ahead of schedule. Although we’re scheduled to get some rain in the next week, the sun should make for some great bonus days of golf.

Up in northern Michigan, where courses usually don’t thaw out until May, golfers can already dust off their clubs.

Spring-like conditions at Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire will allow for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: A St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday where you can ski and play golf on the same day. I’ve heard of opportunities like these in Lake Tahoe and Colorado and other places out West but never in Michigan.

The Summit Golf Club will open while snow will still be in play at Schuss Mountain. Now that’s March Madness. Other on-slope events Saturday include the Blarney Stone Rail Jam, the Epic Air big air competition and round two of The Slush Cup.

The Ski and Tee Lodging Package starts at $95 per person per night and includes one-night lodging, one round on Summit GC (includes cart; tee-times based on availability), one Superticket (slopes open from 9 a.m.-10 p.m.), and breakfast. Rates are based on double occupancy, and are per person, per night.

If I didn’t live so far away, I’d be first in line to ride the ski lift and later a golf cart. That would be a day to remember.