LUDLOW, Vermont -??“ Rarely in New England can skiers who golf, and golfers who ski, enjoy their favorite sports in the same day. But now, since Okemo Mountain Resort’s season opening with four snow-covered trails serviced by two lifts on Thanksgiving Day, both sports can be enjoyed consecutively within a mile of each other.

“We never select a closing date for the season ahead of time,” says Okemo Valley Golf Club Head Golf Professional Richard Vacca. “We offer play right up to the point that the ground freezes or when the snow stays.”

With such a mild start to the winter season in southern Vermont, golfers are still enjoying rounds of play on the course at Okemo Mountain Resort. A round of 18 holes is priced at $48 with cart or $26 for walkers. Nine holes of play is $18 for walkers.

A recent drop in temperature has finally allowed at-the-ready Okemo snowmaking crews to cover upper-elevation ski trails in a blanket of snow with depths of 12 to 24 inches. Currently, skiing is limited to advanced ability levels on upper mountain trails, but snowmaking operations are continuing at every opportunity to provide top-to-bottom skiing and riding for all abilities as soon a possible. Opening day lift tickets were $30 for adults, $26 for young adults and seniors, and $20 for juniors and super seniors. Special early-season lift ticket rates, determined daily by availability of terrain, will be offered through the weekend.

“We’ve already had some people asking about the possibility of golfing and skiing in the same day,” says Okemo Golf Operations and Pro Shop Staff Member Pete Hamblet. “We just don’t know how long this will last ??“ it could be a couple of days or a couple of weeks. It all depends on the weather.”

Another way to combine skiing and golf that is unique to Okemo is the resort’s indoor golf facility. Snow on the ground and inclement weather isn’t a problem ??“ the golf-training center is open year round. The 6,000 square-foot, indoor practice facility houses a 700 square-foot practice putting green with two inches of natural curvature, swing stations and a Computerized Golf Simulator that offers play on 20 of the world’s premier courses – including St. Andrews, Pinehurst and Pebble Beach.

For more information about golf at Okemo Valley Golf Club, please call (802) 228-1396. Skiers and riders can check up-to-date lift ticket rates, weather and surface conditions by visiting www.okemo.com or by calling Okemo’s 24-hour snowphone at (802) 228-5222. For more information, please call 1-800-78-OKEMO (786-5366)