Sugarloaf Golf Club in Carrabassett Valley was the first of the championship golf courses built in the state in the building boom of the late 1980s, and certainly the first mountain course. Sugarloaf celebrates its 30th anniversary on June 13 with golf, live music and a reception.

Sugarloaf blazed the trail in 1985. The Woodlands Club and Falmouth Country Club, both private and in Falmouth, opened three years later, and in 1999 came Belgrade Lakes Golf Course in Belgrade and the Ledges Golf Course in York.

Sunday River Golf Course in Newry, the other mountain course in the state, opened its full 18 holes in 2005. Robert Trent Jones Jr. was the course architect for both Sugarloaf and Sunday River.

The stories are certainly going to flow at the celebration. One thing that will be mentioned is the lofty perch Sugarloaf has consistently occupied in course rankings. Golf Digest Magazine has named Sugarloaf Maine’s No. 1 course 29 times.

Ethan Austin, Sugarloaf’s director of marketing, said golf will begin with a 1 p.m. shotgun start.

“Anyone can play,” said Austin. “Just call the pro shop (237-6812). It’s not a tournament. We’re looking for people to enjoy the course and have a good time.”

Greens fees will be reduced to reflect prices in 1985, Austin said.

The reception afterwards is by invitation only because of space limitations.

“We’re trying to get as many former golf pros, superintendents and others who were involved in the history of the course back for the anniversary,” said Austin

That would include Peter Webber, the course founder.

“Peter was the driving force for the golf course,” said Austin. “It was one of his biggest projects. The golf course was hugely successful from the get-go.”

As a mountain course, Sugarloaf can be affected by the harsh winters. That can mean it might not be until summer that the course reaches top condition.

Not this year. The course came through the winter in excellent shape.

“It’s the best I’ve ever seen at this point in the season,” said Sugarloaf pro shop manager John Debiase, who has worked at the course since it opened.

“You usually don’t see greens and fairways looking this good until sometime in July,” he said.

The course received plenty of snow cover and the temperatures stayed cold.

“The amount of snow and the consistent cold limited ice buildup,” said Austin.

“What the maintenance crew did to the course also helped it come back in the condition it did. Superintendent Shaun Osborne and his crew aerated, topdressed and seeded the entire course three separate times in 2014.”

Sugarloaf Golf Club has seen over $2 million in capital investments in recent years. They include a new irrigation system, winter covers for all 18 greens, and new mowers and other maintenance equipment.

“The irrigation system has made a big difference in the condition of the golf course,” said Austin.

Sugarloaf has been home to the State of Maine Championship for several years. The event for the state’s top pros and amateurs will be held Aug. 10-12.

Later in August, Sugarloaf will host the American Junior Golf Association Coca-Cola Junior Championship for the third straight year. The tournament attracts top juniors from all over the world.

“We have kids from Japan, China, Canada, Florida and California. These kids are phenomenal players. The AJGA is really the premier place where junior golfers develop,” said Austin.

TEE TO GREEN: Former Gorham High golfer and Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduate Tommy Stirling is working in outside services at TPC Prestancia in Sarasota, Florida. Stirling played the course in a local qualifier for the U.S. Open and finished as first alternate, losing in a four-man playoff for three spots. Stirling hopes to get into an Open sectional qualifier June 8 at the Bear’s Club in Jupiter.

“I’m going to head over to the golf course on June 8 and see if someone doesn’t show up so I can get a chance to play,” said Stirling, who plans to be in Maine in early July but won’t play in the Maine Amateur.

Stirling does plan to try to qualify for the U.S. Amateur. He’ll play at Lochmoor Country Club in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, later in July.

“One of the members at TPC Prestancia is a member at Lochmoor and wanted me to play the course,” said Stirling.

Stirling said he is thinking about turning pro next year. He would play on the West Florida Golf Tour and then head to Maine to play the New England state opens in the summer.

“My ball striking is much better,” Stirling said in assessing recent improvements in his game. “I hit 14 greens in the U.S. Open local qualifier.”

• At last week’s Maine State Golf Association tournament at Augusta Country Club, Len Cole of Hampden shot a 67 for the low score and won the division for golfers with a handicap of 0.2 to 10.0. Home clubber Mark Plummer of Manchester shot a second-best 68 and won the senior division for those with a handicap of 0.6 to 14.0.

• John Hickson of Sebasco Harbor won low-pro honors with a 68 in the Maine Chapter NEPGA pro-am at Purpoodock Club last week.