have fun in this weekend's 18th annual Portland Golf Expo

While it has been a mild winter in Maine, golf has still been a distant memory for your links faithful. That's planning to change in per month or so. Among the best ways to get ready will be the annual Golf Expo on the Holiday Inn Through the Bay in Portland.

The Expo is Saturday from 9 a.m. to five p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free parking is available in the hotel's garage.

There'll be clinics to aid boost your game in many areas, various contests and an all-day raffle for prizes. Free rounds of golf are already offered before on the Portland Golf Expo, however, not for this extent.

"We're handing out near to $100,000 in free golf and merchandise," said Scott Mayer, co-owner from the Portland Golf Expo.

Willowdale Club in Scarborough Ping K15 Irons and Point Sebago Resort in Casco are providing a combined 2,400 rounds of free golf. Early arrivals towards the Expo will win two free rounds as both classes are offering free golf for the first 500 paid admissions over the door on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. Willowdale will also offer free rounds on the first 500 patrons on Sunday along with the first 200 through the door at noon both days.

Point Sebago will add to its free-round giveaway using the first 250 paid customers inside afternoon at noon Saturday and also the first 250 people on Sunday at 9 a.m. The free golf offers are limited to a single round each for someone at both courses.

Additionally, an admission ticket provides either a year's subscription either to Golf Digest Magazine or Golf World.

Clinicians include Dr. John Hayes III, a Portland chiropractor, which will talk on the way to alleviate back, hip, shoulder and titleist 910H hybrid elbow pain combined with the proper warm-up through exercise and stretching. His clinics are 10 a.m. both days.

John Carey of Cleveland Golf will discuss gap fitting your clubs which means your set covers every one of the yardages. He'll also discuss playing the best ball to optimize your scoring. His sessions are 11 a.m. both days.

Ron Bibeau, a PGA professional, will mention the First Tee of Maine. His clinic times are 1 p.m. both days. The initial Tee of Maine may be the beneficiary with the Golf Expo's silent auction. Also, a percentage of hails from every one of the contests can help support First Tee programs.

The Golf Expo is accepting donations for the First Tee. They can be made via email at: info@portlandgolfexpo.com. Also, all juniors who will be First Tee members are admitted liberated to the Golf Expo. They may be asked to bring their bag tag and other evidence membership.

Other clinics are by PGA professionals Mayer and Jim Fairbanks. Mayer, a PGA teaching professional at Nonesuch River, will talk about the mental part of golf. His sessions are in 2 p.m. both days. Fairbanks, the 2010 Maine Senior PGA champion, will give a clinic discount golf clubs about the scoring shots at 3 p.m. Saturday.

There'll be putting and chipping contests about the Southwest Greens of Maine putting green. Other contests include long drive and nearest the pin about the indoor golf simulators and an electric putting challenge. Patrons can purchase a raffle in the door having a drawing every hour around the hour.