The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT April 10, 2010

Something funny happened on the way to the restart of the spring sports season in North Idaho this year. We actually got that winter weather reserved for November through February.

Something funny happened on the way to the restart of the spring sports season in North Idaho this year.

We actually got that winter weather reserved for November through February.

THROUGHOUT THE winter sports season, only one game was postponed due to slick roads in early November and weather for the area district/regional tournaments was good - outside of a few rain showers, cold weather and fog, each game went off without a problem.

In fact, the first time I saw a steady snowfall on the way to a game was the morning of the state girls basketball tournament when a freak snowstorm hit the Meridian area.

Not even a little bit of snow on the ground during the annual Coeur d'Alene Holiday Inn Express tournament could spoil three days of high school basketball at Christianson Gym, with some of the better teams in the region playing for three days in Coeur d'Alene.

Weather also didn't keep fans away from driving to southern Idaho to watch Coeur d'Alene (girls) and Post Falls (boys) claim state titles at the Idaho Center in Nampa, as well as getting a large group into Holt Arena in Pocatello to watch the Coeur d'Alene Vikings claim a state 5A wrestling title.

THIS WEEK'S prep schedule had a near washout due to weather conditions wreaking havoc for area high school teams.

Not even a 10-team golf tournament in Post Falls could withstand the wind, sleet, snow and rain as it was called off after 15 holes on Thursday.

What's worse is that as the weeks continue to go by, and the weather continues to mess with the scheduling of games, the harder it will become to get games in before the end of the regular season in early May.

Should the weather hold up, there is a chance of seeing some good things as nearly every state golf tournament will be played in the north this season, along with the state 3A softball tournament in May.

Locals have shown in the early stages of the season that they have what it takes to compete with some of the better schools in the state, either on the baseball, softball or golf course.

WHEN it comes to hitting the golf course this year, I've been at the mercy of bad weather accompanying days off and have yet to hit my first shots of the season.

Driving around with my clubs in my car for the past eight months is a clear sign I need to take them out at some point, but since I'm waiting for a nice day, I can afford to wait a few more days.

In what was my best shot of the year last year, I hit a tee shot off of No. 6 and just missed two direct hits - the flag stick and a deer galloping along the green.

The shot, which was amazing in itself without the deer running across the fairway as it was quite possibly the best shot I've ever hit - and likely will.

OK, so maybe hitting a hole in one at the Ponderosa Golf Course should be a little bit easier than Shoshone Golf Course at Big Creek, but to come that close every again - not likely.

Hopefully, with the weather improving over the coming weeks, the chances of my golf game improving are fairly good.

Probably like handicapping the weather in North Idaho.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by phone at 664-0239 or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.