"Dartmouth Golf's 'home' opener will be a long way from the Hanover Country Club," read a Dartmouth Office of Sports Information press release back in April. The release referred to the famed tendency of the Indians' home course to cover up with snow shortly before the 'home' opener.

It is, of course, unlikely that the Hanover course will be covered with white for the Indians' match against the Harvard golf team there today. But the tricky HCC layout could make the going slippery for the favored Crimson squad.

"The course is pretty tricky," said team member Skip Barry last night. "We'll have to be careful how we play it, especially since Skip Kistner (team captain) is the only guy I know of who's played it before."

The Indians have had a pretty uninspiring year. They finished below ninth-place Harvard in the Eastern Intercollegiates at Yale this weekend, and were trounced by Brown earlier in the year, 413-434. Harvard defeated the Bruins, 394-396.

Dartmouth's leading contenders include Steve Bell, last year's freshman captain Paul Dixon, and Chip Gow, who surprised Dartmouth golf fans with a strong performance on the team's spring trip to Florida.

Two locals, captain John Lundgren of Braintree, and senior Dick Donohue of Wellesley round out the Indians' top five.

Harvard will be trying to bounce back from its disappointing showing in the Easterns. Terry Wynn, who has played well all season, and topped the Crimson lineup at Yale, appears to be Harvard's top golfer, while Andy Marks is hoping to improve dramatically in his Easterns showing.

Barry, Kistner, and Quinn Smith round out the top five, with John Stoviak also expected to finish well.

After today's contest, the golfers will have only one match left against Trinity and M.I.T. in Hartford on Friday.