Monday, December 15, 2014

Ice Golf: Putting Never Looked this Cool

Yes, you heard it right! There’s such a thing as ice golf. And since most of the winter-affected areas are forced to take a sabbatical from swinging and place a golf cart cover on their grass heap until the ice melts, why not try this rather unusual way of playing the good ol’ gentleman’s game instead of booking a flight down south for a needed tee off?


As far as the middle ages, ice golf – presumably along with hockey – has always been a favorite past time of the Dutch, as evidenced in the paintings of Auet van der Neer and Hendrick Avercamp. Since then, the rather unusual game of golf became very popular among Scottish as well as the game started to develop. In fact, even the renowned English writer Rudyard Kipling was a known snow golf fanatic, pushing the further advancement of the sport with the help of fellow writer and Sherlock Holmes creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

What’s the Difference?


Think of it as regular golf… Only in ice and with an edge! Winter Golf is usually played obviously on the snow and frozen lakes. More so, the course is relatively shorter than the usual golf we play in the fairways. Using colored ball instead of the traditional whites, this particular element keeps the players in the know as to where their balls land in the vast horizons of winter white.

Fashion and gear-wise, collared shirts and flowy trousers are replaced with a more resilient thermal wear and snow boots. And of course, winter golf is way more intense and exhilarating than regular golf, considering the terrain the condition most players endure during the game – making it more challenging and engaging.

Things to Consider when Playing Winter Golf


Photo courtesy: TimoHonkelaEnglish via Wikipedia

When deciding to play winter golf, first thing you need to have is a reliable set of wardrobe that can endure harsh condition. The cold weather is basically the number 1 challenge every player needs to take into attention, so you must ensure to wear proper attire and ditch the traditional tee shirts and sun visors for a while.

When it comes to gameplay, remember that snow golf basically has shorter courses, larger holes and softer playing surface. Hence, you must assess your gameplay, strokes and handicap, as the game experience is way too different from playing in the greens. Furthermore, the entire game is a bit faster and more “on-the-go”, that’s why it is highly recommended to stay hydrated during the game.

Overall, snow golfing isn’t as different as some, if not most golfers think. You can have the experience that plays at par with that of regular golf game. As of now, the popularity of this game is slowly making its way in the mainstream sports, and in fact has its own tournament.

To tell you straightforward, it’s worth the try!

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