Snow golf
Encyclopedia
Snow golf is a sport based on golf
but played over snow (or ice) instead of grass. The "greens" are called "whites" and have an ice surface.
.
, living in Vermont in the 1890s who was an avid golfer. While writing his famous book The Jungle Book
, Kipling relaxed by playing snow golf during winter. Kipling lived in his newly built house in Dummerston, VT, now an Inn and created Snow golf by painting his golf balls red and placing red cups out in the snow.
The annual World Ice Golf Championship has been held on the world's northernmost golf course on the shelf ice near Uummannaq
, Greenland
since 1997. The course is shaped new by the moving ice every year and play is highly dependent on weather conditions Competitors are allowed at handicap 36 or below. Because of the extreme temperature clubs with graphite shafts are not recommended.
The First SnowGolf Championship in Argentina has been held in Cerro Castor, Ushuaia since 2007, by José García Daroca.
The first ever Snowgolf World Championship for amateurs was carried out in January 2007 in Abtenau
, Austria
. With Adi Hengstberger from Germany, the first Snowgolf World Champion was founded. The event is hosted as a major Austrian celebrity event and sponsored by the state of Salzburg as part of the touristic scheme. The second Snowgolf World Championship took place in Obertauern
, Austria. Thanks to the "Million Dollar Putt" contest, the official Championship on playing golf on snow title was the biggest prize for an amateur golf event in the world up to now. Alongside amateur competitors, many big names from sport and showbiz were trying to sink their "Million Dollar Putt" for important causes - "Wings for Life" (Spinal Cord Research Foundation) and "Eagles Charity Golf Club". In the end nobody could pull off the big putt, and the prize remains unclaimed until the next championship. Adi Hengstberger (D) retained his 2007 title. The runners-up were Tristan David (Philippines) and Peter Dobrowolsky (Austria). The new woman's World Champion was Sarah Hölzl (Austria).
The first European Championship in Snow Golf will be held in Switzerland from Jan 13th - 16th 2011. 72 qualifiers’ are entitled to play the 2-day tournament. first-golf-on-snow-euroean championship
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
but played over snow (or ice) instead of grass. The "greens" are called "whites" and have an ice surface.
History
As for classic golf the origin of snow golf is thought to be the Dutch game of "Kolf" that was played since the Middle Ages. Evidence for Kolf as a popular winter pastime comes from numerous 17th century paintings by renowned artist such as Aert van der Neer or Hendrick AvercampHendrick Avercamp
Hendrick Avercamp was a Dutch painter.Avercamp was born in Amsterdam, where he studied with the Danish-born portrait painter Pieter Isaacks , and perhaps also with David Vinckboons. In 1608 he moved from Amsterdam to Kampen in the province of Overijssel...
.
Modern snow golf
The discovery of modern snow golf is credited to Rudyard KiplingRudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
, living in Vermont in the 1890s who was an avid golfer. While writing his famous book The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book is a collection of stories by British Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling. The stories were first published in magazines in 1893–4. The original publications contain illustrations, some by Rudyard's father, John Lockwood Kipling. Kipling was born in India and spent the first six...
, Kipling relaxed by playing snow golf during winter. Kipling lived in his newly built house in Dummerston, VT, now an Inn and created Snow golf by painting his golf balls red and placing red cups out in the snow.
The annual World Ice Golf Championship has been held on the world's northernmost golf course on the shelf ice near Uummannaq
Uummannaq
Uummannaq is a town in the Qaasuitsup municipality, in northwestern Greenland. With 1,299 inhabitants as of 2010, it is the eleventh-largest town in Greenland, and is home to the country's most northerly ferry terminal...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
since 1997. The course is shaped new by the moving ice every year and play is highly dependent on weather conditions Competitors are allowed at handicap 36 or below. Because of the extreme temperature clubs with graphite shafts are not recommended.
The First SnowGolf Championship in Argentina has been held in Cerro Castor, Ushuaia since 2007, by José García Daroca.
The first ever Snowgolf World Championship for amateurs was carried out in January 2007 in Abtenau
Abtenau
Abtenau is a market town in the Hallein district of Salzburg, Austria.-Sister towns: Big Bear Lake...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. With Adi Hengstberger from Germany, the first Snowgolf World Champion was founded. The event is hosted as a major Austrian celebrity event and sponsored by the state of Salzburg as part of the touristic scheme. The second Snowgolf World Championship took place in Obertauern
Obertauern
Obertauern is a famous tourist destination which is located in the “Radstädter Tauern” in the “Salzburger Land” of Austria. The very famous winter sports resort is separated in two communities: Tweng and Untertauern.-Geography:...
, Austria. Thanks to the "Million Dollar Putt" contest, the official Championship on playing golf on snow title was the biggest prize for an amateur golf event in the world up to now. Alongside amateur competitors, many big names from sport and showbiz were trying to sink their "Million Dollar Putt" for important causes - "Wings for Life" (Spinal Cord Research Foundation) and "Eagles Charity Golf Club". In the end nobody could pull off the big putt, and the prize remains unclaimed until the next championship. Adi Hengstberger (D) retained his 2007 title. The runners-up were Tristan David (Philippines) and Peter Dobrowolsky (Austria). The new woman's World Champion was Sarah Hölzl (Austria).
The first European Championship in Snow Golf will be held in Switzerland from Jan 13th - 16th 2011. 72 qualifiers’ are entitled to play the 2-day tournament. first-golf-on-snow-euroean championship
World Championship Results
| Year | Event | Date | Place | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Ice golf | 27.3. – 28.3. | Uummannaq, Greenland | Peter Masters, England |
| 2000 | Ice golf | Uummannaq, Greenland | Annika Østberg, Denmark | |
| 2001 | Ice golf | 7.4. – 8.4. | Uummannaq, Greenland | Annika Østberg, Denmark |
| 2002 | Ice golf | Uummannaq, Greenland | Roger Beames, Scotland | |
| 2003 | Ice golf | 21.3. – 23.3. | Uummannaq, Greenland | cancelled due to bad weather |
| 2006 | Ice golf | 23.2. – 27.3. | Uummannaq, Greenland | Jason Cunningham, Australia |
| 2007 | Snow golf | 2.2. – 4.2. | Abtenau (Austria) | Men: Adi Hengstberger, Germany / Women: Kathi Hämpel, Austria |
| 2007 | Ice golf | Uummannaq, Greenland | cancelled due to thin ice | |
| 2008 | Ice golf | 20.3. - 25.3. | Uummannaq, Greenland | cancelled by new management |
| 2009 | Snow golf | 29.1. – 31.1. | Obertauern (Austria) | Men: Adi Hengstberger, Germany / Women: Sarah Holzl, Austria |
| 2009 | Ice golf | 19.3. – 24.3. | Uummannaq, Greenland |
Books
- Extreme Golf: The World's Most Unusual, Fantastic, and Bizarre Courses. Duncan Lennard, Sourcebooks, 2004 (ISBN 1402203144)
- The Caddie was a Reindeer: And Other Tales of Extreme Recreation. Steve Rushin, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2004 (ISBN 0871138786)
- World Ice Gold Championship. Brilliant Results, März 2006, S. 50–53 (PDF)