Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 3632 | December 2016 #juniorgolfmag Visit us at juniorgolfmag.net The game of golf has a long, colorful history. When you think back to those times when golf clubs were wooden sticks and the balls were small, lightweight leath- er bags stuffed with feathers, you just naturally con- jure visions of – Holland? Actually, believe it or not, there is one aspect of the game – the less serious “snow golf” – that likely owes its initial development to the Dutch pastime of Kolf, which was first played in the Middle Ages. Coincidentally, this period in the 17th Century was also known as the Dutch Golden Age, which may or may not have had anything to do with hitting a small ball off a sheet of ice. Since that time, many avid golfers have ventured out into the dead of winter for a trek around their snowy local links. The quality of the play and the adherence to traditional rules is usually a reflection of how much white fluff is actually blanketing the ground. Some even make it an annual rite, staging unique tourna- ments with their own special set of playing guidelines. Who NeedsThe Masters? It wasn’t until 1996, however, that Minnesotan Tina Blomme formally invented a game of this sort with its ownofficialrules.In1998,sheincorporatedSnowgolf, Inc.,thendesignedandmanagedaSnowgolfcoursein Quebec, Canada. She’s even working to set up an offi- cial Snowgolf Tour, which would be played throughout the Nordic countries and other northern destinations. Doubters may want to note that German Adi Hengst- berger was crowned as the first amateur Snowgolf champion several years ago in Abtenau, Austria, with a stirring victory in what also doubled as a major Austrian celebrity event. Two years later, Hengstberg- er…a Nordic Tiger Woods of sorts…retained his title. Families Who PlayTogether FreezeTogether I know, you’re chuckling as you sip your hot chocolate and move closer to the fireplace. A number of people, however, have picked up the gauntlet (alongwith their clubs).This new form of the game is pursued in coun- tries as diverse as Canada, China, South Korea and the U.S., not to mention throughout parts of Europe and South America. One particular Snowgolf course is located in Jämijär- vi, a municipality in western Finland. This respectable 9-hole layout, which is known for its 524-yard par 5, tries to remain faithful to the conditions of the summer version of the game. The fairways consist of hardened snow that elicits a surprisingly true bounce for the balls. While wondering if they call the putting surface a green or a white, I have heard that burn spots and invasive weeds are never a problem. Many avid, informal snow golfers make up their own game as they go along. If they don’t have access to a special Snowgolf course, or their local club or muny is unplayable, they turn it into a target game. This is especiallypopularin Canada,where players pickout a landmark in a field, be it a tall pine tree, a high mound in the distance, something as small as a water hy- drant or as bulky as a maintenance hut. Whoever reaches the target in the least amount of shots is the winner – no out-of-bounds, no grounding the club penalties, just a matter of wits and will. Going Out, Gearing Up So what kinds of supplies…er, equipment…do you need to knock a golf ball around in the snow? Well, you don’t normally need ice skates, skis or snow- shoes, although Lake Tahoe has been staging a golf event in the snow every late spring for the past 30 years. Participants are transported by chairlift to the makeshift course where they play on skis and hit yel- low tennis balls. Snow golf is not without its hazards. There is always the possibility of slipping and spraining a knee, get- ting frostbite or merely developing bad swing habits. So far though, there have been no reports of golfers being eaten by polar bears. Should you decide to play a round in the snow, and wherever that may be, it’s probably a good idea to wear some warm clothes and, of course, sunglasses to reduce the glare. Colored golf balls are also pre- ferred, along with special tees and your set of clubs. The most important thing required is a nice amount of snow. So don’t be skeptical if your best pal calls you one blustery, freezing day this winter and says, “What a great day for golf!” It’s Snowing, So Break Out the Clubs BY RANDY SCHULTZ , SENIOR EDITOR GAZING FROM THE GALLERY Coming in our January Issue! Some of the exclusive stories include: • New Golf Affordability for Juniors • Game-Changing Yoga for the Course • La Quinta – a Junior’s Paradise • Play It Both Ways at The Loop • Coaches’ Report from the East Lake Cup • Individual Junior Golfer Profiles • College Player Profile • And many others Don’t Miss a Single Issue ... Subscribe Today! Print Edition–$ 20 (Just $ 2.50 per Issue) Digital Edition–$ 8 | Digital & Print (Best Value)–$ 25 Go to juniorgolfmag.net and click the Subscribe tab – now! Junior Rising Star Emree Cameron 9 years old – Nevada, Missouri • Winner of 30 golf tournaments • Drive, Chip & Putt National Finalist • 2016 Next Level Golf USA 10 & Under Player of the Year • 2016 Midwest State Champion Girls 8-9 • 2016 Oklahoma State Champion Girls 8-9 • 15 USA ranking/2016 U.S. Kids World Championship In 2017 Emree will golf for “Win Green,” to raise money for kids with cancer.That’s a winning course, Emree!