Ice Golf - are you cool enough?
Gary Hill
Ice Golf - only the coolest need apply! Want to try the ultimate golf challenge on a course where you'll have no trouble staying cool over even the most testing putt? You should consider taking up Ice Golf - the most amazing development that the golf world has seen for decades. Every year thirty six golfers (or lunatics, depending on your viewpoint) gather in Greenland to play in the World Ice Golf championship. This year's event takes place in late March and early April. The course is marked out on the ice of the frozen fjord and you can expect icebergs or the occasional polar bear for company! As the organisers say: "if you've played on the greens of Europe, then you'll find the "whites" of Greenland rather special." The World Ice Golf Championship was the brainchild of Mr. Arne Neimann, a local resident and hotel proprietor on a small island called Uummannaq, off Greenland's North West coast. He and a friend designed the first course in 1997 and the sport took off from there. The world championship is played on the ice in years when the conditions make the ice fields safe and predictable. Players compete over two days and play thirty six holes of stroke play. There is a "warm up" tournament the day before although "cool down" might be a more applicable phrase to describe the effect it has on the golfers. In March, when the world championships are held, the average temperature is minus 13.9 degrees Celsius, but temperatures as low as minus 25 can occur. The dry climate and the strong sunshine can make it seem slightly less cold than that - but not by much! The organisers also try to keep the golf course open and accessible for several weeks each year for other open icegolf tournaments. The greens are white and the balls are red. The "whites" are defined by a small wall of snow or by a red line on the ice. Players are allowed to use a scraper to smooth the snow on the white in front of their putt - the only time in golf that a player can legitimately improve the line of his putt. The snow and ice conditions underfoot vary from hole to hole and contestants need to wear polar ice gloves, artic boots and countless layers of clothing. Anti-glare sunglasses are also a good idea. One contestant a few years ago quipped that "the only hole in one I scored was when one leg disappeared through a seal's breathing hole in the ice." There is also a local rule to deal with the unlikely situation of a polar bear interfering with your ball! The organisers are looking for a new sponsor this year but in previous years the Drambuie liqueur company took the lead. Players and spectators were able to warm themselves by sampling some of the sponsor's finest product. As always however, even that feature has a twist to it. Rather than ice cubes in the drink, the drink was served in "ice cubes" or glasses carved out of ice to be more exact. Trophies were presented from tables carved out of ice and the scorer's tent was to be found in an igloo! If you get the chance to visit Greenland for a game of ice golf then sieze it with both hands. It'll be the most unique game of your life.
About the author: Gary Hill lives and works near Edinburgh in Scotland. Playing winter golf on the links of Scotland's east coast is cold enough for him. You can visit his website at http://vacation2europe.com and find information about golf in Ireland at http://www.vacation2europe.com/ireland-golf-vacation.html
The latest information and news on Golf:
While golf fans will relish the chance to rub shoulders with celebrities such as Huey Lewis and Bill Murray at this week's Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the event's pro-am format can be a mixed blessing for the players.
Stay and Play Golf at Orlando World Center Marriott Thanks to New Orlando Gol...
ORLANDO, FL-- - Planning a golf vacation in Orlando just got easier. The Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center invites you to Stay and Play with a special golf getaway, perfect for ...
Golf course architect Geoffrey Cornish passes away
Cornish was a Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member and protege of Stanley Thompson
Golf-South Africa to host Tournament of Hope in 2013
Feb 10 (Reuters) - The inaugural Tournament of Hope,widely proclaimed as the richest single event in golf, will beheld in South Africa late next year, the InternationalFederation of PGA Tours said on Friday. To be played from Nov. 28-Dec. 1, the $8.5 milliontournament will become the sixth elite World Golf Championships(WGC) event and will help raise awareness of HIV/AIDS preventionand treatment ...
Clint Eastwood Brings Comedy to Golf Channel: A Fan's Take
For those that do not think golf is entertaining enough as it is, there is a new offing in the breeze . Clint Eastwood, best known for his role as "Dirty Harry" in shoot-em-up, god guy-bad guy movies, has been reported to be involved in several upcoming golf related TV...
Golf-McIlroy, Bjorn sizzle in Dubai as Kaymer sinks hole-in-one
(updates at end of round)
Woodlake Golf Course in bankruptcy
Woodlake Golf Course in bankruptcy San Antonio Express-News Copyright 2012 San Antonio Express-News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 06:17 p.m., Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Just 10 days before the storied Pecan Valley Golf Club shut down last month, Woodlake Golf Course's owner quietly slipped into Chapter 11 bankruptcy ...
Golf notebook: I-Tour to play at Cypresswood
Golf notebook: I-Tour to play at Cypresswood Houston Chronicle Copyright 2012 Houston Chronicle. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 10:50 p.m., Tuesday, February 7, 2012 The I-Tour, according to its organizers, is a "pro-style tour" designed to "enable the recreational golfer to experience the thrill and excitement of tour ...
Golf-Lee, Wi and Johnson lifted by eagles at Pebble Beach
* Lee lifted into lead on back of two eagles
Golf-Poor putting lets Tiger down at Pebble Pro-Am
Tiger Woods was betrayed by his putter as he carded a second successive 68 at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am to finish Friday's second round six strokes off the early lead.