DOLPM Snow Golf Guidelines

Did some research on the ground today-- a good day for snow golf, and should be several to come.

 

Some draft guidelines:

1. Temperature should be below 30F, with clear to only partly cloudy skies (should look for "crisp" days-- high pressure systems).

2. Instead of golf balls, "BirdieBalls" or similar are used, and they may be painted any color or left un-painted.

3. If no BirdieBalls are available, a platform tennis ball or in fact any ball agreed-upon by the players prior to the round may be used.

4. A piece of ribbon is tied to the BirdieBall in any fashion so that it can extend at least 12in from the ball. If BirdieBalls are not used, no ribbon is necessary.

5. Ribbon can be any color other than a white, and must be 1/4in wide or more.

6. Tee boxes, boundaries (optional), hazards and holes are agreed to by the players prior to the round (in quick makeshift fashion if that's preferable for all), with the full length of an agreed-upon club used to judge or mark (optional) the extent of the holes (radius of the hole is the full-length of the agreed-upon club).

7. A single radius is used for all holes on a course.

8. Any reasonable item at all may be used as a pin-flag, and the type of item can differ from hole to hole, but should be placed before the round and maintained (moved only as needed to play the hole, and then replaced) throughout the round.

9. Penalties are agreed-upon prior to the round. This agreement can be as simple as a universal one-stroke penalty and minimum movement of the ball for any unplayable or out-of-bounds ball.

10. A minimum of three holes must be formed and agreed to, and either six, nine, twelve or 18 holes must be played in a round (repeating play of holes as needed).

11. There is no handicap system.

12. Any agreed-to distances are allowed, but a typical par3 hole would have a distance of approximately 100paces for a sixft tall person. A par4 would be appoximately 150-200paces. A par5 probably 225paces or more. (Research is on-going.)

13. Balls may be set upright in place before each stroke on a given hole, but not moved across the plane in doing so, or replaced with different balls.

14. No tee or tee-ing system is allowed.

15. The name is "snow" golf, and snow is generally present, but not necessary.

16. No discernible fairways or greens are necessary.

17. Ideal holes would have characteristics that keep the technical and artistic interest of players, and would require traditional golf athleticism and technical ability.

18. Players may act as their own spotters, may spot for one another, and may bring a spotter.

19. Any clubs or number of clubs may be used, but must be carried by the player or their spotter throughout the round. (This is vague.)

20. Any rules from traditional golf on striking the ball apply.

End.