General SNOLF Rules
SNOLF Rules (subject to change)
- Each player brings one golf club which they must use for all shots the entire round, even if it breaks. Sharing clubs is not allowed.
- SNOLF is a scramble format. This means all four players tee off from the tee box and then choose the best ball. The ball selected must be hit from its exact location. If it is in the fluff (deep snow), it may be lifted and placed on top of the snow to be hit but it may not be moved into the groomed area. You cannot take a club length to improve your lie at any time.
- Each team receives five regulation SNOLF balls, one for each player and one extra per team in case of a lost ball. Extras are available if you lose more than one ball for $5 which will go towards donation. Each player must have a ball in play at the end of the round, otherwise it's a forfeit.
- A ball that almost goes into the cup or goes in and rolls out, does not count. (Close only counts in horseshoes, no blue ribbons here.) Keep playing until it stays in the hole.
- You cannot scoop and slide and guide the ball into the hole, you must hit it with your club face as in the real game of golf!
- Once you are on the green you may rake it to smooth it out, but you cannot create directional trenches to the hole----no altering the greens. Upon finishing the hole, it is advisable you rake out your footprints to make the next team struggle just as you did.
- A score of “8” is the maximum. Once you have your “8”, write it down and move on with heads down in shame.
- The only motorized vehicle allowed on the course is the one used to build and tear down the course. Pull behind sleds are recommended to haul your gear.
- Obstacles on greens and around cups are designed to make the hole difficult. You cannot move, bend, crush, redirect, change them towards your advantage. Leave them as you found them so that we all play against the same obstacles.
- This is an adult event, 21 and over please. Outside alcohol is prohibited on Terrace Lakes Resort property. All alcohol must be purchased from the Terrace Lakes bar(s).
Additional items
- Did I say no cheating??????? In the recent past, it is clear drunk people can’t keep score. We’d like to have a legitimate competition, so please do your best.
- Whiffing: If you swing your club and miss the ball, that is called a WHIFF. That counts as 2 points if you use your 2nd attempted hit on this ball. Post your score accordingly!
- Try to find your lost balls and make sure to return them to our SNOLF ball return buckets so that we can maximize our donations to the charities.
- All decisions of the Terrace Lakes SNOLF Director are final!
The origins of Snolf
Our History
In 2012, two inebriated gents ordered another cocktail at the Terrace Lakes bar and decided that snow would not stop them, they would golf. The next day they had the groomer out to clear a fairway, built a few holes and they were joined by a handful of curious snolfers with drinks in their hand.
In the old days, the course consisted of a handful of holes and a small crowd of locals ranging from 12 to 24 people. Usually after a late night at the lounge, the one remaining course builder, known as the “Snolf Director” would head to the frozen tundra at 8:00 A.M., build the course, begin drinking, complete the course with a tainted vision of difficulty and pain and then at noon, play would ensue.
Things have changed since then. Many great volunteers help build and clean up the course, sponsor holes, cook food, build a fire, and most importantly help drive support for charity. Terrace Lakes staffs the heated Pavilion with bartenders and even a bar-cart on the SNOLF course. The course is always groomed to create an easy to walk in fairway, if you can hit the ball straight. The SNOLF course holes are very challenging-some would say tortuous and too damn difficult. My response, "thanks, I’m creative." The course in recent years has had a minimum of nine holes and as many as 14 holes to accommodate much larger crowds than in the past. Last year, two events had over 90 SNOLFERS.
The SNOLF TEAM has raised thousands for charities including, Special Olympics Idaho (see more about that upcoming event on our website), Garden Valley Senior Center, a local family who lost their home to a fire, Fuzzy Paws Rescue, and more! This year we’ll be taking it up another notch with more events, sponsorship opportunities, and more charities to serve!