From the archive
How some of the best courses in the world adapt to keep the fun going in the winter

It’s cold. Well, I guess it depends on when and where you’re reading this, however, at the moment I’m writing this it’s very cold in most of the U.S. Not only is it time to layer up, but the golf clubs are on hold in the garage, biding their time until they can be swung again. It’s a sad state of affairs when golf courses aren’t being used for their god-given purpose, and yet, many across the country have found alternative uses for these wintery months.
Back in 2017, course expert Stephen Hennessey looked at some of the coolest (pun intended) ways for golf courses to stay busy despite no actual golf. It’s a real potpourri of activities from fight nights(!) to pheasant hunting to golf-cart drag racing to trout fishing. You gotta find a way to make the best of what you have, and Oak Hill, Olympia Fields, The Country Club at Brookline and many many more are doing their best to have fun during the brutal weather.

(Golf Digest+ members get access to the complete Golf Digest archive dating back to 1950. Sign up here. Read the full Winter Wonderlands story here.)
If you’re like us, you’re intrigued by the concept of a Golf Club Fight Night; Olympia Fields is well aware of this. The boxing night features red wine, red meat and a real ring in which some members have been showing up for “too many years to remember.” The club even posted a video they put together, and it would be rude of us not to link it, so you can see the fights in all their glory.
We’re more than ready to sign up for curling, cross-country golf and a bit of sledding, especially with a beverage in hand. A little worried about golf-cart drag racing, but the Omni Tuscon pastime (which began in 2017) is something we’ve all dreamt about at one time or another.
Also, while we're here, Getty Images has a treasure trove of golf course sledding photos. These are a few of our personal favorites over the years. Don't say we've never done anything for you!

Ben Sklar

Portland Press Herald

Andrew Theodorakis

Portland Press Herald

Phil Cole

MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images

Portland Press Herald

Andrew Theodorakis
Anyway, if you’re a member of one of these illustrious clubs or a different one that has its own wintertime chaos, please let us know how you’re spending these blustery months. If you’ve got a Fight Club, contact us immediately. Even though we all know the first rule of Fight Club …