With the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in full swing, the eyes of the world are on PyeongChang, South Korea as athletes attempt to ski, skate and curl their way to gold medals.

But there’s one unique winter sport that isn’t represented – ice golf.

Fortunately, local fans will be able to get their fill of this sport on Saturday, Feb. 17 in Addison Township.

Lakeville Lake is hosting a four-person scramble featuring 24 teams. Players will gather at The Celtic Knot (1318 Rochester Rd.) beginning at 11 a.m. and tee off is 1 p.m.

“We’ve been doing this for quite a few years,” said organizer Paul Tobian, a 1990 Oxford High School graduate. “It’s a good time.”

Folks are invited to come watch and cheer the players on as they navigate the 12-hole course laid out on the frozen 460-acre lake.

“The more, the merrier,” said Tobian, who’s lived on the lake since the mid-1990s. “It’s a fun activity. It’s something different.”

Unlike regular golf, players will not be using a bag full of clubs. Each player will be limited to a putter, a 3-iron club and a hockey stick.

“We play with a tennis ball instead of a golf ball,” Tobian said.

Tobian explained that ice golf is “a lot more challenging” than its warm-weather cousin because of “the snow factor.”

It’s easy for the ball to land in the white stuff and get buried – that’s where the hockey stick comes in handy.

Tobian noted last year, there was no snow on the ice, so the balls “rolled a mile” across the super slick surface. “Every year, it’s a different challenge,” he said.

It should take players anywhere from two-and-a-half to three hours to complete the course. “It depends on how much snow is on the ice,” Tobian said.

Lakeville’s ice golf tournament is quite popular. According to Tobian, within two days of the sign-up sheet being posted, it was filled with 18 teams. Because of this, the decision was made to add six more teams.

“I have a waiting list right now of 15 more teams that want to join,” he said.

Some players walk the course, while others drive snowmobiles, four-wheelers and golf carts across the ice. “Whatever they want to bring out,” Tobian said.

As with other outdoor winter activities, weather will play a big role.

“We do (reserve) the right to cancel this at any time the day of (the event) if we feel the ice conditions are not safe,” Tobian said.

“Hopefully, it’s not too warm and hopefully, it’s not too cold (or there’s) a blizzard. It’s the luck of the draw every year.”

Right now, the ice on Lakeville Lake is about 8 to 10 inches thick, according to Tobian.

“I check it every week,” he said.