Swedish Visitor Introduces Snow Golf to Dunedin Club

This time of year, golf courses in Sweden are snowed over, explains Per-Olof Kellquist.

Kellquist, of Stockholm, helped forge the Swedish aviation industry. His company, Si ATM, produces software for operating systems, training systems and air traffic control simulators used around the world.

On Jan. 24, he grabbed a post-game beer at Dunedin Golf Club as part of a 13-day couples golf vacation booked through South Florida Golf Tours. 

It was the their first time in Florida.

His foursome included his wife, Irene Kellquist, and their longtime friends Lennart Ericson, a bigtime builder for 40 years in Sweden, and Margareta Edholm. 

"We normally go abroad to find good weather," Kellquist said.

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Swedish winters can be brutally cold and dark. The temperature when they left was about minus-5 degrees Celsius, or 23 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale. The sun is only out for a few hours at a time there during the winter.

The wintry conditions make golfing a little different than in Florida, Kellquist explained. Balls are red so they can be tracked in the snow.

The group said they also take bicycling and skiing vacations together.  

Their vacation in Florida was just getting started. Dunedin's reviews were positive.

The people are very kind, Irene Kellquist said. By contrast, people in Sweden seem more stressed. She said that American food was surprisingly healthy given the country's obese stereotype.

The group had time during its visit to enjoy Sea Sea Riders, and while chatting in the dining room at Dunedin Golf Club, they entertained the possibility of dinner at Bon Appetit. 

Their golf game, however, needed a little work.

"The results ..." he waved, as if pushing them aside with a laugh. Then, he explained, "We haven't played."