Answer: Rudyard Kipling

Although Rudyard Kipling, the 19th century poet, short-story writer, and novelist, is best known for his works like The Jungle Book, Just So Stories, and “If—”, he was also an avid golfer (who was taught the game by none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the famed Sherlock Holmes detective series).

Kipling took so strongly to the game he wouldn’t let inclement weather get in his way of enjoying it. In fact, when Kipling was holed up in Vermont writing The Jungle Book, he invented the game of snow golf to keep his swing sharp and relax with a few holes behind his house. He painted his golf balls bright red and put red cups in the snow to serve as green holes.

Nearly a century after Kipling played snow golf, a Canadian, Tina Blomme, picked up the torch and created a modern version of the game complete with an official snow golf course in Quebec.