For avid golfers, no season is as brutal as winter. With what feels like never-ending snow showers and temperatures averaging at digits below a college student’s age, golfing simply has not been on the docket for the sport’s participants during the freezing months.

But the Grand Valley State golf program has an idea to both give golfers a chance to play during the winter and show their skills to college coaches.

On Feb. 7, GVSU’s men’s and women’s golf teams will hold their annual golf clinic for high school and college students. The clinic will take place in the Kelly Family Sports Center, where the ball flies up to 60 yards, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For only $35, golfers will have the opportunity to get pointers from the coaches and players of the Laker golf teams, and perhaps even impress them with their skills.

“Anybody who wants some golf instruction can come out, even students. We’re looking to fill it up – we’re at about 25 people. We’ll have a little bit of a clinic with some instruction, but it’s also like a showcase. It’s an opportunity for kids to show us what they’ve got and get on our radar, we can find a diamond in the rough,” said men’s coach Gary Bissell.

The clinic doubles as a sort of recruiting visit for golfers that the coaches may have not had the chance to observe yet, as it brings the talent directly to them. In fact, one could say it’s even geared towards recruiting as opposed to recreation. Women’s head coach Rebecca Mailloux has found golfers to bring on her team through this event in the past.

“The kids that we really want, obviously we’ve already sought out, but we’ve sent this to some of our top 2017 prospects, many of which we’ve already seen, and we can watch these people golf by bringing them to us and really finding that diamond in the rough,” Mailloux said.

While the event somewhat can be used as a recruiting tool for potential GVSU golfers, the clinic isn’t limited to just collegiate hopefuls. Golfers just looking to get an edge in recreational play are encouraged to come along and get instruction from GVSU’s most knowledgeable golf figureheads.

“Anybody (can come). It’s an opportunity to come hit some golf balls in the winter as a tune up. Get a little bit of instruction, especially for a high school kid to get in front of a college head coach – it’s a great opportunity for them,” Bissell said.

There are still spots left to fill for the winter clinic. The coaches are looking to have 25 golfers signed up by Feb. 7 so they can open another session for more participants. Register online at www.grandvalleystategolfcamps.com, and, if you can, bring your own equipment.