Icy conditions lasting more than a month have frustrated the hardiest of winter golfers but they have made it a shade easier for 20-year-old Halifax, Huddersfield and District Union matchplay champion Schnacke to concentrate on his studies.
The Mytholmroyd-based player hopes to jet off to golf school in America in late summer and at the moment his chances of doing so are being threatened more by his failure to gain the entry qualification than his ability to swing a golf club.
Schnacke has been brushing up on his maths and english in an effort to pass the exam, having not quite managed it at the first attempt before Christmas.
"I need to get a few more per cent and if I can do that then my details can be sent off to 300 colleges and then we will see what happens," said Schnacke, who has been limited to just a little driving range action in the last month or two.
Schnacke hopes to resit the exam at the end of the month but is more likely to have to wait until May 1, by which time the season will be getting going.The Fixby member shot to prominence in 2009, stunning better-fancied rivals to win the Union title.
The one handicapper got the better of fellow youngster Jamie Bower two and one in the final at Meltham in September and rounded off a fine year by shooting a 68 on his home course and notching a hole in one on a par four in a West Yorkshire Alliance event at Northcliffe.
Schnacke has never played for Halifax-Huddersfield in the Yorkshire Inter-District League but is unfazed by the prospect of coming straight into the team at the top of the order, the traditional position for the Union matchplay champion.
Chris Mear has already sounded out Schnacke's availability and the youngster is likely to see the team boss at the Union dinner at Bertie's, Elland on Tuesday, February 9."If they want me to play at number one I'll be happy to do that," said Schnacke.
"Although I haven't played for the Union before, I have played against all the best players in club matches."