Playing golf during the winter months can be more difficult. The ground freezes over, playing havoc with your shots. You lose a bit of flexibility in your joints, meaning that you won’t be hitting the ball as straight as you normally would. Oh, and it is incredibly cold. You probably won’t want to be out on the course for as long as normal. Still, this doesn’t mean that you should be putting your golf on the back burner. So, let’s share a few tips for golfing in the winter, shall we?
Wear layers
As we said, the colder months are going to cause all sorts of issues with joint flexibility. If you get too cold, you’ll find that it is difficult to hit a straight shot. So, try to layer up as much as you can. Keep yourself warm on the course (make sure you check club clothing regulations), and your game will be better. It might not be as great as it is when it is warm, but at least you’re out there and playing a spot of golf.
We especially recommend that you wear golf gloves during the winter. Not only will they help keep you warm, but they’ll help you to grip the club better, which is normally quite difficult in the colder weather. Golf socks are a great investment too.
Practice indoors
A lot of gold clubs now have indoor driving ranges. During the winter, they should be heated too. So, why not practice your swing there? If your local club doesn’t have an indoor driving range, check if there is somewhere in your local area that has a virtual driving range. It’s not quite the same thing but can work in a pinch when you wish to work on your swing.
Use different balls
While you can, in theory, use the same golf balls you would use during the summer, we would not recommend it. Those serious about golfing during the winter months will switch to a low-compression golf ball (it will be marked as such) which should help the ball travel a bit further in the cold. If you use a normal ball, you’ll often find it is a touch too heavy for the cold winter air, and it’ll often fall short of where you’re aiming.
Pay attention to ball movement
The ball will move very differently in the winter months. This is especially true if the ground is frozen. So, pay attention to how it moves and adjust your play to suit. For example, you might notice that the ball bounces a bit more because it can’t grip the ground. You may also notice that greens play a little slower.
Watch golf
There are times when the weather is just too awful for you to head to the golf course. This doesn’t mean that you can’t surround yourself with a bit of golf, though. There are still plenty of major and amateur golf tournaments happening. Why not watch a few?
Golf betting
Some fans will be eager to place a wager on the few events happening, especially when platforms offer a live streaming service built in. But they may be put off by how convoluted online sports betting can be, especially to the beginner. Irena Ducic from AskGamblers, an online iGaming resource, providing accurate, up-to-date information, has written an article that cuts through some of the confusion, focusing on deposits and withdrawals – read more about that here: www.askgamblers.com/sports-betting/deposit-methods.
Walk the course
We know just how tempting it can be to drive around on a golf cart, but we don’t recommend it during the winter months. The key to playing decent golf is to stay warm. So, walk around as much as you can. We promise you, it’s not that much effort. You’ll also be getting a far better workout.
Play at the right times
The warmest part of the day will be around midday. The coldest time will be in the early mornings. So, try and play as close to midday as you can. You’ll play better.
Play faster
If you’ve got a big group playing, it may be worth shaking up how you play so people aren’t standing around for too long. If the course allows it, we suggest switching to a system where you take your shot when you’re ready, rather than waiting in a queue. Of course, make sure your whole group agrees when you do this. Also, make sure nobody is standing in the way when you take your shot.
Work on ball flight control
The conditions on a golf course are tough during the winter months. This means learning to control the flight of your ball is important. Once again, you’re not going to be breaking any distance records on your shots. However, that’s not to stay you can’t still get out a few crackers. Keep an eye on the wind. You’ll often need to hit your ball so it flies a bit lower to the ground, ensuring the wind doesn’t blow it off course.
It can be tricky to learn how to control the flight of the ball when you’re in the thick of winter. So, we suggest that you read a few guides and practice during the warmer months. The skills you pick up then will have you (hopefully) beating your opponents.
Have fun
Honestly, just have fun. It’ll keep you warm. You’ll play better. You have to play expecting both the weather and the course to beat you. You might have a good game in the winter, but it’ll be rare. So, do your best to keep a smile on your face – everything will go so much easier for you.
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
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