Winter is upon us, and the soggy, hard ground, numb hands and freezing weather can make winter golf just that little bit tougher. But you don’t have to avoid the course altogether or spend your round miserably waiting for the 19thhole. Here are a few winter golf hacks that will help you get the most out of your game this winter.
First, what are the differences between winter and summer golf?
Are there any differences between playing golf in summer or winter? Or do you just need to wear more layers and toughen up a little?
Well, it turns out that there are significant differences between winter golf and summer golf. To put it simply, when you change the weather, you change the golf course – and that changes the way you have to play. When you think about it, it’s quite natural. When you change even one variable of the weather – such as the wind – your game is significantly affected. Everyone has experienced the frustration of trying to maintain a good round on a blustery day. So, it stands to reason that the enormous changes in weather experienced from summer to winter will have an impact on your game.
But a drop in temperature doesn’t always have to mean a rise in your scores. Take into account the differences between winter and summer golf and make a few adjustments to prevent your scores from dipping during winter.
To read some handy summer golf hacks, click here.
Shorter distance
It’s not just an urban legend that a warm golf ball flies further than a cold one. It’s quite true that a golf ball will travel two yards shorter for every ten degrees the temperature drops. This can be frustrating in winter, when you feel like you’re hitting your shots as you normally do but the ball is just not travelling like it usually does.
The fix
If you want your golf ball to perform as well as possible, keep it as warm as you can. Carry it in your pocket while you’re walking from the green to the tee, and warm it up in your gloved hands before putting it on the tee. And don’t put it down before you’re ready to hit it. There’s no point keeping it warm if you’re just going to let it sit there for a few minutes while you do your practice swings and line up your shot.
To help you get more distance off the tee in winter, adjust your driver. If you’re lucky enough to own an adjustable driver, try sliding a weight back or putting the loft up to increase your distance at launch. If you don’t have an adjustable one, try teeing it up slightly higher and swinging more on the up.
Less roll
As well as not travelling as fast through the air, golf balls will travel shorter distances on the ground in winter as well. The fairways can be wet, spongy and heavy with all the frost and dampness around in winter. They will absorb more of the ball’s energy when it lands, and thus the ball will not roll as far.
The fix
There’s not much you can do about this factor. You may need to go for a little more club than you normally would to take into account the shorter distances the ball will travel. Try using a lower compression ball in winter that will travel a little bit further too.
Rougher rough
If your ball lands in the rough in winter, you’ll find it much harder to hit out of it. In winter, the rough is more often than not wet, soggy, deep and overgrown. It will snag your clubhead and prevent it from passing through easily.
The fix
Don’t try and play a spectacular shot out of the rough, as chances are it won’t come off in winter. Just try and get your ball safely out onto the fairway and take it from there. You’ll have a much better chance of salvaging your score this way.
Slower greens
The chill and the inclement weather can mean the greens cop a pounding in winter, and their condition may deteriorate much more than in summer. The heavy conditions will mean that your putts will run much slower than in summer months.
The fix
Factor the slowness of the green into your putting and you should be able to counteract the effects somewhat. You may need to hit your putts a little harder than normal to get the same results. Or try using a heavier putter to give your ball that little extra speed and distance on the green.
The effect of the cold
It goes without saying that it’s much easier to hit a shot when your body is warm, your hands aren’t numb and frozen and you’re not impeded by several layers of warm clothing. Stiff, cold muscles will most likely cause your shots to go astray and will cost you in both distance and feel.
The fix
Invest in good quality cold-weather clothing that isn’t bulky. A thin, thermal, heat-locking base will be much more efficient than bulking up in five jumpers – and will allow for more movement too. Also get yourself a good pair of wet weather, winter gloves that will keep your hands warm and dry and allow you to have a firm grip at all times. Wear two pairs of socks to keep your feet warm and dry and keep the soles of your shoes clean so that you don’t slip. And take a few towels so that you can keep your clubs and grips dry and free of mud.
The warmer you are, the better you’ll be able to play – and the more you’ll be able to focus on your game, not how cold and miserable you are.
To discover whether you should play golf in the rain, read this article.
Use strategy
When your best shots don’t travel very far, you’ll be struggling to hit your pars in the cold air, frost and damp.
The fix
Take a more strategic approach to your game so that you can keep on posting good scores. Make sure your short game and wedge play are on point, to counteract the fact that your long game is probably going nowhere fast during winter. That’s not to say that you can’t have a good long game – just that this shouldn’t be your focus in winter.
Focus on the positives
Despite evidence to the contrary, there are some positives to be found playing golf in winter. The courses are much quieter and less crowded, so you’ll be able to play your round freely. And with fewer people on the course, winter prices are often cheaper to try and lure more players in, so you’ll be saving a few dollars too. And frost-covered golf courses can look stunning and very scenic.
You also get the bonus of preferred lies, as many courses allow players to use preferred lies in winter for a high proportion of the time. This allows you to pick up your ball and clean it if necessary, and then replace it without penalty. If your ball collects mud in summer, you just have to factor it into your next shot. So, take advantage of this rule benefit in winter, and use it wisely.
Enjoy your winter golf
Cold weather golf can be challenging, but with a few adjustments it can still be enjoyable. If you don’t go into hibernation and keep on playing throughout winter, you’ll also have the bonus of maintaining a consistent golf game for when the warmer weather rolls around.
