Editor’s Note: Hi all, got a guest post from Matt over at TruGolf.com. Hope you enjoy the change up.
It’s been a great Fall season. You improved several aspects of your game and you’ve been watching your scores drop steadily over the course of the past couple months. You really feel like you’ve hit your rhythm. It’s a shame the temperatures are dropping and you’ll be putting the clubs away soon.
Wait—do you really need to? Temperatures may be hitting the 50s, 40s, or even 30s, but the course is still there, just waiting to be played. Until snow covers the ground, there’s really no reason to call it quits. In fact, with a few simple tips, you can easily add a month or two to your season.
Lower Your Expectations
Before your first swing, understand that your game probably won’t be quite as strong as it is during the prime Summer and Fall months. The cold air makes it tougher to loosen up and relax. As a result, your swing will be a little stiff and you won’t get the usual distance. That’s OK, as long as you’re willing to lower your expectations a bit and focus on fun.
Layer Up
Rather than reach for the puffy jacket or parka, slip on a few strategic layers for maximum flexibility. You’ll want to start with a light, snug, synthetic base layer. A breathable, synthetic base layer pulls moisture away from your body to the outside surface of the fabric, so you stay warm and dry. Next, a light- or mid-weight synthetic layer keeps your body’s warmth from escaping. Finally a light, water-resistant shell blocks wind, rain, and snow to protect you from Mother Nature. Multiple layers allow you to remove and add for optimum temperature, and they eliminate the need for a bulky jacket that gets in the way of your swing and limits movement.
Bring Hand Warmers
Once your hands go numb, your game will go downhill fast. Gloves are great, but they’re bulky and only trap the heat from your hands. Hand warmers, on the other hand, actually produce heat. They’re also small enough to leave in your pockets for the whole round, just warming your hands between shots by putting your hands in your pockets.
Stay Hydrated
Chances are, you won’t be sweating much playing winter golf. However, your body loses moisture through your breath. You may not feel thirsty, but you can become dehydrated quickly, so you need to force yourself to drink plenty of water. Failure to do so will lead to headaches, fatigue, and a very unenjoyable round of golf.
Club Up
In chilly weather, you won’t be hitting the ball as far. In order to stick to your normal strategy, you may need to take an extra club, rather than just accepting the fact that you’ll be short. There’s no shame in this. After all, you’re out here swinging while your buddies are at home huddling around the TV.
Some more useful cold-weather tips:
- Use a soft-covered ball – while you’ll lose a bit of distance, you’ll get more feel
- Use a golf simulator – once the snow falls, there’s no better way to train
- Use yellow high-vis balls – easy to spot when there’s frost or even light snow on the ground
- Stay away from the booze – it lowers your core temperature. Drink coffee – it stimulates the nervous system
- Play nine at a time – leave the option open to duck out early in case it’s just too chilly
Bio
Matt is an avid golf enthusiast and part of the TruGolf.com team. When he’s not working on his fairway shot, you will find Matt writing about his passion for the process of the game.