how to play golf in cold weather

How to play golf in the cold: 8 tips for conquering winter golf

1. Layer up Don’t wear a bulky coat out to the course. Instead, insulate your body heat with a series of layers. A vest...
2. Warm your hands Feel is a crucial part of golf, and it all starts in your hands, so you’ve got to keep them warm in...
3. Pack a hat Make sure to keep your head warm, too. Throw a...

Full Answer

When is it too cold to play golf?

In cold weather golf, you are playing against the course in much harsher conditions. Don’t let your scores suffer because you don’t want to play a yellow ball on a cloudy day. Another tip is to use softer compression balls to help get as much distance as you can out of your shot. Myth: Keeping Your Golf Balls Warm Will Help In Cold Weather Golf

Do golf courses close for cold weather?

Jan 04, 2021 · Why You’ll Love Golf in the Winter Footwear Ditch the Golf Cart Wear the Right Clothes Change Up How You Play Bring Hot Drinks Don’t Keep Your Clubs in the Car Ball Distance and Cold Weather Less Room Under the Ball Avoid Drinking Alcohol Final Thoughts Why You’ll Love Golf in the Winter

What to wear golfing in cold weather?

Dec 02, 2021 · How to play golf in the cold: 8 tips for conquering winter golf 1. Layer up Don’t wear a bulky coat out to the course. Instead, insulate your body heat with a series of layers. A vest... 3. Warm your hands Feel is a crucial part of golf, and it all starts in your hands, so you’ve got to keep them ...

What is the best cold weather golf ball?

Dec 09, 2013 · Tip #3: Keep your golf ball warm Keep your golf ball warm! Golf balls don’t travel as far in cold weather. In fact, you’ll lose about 3-5 yards, depending on air density, for every 10 degree drop in temperature. So, keep that ball in your pocket between holes. Easier said than done, but play smart!

What temperature is too cold for golf?

There's almost no lower limit. I'd say about 30 degrees. But that's on a mild day. If there's wind or rain that number creeps higher very fast.Dec 16, 2021

Is it bad to play golf in cold weather?

There's nowhere colder than an open-air golf cart on a windy winter day. Finally, ditch your pride. Cold-weather golf is all about scoring — if that means taking two extra clubs and keeping your swing simple and elemental, that's just fine.Nov 24, 2020

Can you golf in 40 degree weather?

It's all about the wind. It can be 40 degrees, but if it's a calm, sunny day, you can still have a great time. I've literally played some of my best golf during a round in Connecticut the day after Christmas.Oct 26, 2018

How can I improve my golf game in the winter?

Here are 10 ways to improve your golf game this winter....Hope they help you and your game during the current and future winter seasons.Chip and putt at home. ... Hit the gym. ... Take some yoga classes. ... Read golf material. ... Play golf on a simulator. ... Work on your grip wherever possible. ... Practice in the mirror. ... Swing with weighted clubs.More items...

How cold weather affects golf ball distance?

Cold air is denser than warm air and creates additional drag on a ball. According to Trackman, the difference is approximately one yard of carry for every 10-degree change in temperature. So theoretically, you're looking at a loss of four yards if you're playing in 40 degrees as opposed to 80 degrees.Nov 13, 2018

Do you club up in cold weather?

Like how your body performs in cooler weather and if the clothes you're wearing limit your golf swing. Generally, it's best to plan for at least half a club, to a full club, when calculating which club you'll need during a fall/winter round. As the weather gets colder, the ground gets harder.Aug 7, 2020

Is it harder to play golf in the winter?

There's no denying that winter golf can be tough. As the temperature dips, some things are inevitable when playing golf: the course becomes damp, you will need to wear umpteen layers of clothing and your hands will feel like ice blocks.Jan 21, 2020

Can you play golf in winter?

When the sun sets early and frost touches grass, many golfers call it a day. Little do they know, playing golf in winter can be most enjoyable. The clear winter mornings, quieter courses and fabulous deals can make it feel like you've hit the jackpot.Nov 25, 2019

Can you golf in 50 degree weather?

The temperature during the days of competition hardly ever reach 50 degrees. The shoulder as well as the off seasons at golf courses mean significantly reduced green fees. A lot of golf courses will offer big discounts to those who play in November, which encourages lots of hardy golf players to play on a budget.Nov 13, 2019

What do you do during winter golf?

17 Top Winter Golf HacksInvest in high-quality outerwear. ... Change your golf balls. ... Practise your short game. ... Try a snood. ... Wear a base layer. ... Get a good pair of wet weather gloves. ... Carry your golf bag. ... Keep your golf balls warm.More items...

Does swinging a weighted golf club help?

Swinging a light-weight object is critical to teaching your body how to speed up and move faster. Many of my students believe that swinging a weighted club is good for speed, but they are wrong. That builds golf muscles, which isn't a bad thing. Unfortunately, it only teaches you to swing slower.Jun 10, 2015

How can I practice golf indoors?

10 indoor golf drills you can do while you're stuck at home. ... Swing stick to improve clubface and swing path. ... Setup cues to improve alignment and weight distribution. ... A chair to improve early extension. ... A net (or pillows) to dial-in launch direction. ... Tape to improve angle of attack. ... Sticks to improve swing speed.More items...•Mar 16, 2020

What are the rules for golf in winter?

Golfing in the winter also warrent’s a few different rules that you can abide by. Personally, I do not count these rounds into my handicap – so, I don’t feel bad about adjusting a few rules. My buddies and I all agree on these: 1 Lift, clean and place: Chances are the course you are playing on may not be in the best condition. If your ball winds up with a bunch of mud – feel free to mark it, clean and replace the ball on any shot. 2 Play the ball up: If your ball ends up on a patch of dirt, feel free to move it onto a patch of grass. 3 Play from different tees: When I am playing in sub 50 degree weather – I always vary the tees I play. If you normally play the blue tees, play half of the holes from the next tees up. Remember the idea is to enjoy your round.

How to get rid of a back pain?

Stretch every day and roll your back, legs, and glutes out. Past stretching, you may want to also start going to the gym and focus on cardio. Your first round back is going to put more strain on you that you may think and getting your body use to some physical activity will help.

Can you play golf in the cold?

Adjust Your Expectations About Cold Weather Golf. When you get out to play in the cold, make sure you are prepared to play a different style of golf. One important thing to know about golfing in the cold, your golf ball will not travel as far. The air is more dense in colder temperatures. You will need to club up!

How to play golf in cold weather?

Enter GOLF’s resident low-handicaps, who are here to offer some helpful advice, golfer-to-golfer. 1. Loosen up inside.

Why does my golf ball fly shorter in cold weather?

AKA, when it’s cold, you won’t be able to turn as far, or swing as hard, which means your swing speed will drop and you’ll hit the ball shorter accordingly.

What handicap is Dylan Dethier?

Dylan Dethier (+3.3 handicap): Let’s start with some pre-round basics: Loosen up inside, where it’s warm, before you start. It’s going to be really tough to stretch out in the cold — and you won’t really want to!

Who is Luke Kerr?

Luke Kerr-Dineen. Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com. In his role he oversees all the brand’s service journalism spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.

How to stay warm in cold weather?

You already know that one of the best ways to stay nice and warm in cold weather is to have a hot drink on hand. Use an insulated bottle or thermos and bring along hot chocolate, tea, or your favorite coffee.

Why do you use a three quarter backswing?

If you’re faced with lies where your footing isn’t so great, try using a three-quarter backswing. This will help improve your stability.

Does whiskey make you warm?

Sure, a sip of whiskey can help you feel warm when you’re braving cold weather, but in reality, it does more harm than good. Alcohol consumption can actually lower the core body temperature.

How to prepare for a golf round?

Sure, your clothing and gear might be ready for the weather, but is your body prepared for the shock? Prepare for your rounds by taking your time to stretch in the cold. It might take you longer to get ready in cold weather, but some extra time is worth it since the risk of injury increases as the temperatures get lower. Hitting that cold, hard-packed turf all day will require a good stretch so that your muscles and joints are nice and loose. You can also get a feel for the course by taking note of the green speeds on the practice green. You’ll see that you have excellent control over your swing since your back and shoulders operate in better sync in the cold. If you aim for smooth and even strokes instead of distance, expect satisfactory results.

Can you play golf in cold weather?

All in all, don’t fear cold. Sure, golfing in sub-par weather conditions can be difficult, but it’s just weather—no point to be intimidated by some wind and chills. If you have proper gear and clothing on your side and you go through appropriate preparation, you’ll enjoy your game more than you might think. Now that you know how to play golf in cold weather go out and enjoy!

Do golf shoes help with wet weather?

If the weather is wet, you can expect some softness underfoot, so you’ll definitely want to prevent slipping and sliding. A good pair of golf shoes will provide you with a good grip, no matter what terrain you’re on. Just remember that whenever you’re taking a shot, stand in a wider stance to lower your center of gravity. This will help you with stability on damp or frozen conditions and allow you to get a decent distance.

How to dress in the cold

It may sound rather simplistic and intuitive trying to figure out what to wear in the cold to play golf.

What happens to your golf ball in cold weather?

Before I get started, here is a “ball flight effects” calculator that I made in Excel. It is based on Trackman data, so I’ve found it to be fairly accurate.

What happens to your body and the golf course in the cold

Beyond the ball flight effects calculator that you hopefully downloaded above, there are a few other factors that may not have been accounted for.

The shots you should probably avoid during a frigid round of golf

When playing golf in 35 degrees, there is a harsh reality (aside from the fact that it is 35 degrees!) that you must face:

Expectations

By now, it may be obvious to you that the scores will (on average) be higher in cold weather than in warm weather.

Conclusion

My intention with this post was to give you a unique viewpoint of playing golf in the cold. I’m sure that you’ve heard several of the strategies above previously, but I hope by reading this you’ve added a few new strategies to your winter golf game!

How to get better at golf in the cold?

While golfing in the cold, take walks instead of rides if you have an alternative. You would be amazed how much good walking will do to you. Walking will help you respire better, loosen up your muscles and warm up your overall body system.

How does the temperature of your hands affect your golf swing?

The temperature of your hands warm can also affect your play while golfing. Warm hands tend to grip clubs properly and swing effectively. One great was to keep one’s hands warm and prevent heat from escaping is to wear gloves. Read section above to know more about keeping warm hands.

Why is it important to layer clothing?

Layering entails combining the right set of clothing necessary for different weather conditions so that one can maintain the optimum body temperature in order to actively engage in any activity. When your clothing is layered properly, you will be protected from the harsh effects of the sun, rain, and wind.

What is base layer clothing?

Clothing for base layers are usually close to your skin and help trap heat as much as possible. Base layer clothing are fitted for comfort. They provide great thermal benefits which can aid your swing and overall performance.

Who is Peter Stevenson?

Peter Stevenson, is a golf enthusiast who has been involved in golf in the last two decades. Whenever he isn't mentoring his students, you'll find him out on the course swinging away birdies and chip shots.

Why are gloves important in cold weather?

Gloves and covering for the hands are essential items of clothing during cold weathers. Wearing a glove helps to keep your hand warm and also support a firmer grip. Wet weather golf gloves are great for wet conditions, the wetter the better and the firmer the grips.

What is mid layer in golf?

Another layer to be concerned about is the mid layer since it play a vital role in regulating thermal conditions. Clothing that fall under this category should provide additional support to the base layer by insulating against heat. They are generally designed to be soft breathable materials that provide a comfy fit for the golfer which invariably supports overall performance. In terms of breathability, the clothing material used should allow for easy movement of excess moisture and heat out of the body for evaporation. Examples of mid layer clothing include,