During the winter months, you may not be so keen on making your way to any public golf courses. But the cold and snow doesn’t have to slow you down. In fact, winter golf can do nothing but improve your game. Learning to play in these conditions can help widen your knowledge of the game and improve your skills.
Your first few holes might be a bit of a doozy, but you’ll get the hang out it eventually.
If you do decide to take a trip to your favorite golf course this winter, keep the following tips in mind:
- Layer up: While the air might only be slightly chilled, remember that you’ll be standing still a lot on the course. Without a lot of motion, you may be subject to cold more easily. On the other hand, if you are moving pretty frequently to stay loose, you may start heating up. Wearing multiple layers keeps you prepared for any degree of cold you may need to withstand.
- Opt for nine holes: Even the most passionate golf player has to cut back every now and again. Having your hands on a cold, metal club for hours on end may be more harmful than helpful. Even with gloves on, the chill will settle in, and you may need to take a breather. If you’re set on playing a whole course, plan to take a breather after nine holes and play it by ear. Ask the clubhouse if it’s possible to tack on another nine holes after your break if you’re felling up to it, but try not to overestimate your winter playing abilities.
- Use a high-vis golf ball: High vision yellow golf balls are especially helpful in the snowy season when your white ball may blend in. Any color ball will likely work, but high-vision yellow tends to stand out the most against any background.
- Watch what you drink: During a casual summer golf game, it’s common for adults to enjoy a couple beers on the course. However, during the winter, these frosty beverages will do you no good. While you may feel like you’re putting on a liquid blanket, alcohol will lower your body temperature. Instead, bring a thermos of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa with you to keep your insides toasty and stimulate your metabolism as well.
- Adjust your driver: During the winter, your standard driver won’t work nearly as well as you expect. You can purchase an adjusted driver to bring on the course, as 14 clubs are allowed in a players bag during a stipulated game of golf, but you can also discuss adjusting your existing club with a golf pro at the course. The pro will likely suggest adjusting your club to have more loft, which means a higher carry and distance. In the winter, your swing may suffer a little bit. The extra loft can help compensate for that.
- Learn winter rules: In the winter, golf rules are far more flexible. In extremely poor conditions, you’re granted relief for embedded balls both on the green and in the rough. If you have visible snow or water beneath your feet or ball, you are also granted relief and will be able to reposition your ball anywhere within one club’s length of the point of relief.
Don’t let Old Man Winter get in the way of you and the golf course. Call Deerfield Golf Club to check out our seasonal availability to see when you can hit the links.