Some golfers are lucky and will play on local courses where temperatures remain pleasant throughout the year.
However, many British and European golf courses will see various weather patterns throughout the year including wind, rain and cold. If you have ever played on a traditional British links golf course at any time of year, you will know how cold it can get.
In winter, the temperatures fall even further and playing golf in extremely cold conditions brings its own set of challenges.
One of the key areas of playing golf successfully in the wind is keeping your hands warm. Your hands are your only link between you and the golf club and if they get cold you will lose the feel in them and your game will go downhill.
Invest in a good pair of golf mittens and keep them in your pockets. That way as soon as you have played a shot you can place your club back in your bag and slide your hands into your mittens. You will also want to keep your hands in your mittens when someone else is playing their shot and you are lining up your own. Only remove them when it is your turn to play.
You will want to dress in layers when playing golf in the cold.
A pair of leggings under your trousers, thick socks, thermal vest, knitwear and a warm hat are all important. Wearing these will keep you warm on the golf course but you must keep some degree of flexibility. Do not layer up so much you can hardly move.
If you can, try and play with a softer ball in cold conditions. Phil Mickelson spoke about this at the Waste Management tournament in 2011 and although it is not something which is as important as the two points above, if you do have access to a softer ball, now is the time to use it.
The ball will not travel as far in the cold and your body, due to the cold, may not be able to produce the same swing as in warmer conditions. This means you need to think about which club you are using during your round. If you can, head to the driving range before the round and make note of how far you are hitting the ball. If you need to take an extra club then do it.
You may also consider playing one tee up from your normal length but it is understandable not many players want to do that.
Finally, keep your expectations in check. Accept the ball is not going to travel as far and spin as much in cold conditions. You will not play the same round of golf as you would on a normal day and must be prepared for a tough time.
Relish the challenges that very cold temperatures can bring to the golf course and go out there in a positive frame of mind.
Recent Comments