Instruction
How to play your best in the cold
Here in the Northeast, the end of summer marks the close of the “recreational” golf season, but GolfWRXers are in no way “recreational golfers.” We eat, breath, sleep and dream the game, then brush our teeth in the morning thinking about the perfect putting stroke.
So, for us, the golf season never really ends whether we live in New Jersey, Illinois or South Dakota.
Our golf course here in New Jersey closes. Twice. On Christmas and New Year’s Day. I have been asked (more than once), “Will there be a frost delay two days from now,” and I have sold greens fees to 40 or 50 die-hard golfers on a Saturday morning while snow was falling. I grew up in Chicago and played college golf in the Northeast, and still love the challenge of scraping out a score in cold, wet conditions.
But, there are some things you have to accept about cold weather golf to give yourself the best chance to walk away satisfied with your score at the end of the round. Here are some thoughts and a few preparations you can make before you head to the course help you play your best.
At all costs, keep your hands warm
Cold weather players know that once cold seeps into their hands, the feel for the club and rhythm are lost. If you’re going to spend money on greens fees in the winter, a pair of cart mitts with chemical hand-warmer packets goes a long way to keeping you in the game. If you put the hand warmers in your pants pockets, the heat escapes and they quickly become worthless. It’s also hard to drive a cart with your hands in your pockets.
I’ve always thought walking is better for keeping warm (and probably for playing your best generally), but our course has lots of elevation changes and is a tough walk. So we include carts in our greens fees, and most players ride in the winter. Several of our regular off-season players own their own cart covers and use propane golf cart heaters to keep warm on the ride between shots. In New Jersey, the cold-weather golf season lasts four to five months (we even have a 52-year-old winter league here with professional and amateur divisions). A propane heater and cart cover cost about $200 together. If you’re serious about your winter golf, $200 might seem like a reasonable investment compared to the cost of the latest and greatest driver.
Play the right ball
To offset the cold, you have to play a softer compression golf ball to avoid losing lots of distance. Luckily, there are more options for the cold weather golfer now than ever. I’m a Bridgestone Golf staff professional, and the Bridgestone e6 is easily the best cold weather ball I’ve ever played. When I make a good swing in 45-degree weather and hit the middle of the club face, the e6 goes only a few yards shorter than my B330 in the summertime. If you have your hand warmers, it’ll be easier to find the middle of the club face than when your hands are frozen.
Wear the right clothes
Modern compression clothing from companies like Under Armor, Nike and Adidas make cold-weather golf a lot more fun than it used to be. Staying warm without a lot of bulky clothes that impede your swing used to be much harder. If the temps are above 40 degrees, I can play in a compression shirt, a golf shirt and a wind vest and make a pretty free move at the ball. If you keep your head and hands warm, you can also usually get away with wearing less on the rest of your body. You want to layer and make sure none of the base layers (next to your skin) are made out of cotton, because it doesn’t wick perspiration and can cause to you to feel even colder.
Make simple, rhythmic swings and club up
Because you’re wearing more clothes, your swing will be shorter and timing it properly will be harder. You have to accept that you won’t hit the ball as far with any of your clubs as you do in the middle of the summer. Remember that you’ll pick up some distance from that low compression ball you’re playing, and just focus on smooth swings and catching the ball in the middle of the club face. Warming up with a short run or on a stationary bike and stretching before a round in cold weather can help a lot too.
Cold weather golf can be a lot of fun and a great way to shake off the cabin fever in the winter. Make sure you come prepared and I’m sure you’ll have a great time.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Jen NJ
Nov 26, 2014 at 12:11 am
Thanks everybody. I’m a crazy female golfer. So far I’ve gotten 25 round in October and November in New Jersey thanks to a little paid break from my company. I can’t stop playing. I got myself a mobile warming heated vest along with a Sunbeam Heat2Go back warmer. I wear a thin compression shirt, then a tight fleece type shirt with the vest and back warmer. Pants wise I wear corduroy with my under armour fleece lined tights under, footjoy wintersof gloves and my ski socks with golf shoes. So far with this ensemble I’ve stayed loose enough to swing freely and have kept my score in the 80’s. I think when the snow really tanks the season I may need to take a little extended weekend somewhere to get in a bunch of rounds.
I have lost quite a few of my yellow Lady Bridgeston Precepts but with these darn leaves thats to be expected when I miss a fairway.
Pingback: Winter Golf | Hacker to Single Figures
Ponjo
Nov 14, 2013 at 4:43 pm
Use Zippo hand warmers. Keep hands very very warm. Plus when the hail is lashing down on a 20mph wind wear a balaclava
Paul Kaster
Nov 25, 2013 at 11:36 am
Thanks for the tip, Ponjo. Hail and 20 mph winds…that’s dedication!
pablo
Nov 6, 2013 at 7:52 pm
If i lived anywhere cooler than phoenix (where we live) i would take Mick’s advice. I don’t know how you guys do it. I hate the cold, and I know i’m blessed by being able to wear shorts all year, so when it’s too windy and cold here to golf i just play ‘golf star’ on my phone or ‘golden tee’ at the bar.
Paul Kaster
Nov 8, 2013 at 6:59 pm
It’s mostly about where you grow up, what weather you’re used to, and what you’re willing to do to play the game you love. I was raised in Chicago so if I only chose to play golf in perfect conditions, I would’ve played about three times a year…Playing in bad weather is just part of the fun for those of us who are passionate about the game and live in temperate climates.
Abu Dhabi Golfer
Nov 4, 2013 at 10:45 am
Fleece pants under storm/rain pants.
Your torso will feel like it is in an oven.
It is so effective that you body heat needs to escape. This has the effect of warming the hands and other extremeties very effectively.
As long as their is no wind or rain, golf while where this combo is still very comfortablt at about 3 deg C or about 38 deg F.
Paul Kaster
Nov 5, 2013 at 9:11 am
Great tip! For those interested, here is a link for an affordable pair of microfleece pants: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/white-sierra-baz-az-ii-pants-microfleece-for-men~p~2399f/?filterString=mens-fleece-pants~d~345%2F&colorFamily=01
PhA
Nov 3, 2013 at 4:06 am
Hi gentlemen!
Lucky enough to live in Paris (France), our coldest weather conditions are not so extreme than that in Northern America or canada.
Still, we are very often below 0 Celsius in Winter.
For the last two years, I have used ODLO X-Warm serie underclothes (www.odlo.com). These clothes are very warm and very comfortable. I think that the brand is Swedish, so they know what they are talking about regarding cold weather.
Great article and great web site!
PhA
Regis
Oct 30, 2013 at 6:21 pm
Bridgestone (formerly Precept) Lady in yellow $20 a dozen. Perfect
Paul Kaster
Oct 31, 2013 at 2:00 pm
The Lady is a GREAT ball! Can’t find a better value out there for winter golf.
KCCO
Oct 29, 2013 at 11:40 am
Just saw this heater, I’m a walker, but on weekends we are forced to ride…..wasn’t nearly as expensive as I though
http://www.buggiesunlimited.com/golf-cart/coleman-golfcat-temperature-controlled-catalytic-propane-heater/HTR%20UNV%205036
Elson
Oct 28, 2013 at 10:24 am
Paul,
Thanks for great tips.
One thing I do here in Sweden when I play in the fall/winter. Instead of golf shoes I use a good pair of hiking boots, they are still lightweight, they keep you warm, gives good traction plus you don’t have to ruin you golf shoes that otherwise gets covered with mud and God knows what?
Paul Kaster
Oct 28, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Elson, great suggestion! I usually play in a pair of old shoes, but a light pair of waterproof boots make a lot of sense.
Ronald Montesano
Nov 15, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Hey,Elson…I’m told by Nike that these are sold in Europe. I’m a big fan of version 1 and the Lunar Bandon, version 2:
http://www.golfwrx.com/147746/review-nike-lunar-bandon-golf-shoes/
KCCO
Oct 27, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Just a point I would like to add, during fall/early winter switching to a z-star yellow, or playing cheaper balls will help save $$$/speed up play as you will lose a lot of balls under leaves, and spend a lot of time searching. So unless playing in a official event, I prefer my playing group watches/spots ball, if lost drop in nearest spot to speed up play. (our winter rules) Learned my lesson today, donated half a dozen pro-v1x to my course. Not to the woods, to the first cut which is now at that point in north where it is covered with leaves. If you don’t mind wasting good balls or hit fairways every drive, more power to ya, unfortunately we don’t;)
TL
Oct 27, 2013 at 11:28 am
oh yeah, I forgot: ALWAYS walk and carry!
Nick
Nov 12, 2013 at 11:03 am
A wind whipped cart in the winter is pure torture. I second the advice to walk. Fortunately I live in Miami so I get the 365 shorts weather but when I see my folks in Atlanta for Thanksgiving and Christmas there’s usually a winter round to be had. I’ve got thin blood these days for the cold, walking is the only way it stays manageable. Cover the head and hands at all costs too.
Gus
Oct 27, 2013 at 11:28 am
I just played 36-hole today in Toronto (Canada) in sub 10C degrees…. It was windy, cold, even hailed a bit an then sunshine broke through and was pretty crazy weather.
I wore: Underlayer long sleeves, golf Polo, then a Solomon X-country ski top (it was thin, flexible, and very warm). I wore traditional golf pants but ski socks underneath, and FJ weather gloves. On top of my golf cap I wore an oversize toque over it, covering my ears. I was warm all day and had no issues playing
In terms of golf equipment, I have adjustable shafts in my driver, 3W, and 3 hybrid, so I swapped in softer, but heavier and shorter shafts with slightly undersized grips. In the cold I won’t be making as good a shoulder turn so I won’t generate enough club head speed, and the shorter shaft is easier to swing Rymthically with more heft. Since I got 2 gloves on the smaller grip on my winter wood shafts makes sense.
As for ball I just buy the cheapest Yellow ball available, since I have lost balls in the fairways that were plugged or hidden under leaves so no point buying yellow tour balls!
And most importantly, play for position off the tee – you will lose 1 to 2 club length and it is nearly impossible to play out of the rough (if you can find the ball) so hitting fairways is imperative!
And most importantly, play it forward from the shorter tees and keep the round enjoyable!
Paul Kaster
Oct 27, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Gus, great ideas here! I especially like the heavier and softer shafts in your adjustable clubs. It’s amazing how technological change in the last few years allows you to adapt clubs to cold weather play. Great enthusiasm for the game. Thanks!
TL
Oct 27, 2013 at 11:27 am
Having lived and played in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Cleveland, I know how to optimize my game and lengthen the season:
1) electrically heated vest with compression heatgear shirt underneath (you don’t want any more layers preventing the heat from the vest from getting through). Available at TGW.com or multiple others on-line. I cannot stand having bulky jackets with long sleeves in my way, this option gets around all that! If your core is warm, you are warm!
2) If cloudy, very windy, or below 45 farenheit, add thin cashmere sweater or Mizuno Windlite sweater over heated vest.
3) Polar-Fleece mittens (Titleist)with slit in palm so you can stick your hand through, pull mitts up onto wrists, hit your shot, then cover your hands immediately again. Roomy enough to wear golf glove and add hand warmers if you must, but you can just stick your hands in your pockets with the heated vest. Haven’t seen these mitts for sale anywhere lately though.
4) Finally-low compression 2 piece ball. Be ready to lose a few in the uncut rough or leaves especially in the fall. Yellow balls are a lot easier to follow and find in grey weather (unless they land in a pile of yellow leaves)….and highly illegal, consider keeping your balls in a pocket in your bag with ball-warmers and rotate balls each hole–will add 5-10 yards off the tee and helps banish the winter loss of distance blues!
Paul Kaster
Oct 27, 2013 at 2:42 pm
The electric warming vest is a great idea! I think I may buy one this week…
TL
Nov 14, 2013 at 4:02 pm
you can have mine, I’m moving to Arizona!
Paul Kaster
Nov 16, 2013 at 6:15 pm
Good one, TL, very funny!
Richard
Oct 27, 2013 at 12:05 am
Great article and better timing. I will be playing in the morning here in michigan and doing all of what you suggested. I have cut the sleeves off a compression shirt and wear it under a lined mizuno sweater. That and a stocking cap with mittens and heaters in the pockets. Cover with heater in hand. All good!!! Soon the snow will fly and 12 weeks off for the winter so I want to get every round in.
Paul Kaster
Oct 27, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Thanks, Richard! Hope you had a great round today. You should be able to get several more rounds in before winter arrives in Michigan and I hope you enjoy them all!
paul
Oct 26, 2013 at 9:26 am
Where i live we have golf on a frozen lake every year. its a par 3 course. haven’t played it my self so.i don’t know how they find the ball… i think its a hollow rubber ball that won’t sink in the snow. once you get on a green you put out on a fake grass green. i would love to try it this year.
Paul Kaster
Oct 26, 2013 at 7:08 pm
That sounds like a blast, Paul! You should definitely give it a try. I’m sure the camaraderie is a lot of fun.
cce
Oct 25, 2013 at 3:12 pm
I’ve played in 3 Celsius temperature, that’s 37.4 F to you Americans, and something that really helps is walking the course if you are not in a hurry. It sure feels cold but once the sun starts shining it is good to go. Some days are more miserable than others but I still sweat just by walking. I wear a thermal under shirt, a sweater, a beanie and the sweater comes off after the 4th hole.
Another good ball for the winter is the Srixon Soft Feel.
W
Oct 25, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Not to be a smarta$$ but here in California the last 2 weeks, the weather has been in the low 80’s. Move to a more golf friendly region year around.
Ed
Oct 25, 2013 at 3:35 pm
That would be reasonable if they started paying me to golf..
naflack
Oct 26, 2013 at 2:17 am
ill take my october golf in minnesota over that everyday, true story.
Ed
Oct 25, 2013 at 12:06 pm
5. Staying hydrated
This isn’t anything new to the hardcore golfer but it plays an even more important role in the cooler weather. Keeping a flask full of your favorite brown liquor will keep your bones warm and your inhibitions low. Modern science tells us that drinking in the cold weather actually makes you colder because it thins your blood.. Well, they’re wrong and we all know it. Having a few swigs of Johnny Walker Blue while you’re waiting for the frost delay to end will have you ready to take on even the toughest of holes. But it doesn’t stop there.. have a 205 par 3 into a the wind on a 40 degree day? Have a few nips of some brandy and you’ll be doing the cha cha all the way to the bank. Sure, you might take a triple bogey on the hole but you’ll have the joy and youthful exuberance displayed on tour by the likes of Miguel Angel Jimenez. After your round you’ll struggle to remember what you shot but that doesn’t matter because now you’ve got a belly full of scotch and are ready to take on the nastiest ditch pig there is at the 19th hole.
Andrew
Oct 26, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Love it!!
Johnny
Oct 26, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Hahaha!!! I couldn’t agree more!
Ken
Nov 11, 2013 at 6:19 pm
The brown juice also lowers expectations. I like it. Kentucky is right up the road from Nashville … Brown juice paradise.
Allen
Oct 25, 2013 at 11:40 am
Paul,
As a former high school golfer in Michigan who had the state finals at the end of October each year, I completely agree with everything you said. When you have to play competitive golf at the end of October and you are trying to win a state title, you have no choice but to get a little crafty.
One thing we would do is wear sweatpants instead of khakis. We primarily did this because it was so cold and windy that our rain pants would never come off. The combination of tights, sweatpants and rain pants are unbelievably comforatble when it’s borderline snowing out.
We also all used football hand warmers that clip around your waste. We would load them with hand warmers and you could wear it in front of you while you were walking and flip it behind you to get it out of your way when you are swinging or putting. Using a football hand warmer is so much better than having a hand warmer in each of your pockets. It’s easier to walk with, you can rub your hands together inside of it and you can put as many warmers inside of it as you want. I highly suggest buying one if you play a lot of winter golf.
If you’re not sure what I mean by a football hand warmer, here is a link: http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12180098&cp=4406646.4413887.4414035.4414019.4414474
Paul Kaster
Oct 25, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Thanks, Allen! I forgot to include the football hand warmers…They are definitely indispensable when you walk the course in cold weather. Thanks for the comments and the link!
Jim
Oct 25, 2013 at 7:59 am
I would agree that golf this time of year in New England is pretty good, with less people and green fees cut in half at times. Using a yellow E6 ball really helps when you’re dealing with leaves and even snow. Hand warmers really do help – put them in your pockets and rotate your golf ball to keep them warm as well as your hands too. Using winter golf gloves really helps too, but I usually still use the regular glove with the winter glove on the opposite hand. Compression (cold) shirts work great and allow near normal movement. I’d add that on really cold days you’ll need an ice pick to put your tee in the ground though (not kidding). Enjoy the round!!
naflack
Oct 25, 2013 at 12:47 am
Strangely enough I still hit my pro v1 farther in the cold…?
Soul
Oct 25, 2013 at 12:21 am
don’t forget those fannypack hand warmers that NFL QBs wear if you’re walking, put your hand in them in bt shots and flip it around when you swing!!!
Nick
Oct 25, 2013 at 12:21 am
I play at least once a month from December-March here in Rochester NY. I typically switch to a regular prov1 vs the x – and usually a good base layer does the trick.
ironically i think ive played some of my best rounds after august.
craig@tourimpactgolf.com
Oct 25, 2013 at 9:54 am
I too have had some of my better rounds in poorer weather. Hard to over swing when it’s cold or the ground is wet I suppose.
mick
Oct 24, 2013 at 7:28 pm
A leather chair, TV and glass of scotch are also essentials for cold weather. See you in April
Reyes
Oct 24, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Golf this time of year in NYC is perfect. Very few people out there, the courses are in surprisingly good condition and you can play for almost half the cost of a round in the summer.
As for clothing, could not agree, more. A pair of cords, cold weather Under Armour with a comfortable pull over and I’m good to go. A warm hat is a must as is anything that has been aged 15 years. 🙂