Note: Down here at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, FL — it’s our first full day for the school — we don’t need cold weather gear. Maybe a raincoat, but the weatherman says the sun is going to come out. While all the students are very capable golfers, guess what they all shared: alignment problems! No pun intended, but we’re straightening that out. The Learning Center is fantastic, the staff is great. We’ll definitely be back here soon.
This is the time of year where many of us have to deal with some very cold and unforgiving weather…
I recently played a round and the temperature reached a high of 47 degrees, which is fairly cold here in sunny South Carolina. Today, we had a cloudless, perfectly North Carolina blue sky. A moderate breeze kept playing conditions comfortable and playable. I played 9 holes the day before and it was miserable. The temperature was 42 degrees and the wind was blowing a steady 20 mph plus, which equates to a wind chill in the high 20‘s to low 30’s. The wind made it really tough to stay warm, and swing with the clothes I had to wear. As I played, I thought about both days, and a few cold weather preparation and playing tips came to mind.
I always watch the weather forecast the night before I am playing, especially if it is in a tournament. And I will usually check it again the next morning for an update. The weather report informs me of all the conditions I can expect and thus how I need to dress, and if I need any extra equipment like jackets, warmer hats, mittens, rain suit and umbrella and extra towels. Note: It always boggles my mind to be at the course and the high temperature is predicted to be in the high 40’s to low 50’s, and I see golfers in shorts, or if rain is predicted, they don’t have rain gear or an umbrella. Watch the weather and be prepared.
Now for a few other tidbits that will help your cold weather play. Since you know the night before that it is going to be cold, go get your clubs and shoes out of the trunk. The big and most important piece of equipment not to leave in the cold are your golf balls. Cold golf balls don’t go! They feel heavy, slow off the club and will not go anywhere nearly as far. When you play, keep at least 3 balls in play, two in your pockets keeping them warm, and switching every hole. Note: A player can use hand warmers, but you cannot use it to keep your golf balls warm.
On the way to the course I will always keep my golf balls, and my shoes on the floor so the heat can blow on them and warm them up to toasty. And speaking of toasty, you need to keep yourself toasty out on the course. You need adequate clothes starting with a hat as most heat is lost through the head. Next you need a long sleeve shirt, or thermal underwear in extreme cold. For average cold, I always wear an undershirt, as they help keep warmth in especially on my back, which helps avoid it getting cold and stiffening up. Lastly you need warm socks and mittens.
Outerwear is also critical. Today, technology has brought micro fiber windbreakers and rain suits into play. These are great because they keep the wind out and warmth in, with the super bonus of being light, quiet and allow free swinging. For those extreme days , you can use a cart cover, and you can also throw in a propane heater for extra heat.
If you are a cold weather player either, for fun or necessity of tournament play, be like the Boy Scouts…Be Prepared, both for yourself and your equipment.
The Surge!
Tell me what you're thinking... and what part of the golf swing, or this great game... you'd like to know more about. If you want your pic to show with your comment, go get a 
WISHING DJ SUCCESS IN THE TOURNAMENT STARTING TODAY.
I THINK HIS TEEOFF IS AT 11:35AM.
I’M SURE ALL YOUR STUDENTS FEEL THE SAME WAY.
One more thing to point out about cold weather golf. If the weather channel says tomorrow’s going to start off in the 20’s with clear skies don’t expect to be teeing off right at daylight because there’s going to be a frost delay. For you Southerners, frost is that white stuff on the roof that kills the grapefruit, and the Head Greenskeeper is the guy who kills you if you step on his frozen greens.
Just book early, grab a coffee and relax. Remember the starter list is a FIFO stack. (First in-First out).
Don’t bother calling around looking for a course that isn’t under frost delay. If one is, they all are…. that’s nature….
Dear Surge,
Living here in northern MN (Duluth) we get used to playing in cold weather spring and fall. I strongly recommend anyone playing in cold weather to get a set of polypropylene (I think the spelling is correct) long underwear. The stuff is very thin, light and a lot cheaper than UnderArmour or other golf apparel brands. The tops usually have a very long tail so they stay tucked in through an afternoon of swinging a golf club. They wick away any perspiration and will not feel clammy or damp. I hope to play my last round this Sunday and 44 degrees, sunny, little wind will be a great day to finish the season. Hope this helps. Enjoy Port Lucie and South Carolina – we are polishing up the snow blowers and shovels for next month’s weather.
Regards,
Steve Lucia
Hey Surge wish the best to DJ from all his Canadian fans will ya. You hit most of the points for cold weather play right on the head. One more: DON’T FORGET TO STRETCH BEFORE THE ROUND AND DURING THE ROUND.
Swing away.
Phil
Hi Surge….
It was February 28, 2968. We landed at Hilton Head airport. There were 16 of us. Eleven, including me, were guests of Sports Illustrated Magazine. The other five were the Publisher and 4 salesmen from SI. The plane that carried us belonged to Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. SI’s jet couldn’t land at Hilton Head because the runways were too short. (It was back when there weren’t too many courses, or people either, on the island.) We were whisked directly to Harbour Town to play our first round of 4 days there. It was freezing, and at the end of the 9th hole we had to leave because it was snowing! The publisher of SI solved the problem of cold weather the next day by putting us back on the plane at 8AM and flying to West Palm to play Jack Nicklaus’ course, Burning Tree. We flew back that evening, but had to land in Savannah. There were no lights yet at the HH airport. Now that’s how to play golf when the weather gets cold!!!
I have a question with ball position. I play most of my irons in the middle opposite my belt buckle. My wedges and 9, 8, 7, are moved just slightly just ahead with each iron. I get the ball olenty high enough and carry each the desired distance farther. My problem is my 5 and 6 iron I don’t get it up in thee air thus robbing me of their desired didtance, Any suggestions?
Thanks
Oh Darn! I don’t seem to have that problem in Yuma, AZ. Today, November 12, 2009 it is 82 degrees
and overcast. :O)
Randy Beckett’s comment above is right on the mark. I too am from Albuquerque, and for the very reasons he mentions, I follow that same 50 degree rule. Fortunately, here in Albuquerque, you can play nearly year round, but for that month or two when its miserable, turn on the golf channel. As Randy says, you can really make some bad swings in cold weather.
I feel sorry for you poor buggers not being able to play all year round like we do here in Australia. There is no winter break, because we don’t have much in the way of snow. Sure the days can be a bit chilly, but we play all year round. I suggest that you hop on a plane & come on over. Stop in New Zealand on the way. They too play all year round & have some great courses. The green fees inboth countries are very reasonable. To get an idea ..http://www.ausgolf.com.au/ go to golf courses & in the drop down golf course search. pick a state & browse.
I’m with Tony Simons on this one. Here in New Zealand we can play all year round, especially in the north of the country where snow is unknown. Not that it can’t be cold and wet and miserable but what’s a bit of cold and wet compared with the joy of playing the great game. As Tony says, pop down and see us in both NZ and Oz and enjoy great hospitality and great golf and great prices, especially with a favourable exchange rate. Don’t mean to sound like a travel brochure but I do feel for those who are snowbound and golf-starved for months on end – unimaginable!!
Saw D J play at the Childrens Miracle Network Classic Tournament in Orlando today and asked him where you were.
I then told him that your PPSG lessons help me and I now no longer have backackes after golf.
I watched DJ for 5 holes and he does get to one o’clock on his tees shots, but did out drive his playing partner who took a full back swing.
He missed a few birdie putts which could have put him deeper in the hunt.
I really enjoyed watching DJ and hope he finishes high in the standings on Sunday.
Uh….try: Don’t play. It’s reaslly not a life or death kinda thing, y’all!
Cold? It was a warm day today with the thermometer reading 89 degrees at noon.
No excuse for not practicing here in the 50th state.
Yeah… it’s been 100 plus all summer here… and so anything below 65 feels miserable for a couple of weeks. You’ll see a bunch of silly Texans wearin’ jackets when the weather gets below 70. Golf aside, I hope we get below freezing a time or two to kill some of the darned fire ants and other assorted nasties.
Good luck, D.J., and best wishes, Don.
Cold weather ?? You guys don’t know what cold is. We play all year round (which TRUE golfer doesn’t). 3 or 4 degrees celsius is fine. We even have a Seniors competition on New Years Day at my club on the East coast of Scotland. As Don says, dress for the weather, be prepared and enjoy your golf.
Don just order the dvd and going to start when get here i am 78 to 89 hand cap. but work out a lot o r hit balls all day wrong i guess. My hip is killing me i hope the dvd will get me back tothe wright way so can have i work hard to play great but loss it on the golf course. are ther drills i need to doin the dvd if not sead me some please.
It just started getting cold here in Virginia. I went out to play yesturday and it was sunny but cool. I played with a senior gentleman that educated me about cold weather golf. How the ball won’t go as far because of the heavy air. It made a lot of sense, because my drives were not going as far as they were in the summer. It was fustrating at first but when my fellow golfer told me about the cooler weather but it makes sense. I think that maybe alot of golfers don’t play in the cold weather because of this, what do you think?
You made a good point about keeping the golf balls warm and using several during play, I will plan to use that tip the next time I play. I have a tendency to only use one ball for a round. Thanks for all the great tips and education.
Hi Don,
I smiled when I dead your ‘tips’ on cold weather ,as a Scot who plays at least twice a week all year round , only 2 ” of snow on the groung closes the course ; can’t putt !
Remember, there is no such thing as ‘bad weather- only bad clothing ! ‘
p.s. Try playing in a Kilt ! ( think what might be underneath ?????? )