“Winter is coming.”

[Foreright6]

Playing up in New England (Maine), you need to be prepared for the cold fall mornings that change to 70 deg by noon.

What kind of equipment changes (if any) do you make when in the cold? Played our first round in “cold” this weekend, teed off at 6:45 and 42 deg. We all noticed about 10 yds of difference and by the end of the round we were about back to normal yardages. Ball felt as hard as a rock early on!  Looking forward to our first snow round!

Edited September 21, 2020 by Foreright6

[Isaac_Newton]

Having played a lot of winter golf out west in 40 degree weather I think the most important thing is don’t leave your golf balls in your car overnight. Warm golf balls fly further than cold ones. On occasion I would alternate balls between holes from in play to in my pocket trying to keep the balls warm. 

[jwhite86]

1 minute ago, Isaac_Newton said:

Having played a lot of winter golf out west in 40 degree weather I think the most important thing is don’t leave your golf balls in your car overnight. Warm golf balls fly further than cold ones. On occasion I would alternate balls between holes from in play to in my pocket trying to keep the balls warm. 

I always alternate golf balls when the weather gets cooler, I think I read it in Golf Digest when I was a kid.  

[MattM97]

Switch to cheaper/softer golf balls. Main reason is tend to lose more and no point losing a $5 ball in soft ground or under leaves when you walk over it 15x.  

[Bubbtubbs]

I'm in northern central Ontario and often play into the second week of November before the courses close, temperatures sometimes as low as 1°C .

 

As said before, keep a ball or two in your pocket to keep them warm and switch out every couple holes. Having lower compression balls also helps, especially since they tend to disappear in softer ground if you miss the short grass.

 

Also, remember that the colder weather affects you on two fronts: ball compression and air density. When the temperature gets down around freezing, it can be nearly a two club difference from summer behaviour as far as carry distance goes.

 

Clothing-wise, I usually just wear a long-sleeved t-shirt under a golf shirt, with maybe a vest if the wind is biting. With really cold weather or rain, I have a light jacket that stays in my golf bag. Recently switched to always wearing golf pants because I don't have to apply sunscreen in the summer and modern wicking fabrics feel the same as shorts with respect to temperature but are warmer in late fall.

 

Good luck.

Edited September 21, 2020 by Bubbtubbs

[MattM97]

Just now, Bubbtubbs said:

I'm in northern central Ontario and often play into the second week of November before the courses close, temperatures sometimes as low as 1°C .

 

As said before, keep a ball or two in your pocket to keep them warm and switch out every couple holes. Having lower compression balls also helps, especially since they tend to disappear in softer ground if you miss the short grass.

 

Also, remember that the colder weather affects you on two fronts: ball compression and air density. When the temperature gets down around freezing, it can be nearly a two club difference from summer behaviour as far as carry distance goes 

 

Good luck.

 

Also swinging in many layers isn't as good. Kinda hate playing bundled up but kinda hate not playing more. 

[Bubbtubbs]

1 minute ago, MattM97 said:

 

Also swinging in many layers isn't as good. Kinda hate playing bundled up but kinda hate not playing more. 

Agreed. I did finish editing my post to talk about clothing just moments after you replied.

 

I usually err on the side of being underdressed with options to add if it's too frigid out and I'm tensing up. Really hate swinging in a jacket, though, so I try to avoid it if I can.

[MattM97]

Just now, Bubbtubbs said:

Agreed. I did finish editing my post to talk about clothing just moments after you replied.

 

I usually err on the side of being underdressed with options to add if it's too frigid out and I'm tensing up. Really hate swinging in a jacket, though, so I try to avoid it if I can.

 

Yeah I'll try and play until courses close but gonna be doing more simulator golf. I know a lot don't like it but reps vs no reps for how long the off season is in Canada is huge for playing good golf when the season starts again. 

[North Butte]

The weather in my area is reasonable for golf year round, although some years February can be pretty raw. I just wear more clothing layers and maybe toss a handwarmer in each pocket on the coolest days. If the wind chill is below 40-ish I just wait for a warmer day to come around. Other than that, it's golf as usual during the winter. A cool day in January is easier to deal with than the heat in August, for me.

[braincramp52]

You guys that keep your balls in your pocket are better men than I am. ?

[NoTalentLefty]

Play later in day. 

[Dr. Block]

I usually put the clubs up and get out my pool cue. 

[Hougz79]

I also play less expensive balls in the fall here in MN.   Once the leaves fall it’s easy to lose a ball right in the middle of the fairway.  I tend to play lower compression balls in the cold.  The slight loss of distance is more tolerable than losing a PV1 or TP5x right out of the sleeve in the middle of the fairway because it is buried under a leaf......

[platgof]

I broke down and picked up a feather balloon vest for cooler days. The pros wear them! Also will be using thin wool socks as well. Any suggestions for a good beanie??

Edited September 22, 2020 by platgof

[setter02]

Lower compression balls and take more club.

[Stetson]

Best cold weather piece of clothing you can get are the lines sweaters. Can wear those as winter coats that stay so warm and do not require a bunch of layers. 
 

walking helps a ton. Keeps your legs and back lose, temp up, etc. last year I walked 18 in my lined sweater at 45*.  Got home and as drenched in sweat. Had no idea, plenty warm every step of the way. 
 

Hogan has been credited as the one who would keep hot hands (today’s name brand) in his pocket with a golf ball to help with distance. 

Edited September 22, 2020 by Stetson

[GBBM]

?

[Asics10]

1.)Bring your whole bag in overnight, keep all the sticks and balls warm.  2.)Play later in the day, tell your wife you'll be late to the stupid 2:00 kid party

3.) buy a mizuno windlite or two

[bunta]

I used to make my girlfriend sit on 3 balls on the way to the course. She's 180lbs.

[Foreright6]

16 hours ago, Asics10 said:

1.)Bring your whole bag in overnight, keep all the sticks and balls warm.  2.)Play later in the day, tell your wife you'll be late to the stupid 2:00 kid party

3.) buy a mizuno windlite or two

Lol @ #2

[scooterhd2]

put handwarmers in the ball pocket of your bag. keeps them toasty. alternate balls every hole. 

 

Switch to a yellow ball once the leaves have fallen off. 

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

On 9/21/2020 at 8:04 PM, Isaac_Newton said:

Having played a lot of winter golf out west in 40 degree weather I think the most important thing is don’t leave your golf balls in your car overnight. Warm golf balls fly further than cold ones. On occasion I would alternate balls between holes from in play to in my pocket trying to keep the balls warm. 

Trying to keep the balls warm sounds like a great idea!

 

Joking aside, a good vest and fleece layer maintain your range of motion and keep the core warm- the most important thing. I like the Bridgestone Extra Soft balls in the winter, too. And I avoid blades, mishits sting especially bad when it’s colder...

[Stinger83]

Gotta have spiked shoes during winter here. It gets softer and wetter around here. 

[setter02]

I guess this is where real wrx comes out as well and having a second set of woods for silly season weather.  I don't play my gamer woods/hybrids below 8* really.  I've cracked a couple drivers years ago in cold weather, so not doing that again.  And it's not like you can get really serious in the shoulder seasons given you can lose a ball in the fairway to plugging or leaves...

[jimb6golf]

I typically play right through the winter, if there's no snow on the ground in the Boston area.  Limited courses are open but you can play down  into the 20's as long as you layer up your clothing correctly, play a softer yellow ball and bring some hand warmers.  Very quiet and peaceful and you can have some fun with the crazy bounces, etc. you'll find on the course. It's more about your swing than it is about scoring as it gets colder.  Hearing that we'll have a mild winter which is always good for golf too.

[drbonesvt]

On 9/21/2020 at 12:55 PM, Foreright6 said:

Playing up in New England (Maine), you need to be prepared for the cold fall mornings that change to 70 deg by noon.

What kind of equipment changes (if any) do you make when in the cold? Played our first round in “cold” this weekend, teed off at 6:45 and 42 deg. We all noticed about 10 yds of difference and by the end of the round we were about back to normal yardages. Ball felt as hard as a rock early on!  Looking forward to our first snow round!

IMOP the ball , the wilson duo best cold weather ball out there 

[MattyO1984]

Equipment wise for me my driving iron is left at home. There is no run in the fairways so carry is king and that is much easier with a hybrid. My wedges also get taken out of the bag and an older set gets popped in there. No sense in wearing out newer grooves when the ball drops and stops regardless. The past however many years, I have kept using the same ball but I may switch out this year and give something softer a go.

 

Beyond that, clothing wise - three layers on most days, four on the really cold days and if it’s any colder than that, I am not playing. We are relatively lucky here in that most courses don’t close down during the winter months but we will have to get used to winter tees most days, winter greens when it is really cold or has frosted and you either play from mats in the fairway or kick to the side and playing from the semi rough which in fairness is cut down pretty low.

 

 

[magnus7319]

Put a couple balls in each pocket with hand warmers.

 

[Bubbtubbs]

23 hours ago, LukeDonaldsTiger said:

Trying to keep the balls warm sounds like a great idea!

 

Joking aside, a good vest and fleece layer maintain your range of motion and keep the core warm- the most important thing. I like the Bridgestone Extra Soft balls in the winter, too. And I avoid blades, mishits sting especially bad when it’s colder...

I still play my irons in the cold. '94 Hogan Apex blades, 4-P

[lefty1978]

QStar Tours are excellent winter balls.