Mixed feelings about winter coming...

[mvhoffman]

This year I am having mixed feelings about winter coming here in the North East.  Granted I have not played a lot of golf this year, but I just got new irons and wedges in the bag and I'm not ready to give it up.  I will likely still walk until the snow falls but then ski season is here.  I love ski season and am truly looking forward to my weekend mornings on the mountain and a few group events that I have planned for this season.

 

Golf was different for me this year though.  Less rounds (1 year old, currently almost 16 months)and my handicap jumped from 5.1 to 6.8 and now likely closer to an 8(haven't posted in a while) which actually gave me some late season incentive to play.  When I went last week, I screwed up on about 7 holes on the front nine doing simple things.  Not bad technique, not bad swings, just me not adjusting my grip location for the lie.  My aim was a little off as well.  This stuff has given me a little more fire to get some more rounds in before the freeze happens.

 

I didn't really have the drive in the middle of summer to get out there because, well, life.  I had almost gotten stagnant with my golf excitement but now it is back.  Here's to hoping I can get a few more rounds in and enjoy it.

[Roejye]

I'm also having mixed feelings about winter coming in the upper Midwest too. I don't really have another winter hobby like you, but I'm looking forward to using the time to hopefully work on getting my body back to normal. I do have access to a golf dome, so I can get some practice in during the off season.

 

My round count is much lower than last season, part injury, part life and my handicap has ticked up just a little. However my ball striking with the irons has been better lately, I had a round where I had 5/9 GIR and it would have been 6/9 but I had to chip over a bunker on 9 and just a little too strong and rolled out to the fringe. I've also gotten an eagle and had another decent chance at one. I do want to get out there at least once more.

[byerxa]

No mixed feelings here in the Great White North - I am not looking forward to winter.  Golfed more this year than in the last 5 and the game has finally started coming around (amazing what some fitness work will do). The worst here is November.  Golf is over at the end of October but winter does not set in enough to do winter stuff (ski).  It is just a gray dreary cold month. Wife and I were supposed to spend the whole month of November in FLA this year but the 'VID torpedoed that.

 

Sigh.

[jvincent]

I have had a very up and down season swing/scoring wise.

 

I've got an emergency trip to Bandon booked for the second week of Nov to prolong the season. After that it's going to be a winter of exercise (like last year) and probably weekly trips to a buddy's golf simulator.

[mizuno player]

I am looking forward to winter and not playing. 

 

Need to figure out if I'm going to continue to play. Neck and elbow injuries are making it difficult. 

 

I love project X but playing more than every so often isn't an option. Tried Steelfiber and lost 2 clubs distance. I don't have enough room in my bag to compensate for that. 

 

So, after some rest and time away I'll start searching and trying different graphite shafts to see if I continue is this game. 

[aenemated]

I know the feel. I might have to wear long pants and maybe a jacket before too long. 😉

[golfortennis]

4 hours ago, byerxa said:

No mixed feelings here in the Great White North - I am not looking forward to winter.  Golfed more this year than in the last 5 and the game has finally started coming around (amazing what some fitness work will do). The worst here is November.  Golf is over at the end of October but winter does not set in enough to do winter stuff (ski).  It is just a gray dreary cold month. Wife and I were supposed to spend the whole month of November in FLA this year but the 'VID torpedoed that.

 

Sigh.

 

This.  Entirely this.  Have always been a big believer that it should be my choice every day whether I play or not.  None of this "closed for the season" crap.  

 

But we are going to Florida this November.  Been 2 years and wife will not stand for another winter without a trip.

 

 

[dropkicked]

I'm in Toronto.. Golf is over for me 😞

So it's 2 weeks in Jamaica then a few weeks in Bahamas for Tigers event.. Now I gotta wait 3 weeks...... 😞😞

[lefthack]

I can almost play year round, it's just wet and cold mostly. Since it's only been a year since I restarted last year, I didn't stop last winter except for snow days.

 

I don't golf in the rain and being in Portland makes that tough. But you can time it right sometimes. But I don't have a ton else going right now, so golf it is. 🤣

[deadsolid...shank]

13 hours ago, aenemated said:

I know the feel. I might have to wear long pants and maybe a jacket before too long. 😉

We really need a “ flipping the bird” emoticon!😀

 

Jealous of you guys with year round weather.  Wife could transfer to Phoenix (I’m on board with that) but no way she leaves the grandkids. 
 

in all actuality, I’m not dreading winter like I used to. Because of how limited my available time is now, I almost feel obligated to get out there whenever there is a chance.  With our other obligations now combined with how long the rounds take nowadays, it seems like there is no weekend time left. If there’s snow on the ground I won’t feel like I’m missing out on an opportunity to play. I can actually have a little downtime. 

[MtlJeff]

I have 16 straight rounds of 76 or better. My handicap has not been this low at this point in the season ever. I am not happy about the season ending! 

 

Typically I play to scratch in midsummer and more like a 2 or so in October when it's really cold

 

I'm finishing the season as a 0.2 this year. I feel like if I hit it this well in July id be a +2 or something. Frustrating it has to end!

[caniac6]

We play year round in NC, but I’m not looking forward to the wet and muddy conditions when the Bermuda goes dormant.

[elwhippy]

Just had the dreaded email from Greens Committee. Mats are mandatory on all mown areas from 1st Nov. Only been on improved lies a month and fairways are still excellent. Had some rain in last fortnight but heading out in an hour....sunny and 14 degrees. 

[aenemated]

21 hours ago, caniac6 said:

We play year round in NC, but I’m not looking forward to the wet and muddy conditions when the Bermuda goes dormant.

 

I grew up in NC and yep, totally remember those times.

 

Coach had us starting our HS season prep in freakin February. Glad this was still in the metal spikes days - can’t imagine trying to get around that on soft spikes!

[Neo1]

live in southern cal and we are so spoiled, i've literally decided to not play the day after it rains because of mud balls and maybe cart path only lol 

[mukster]

It's been pretty wet here in the Pacific Northwest. Played yesterday and today, we did nine holes both days. It will take a few rounds, pretty soon we will play 18 and not even complain. Much.

 

I feel sorry for you guys that have to shut down all together. 

[Steele47]

Yeap.  About to stick the clubs in the corner for a few months but also get to dig through the winter garb,  rediscovering what great taste I have in sweaters.

[Ferguson]

On 10/23/2021 at 1:41 PM, MtlJeff said:

I have 16 straight rounds of 76 or better. My handicap has not been this low at this point in the season ever. I am not happy about the season ending! 

 

Typically I play to scratch in midsummer and more like a 2 or so in October when it's really cold

 

I'm finishing the season as a 0.2 this year. I feel like if I hit it this well in July id be a +2 or something. Frustrating it has to end!

I had 14 straight at 78 or better.  Overall, my best season in 5 years with little to no practice. 

We can play all winter, although Jan and Feb are tough. 

 

[kmay__]

League ended last week so that sucks, managed to get out for 18 yesterday though. We play sparingly through the winter as there is 2 or 3 courses near by that will let you out provided the course isn't snow covered. I've played on xmas eve and new years day in the last couple seasons.

 

Just part of life here, change the wardrobe and get the snowbrush and shovels out. Had to shut off the water outside and do all the winterizing stuff this past weekend as were gonna have some nights get down near freezing here soon. 

[jvincent]

10 hours ago, 1putt2win2 said:

live in southern cal and we are so spoiled, i've literally decided to not play the day after it rains because of mud balls and maybe cart path only lol 

I say this with the utmost sincerity..... you can go suck it.

[MattM97]

Like a few others I'm also in the great white north and ended my season this past Saturday, there is still probably another month of golf left but the weather is too unpredictable and I'm just too busy now. So into the simulators I go to work on my game as there is a lot for me to work on despite my game improving all without having the chance to practice at any point this year, just playing once ever 2 weeks if I'm lucky. 

[MaineMariner]

Pennsylvania here, and my last few rounds have been pretty miserably wet, windy, and cold. And the courses have been in rough shape. The first round or two you can trick yourself into thinking, "it's just like I'm playing in Scotland! This is real golf!" But after a while it gets tiring dealing with spongy, flooded, unmown courses.

 

The place we played last weekend hadn't mown their greens in days, I guess because of rain. I've never, in my life, putted on greens that slow. The greens were slower than your typical fairway. To me, that takes half the fun out of the game. At least when I'm spending $50 on it.

 

So yeah, bring on the winter, and I'll see you guys on the other side.

[Bad9]

59 minutes ago, jvincent said:

I say this with the utmost sincerity..... you can go suck it.

 

Here in northeastern Canada(53° 19' latitude) we're still playing. Almost in shirt sleeves yesterday and the forecast is near 10° daytime highs through Monday.

[jvincent]

26 minutes ago, Bad9 said:

 

Here in northeastern Canada(53° 19' latitude) we're still playing. Almost in shirt sleeves yesterday and the forecast is near 10° daytime highs through Monday.

Yep, still playing in Ottawa.

 

It was fabulous, for this time in October, on the weekend. We had our first frost delay of the fall on Saturday but it was sunny both days. 

[Bad9]

Just now, jvincent said:

Yep, still playing in Ottawa.

 

It was fabulous, for this time in October, on the weekend. We had our first frost delay of the fall on Saturday but it was sunny both days. 

 

4yrs ago today it was 17° and I was playing in shorts, last year there was snow on the ground. So far our October was better than September(rain).

[RmoorePE]

In the PNW (west of the Cascades) we can golf all winter long, you just have to be flexible with your expectations. Most courses will be cart path only, and your ball will plug in the fairway, there may be temporary greens set out in the fairways (2 putt only). Sometimes there matts on the par 3 tee boxes, and sometimes portions of the course are flooded, greens sometimes can't get mowed as they are too soft. For the most part the courses can keep it to at least a fun level of play, as long as you have good rain gear and a bunch of towels. 

 

There are courses that are well designed for winter play due to their sandy/gravelly subsoils (Home Course and Chambers Bay) come to mind. They hold up well in the winter.

 

Last year my daughter and I were out on our home course hitting balls, most of the course was flooded. We went out to the playable holes and set up a mini course that went cross country, over new lakes and ponds, backwards on some holes, etc. We had so much fun.

 

 

[angler99]

Winter is tough for me. Every year I put the clubs away mid-October and don't touch them until April. When I do, I am completely on fire and thinking it's the year to get to scratch. I'm a 6 HC. Then reality sets in around June and I hover around 8-9 until my club championship at the end of August. I blow up and always play terribly during the championship, but then find my groove after men's league/club championship is over until about mid-October. I normally get back to around a 6, then I put the clubs back away for the dreaded winter. I always play my best the first and last weeks of the season.

[Roody]

New York here. Played this past weekend in mid-50's, it really isn't bad at all as long as the wind is low, and I walk. Planning on playing tomorrow afternoon. I think last year I got 4-5 rounds in November/December. It's just dependent on no snow on the ground, and low wind. As long as I walk, I keep warm enough.

 

As for how I feel about the season, I had less rounds than last season (currently at 91 vs 114 total last year), but I also had two great golf trips in this summer so that makes it easier to hang em up if I have to. Another factor for me is about 5 weeks ago I hurt my back pretty good. PT and stretching has gotten me back to playable status though.

TL;DR: in short, I'd like to play a few more rounds, but wouldn't be too sad if 3 feet of snow hit the ground tomorrow morning either. 

[nikeblades00]

Midwest here. I'll play as long as I can as long as no snow. Played until Christmas last year, then a couple times in Jan and Feb. Really all depends. I have cold gear and really we don't mind walking if it's 40 degrees. Plenty of course open as well. 

 

But I do enjoy the fall/winter because golf is no longer a priority. I'm much more involved with famy and school for the kids. My game stays pretty consistent, as I have a golf sim and a nice putting mat. Lots of drills and also exercise! 

 

[Jim53]

Central Florida here and our nice season is just starting, that is the cool weather pleasant golf. Now we will have the real crowds this year with the snow birds being set free but it is so nice to play when it is not in the 90's or higher by 10am.