Winter golf

[pingguy]

Play to improve shotmaking

I live in New Mexico and even though we can play year round the courses change a lot during the winter. The temperature gets down in the low 20's at night and warms to the 50's during the day. What you get are rock hard frozen solid greens. In the past I have put the clubs up for the most part in the winter except to hit range balls once or twice a month. This year I have continued to play all winter and I have had to really work on my shotmaking abilities in order to score. I realized my game was pretty one diminsional. I hit a drive, hit a high approach into the green and putted. If I missed a green I had one or two short game shots involving wedges. I had little need for any other type of shot. Playing in the winter this year you cannot hit on the green or it will bounce 20 feet in the air and take off. I have had to develop low running shots, punches, running hooks and big high cuts. I really think it will benefit me this summer. Anyone else had similar experiences playing in the winter?

[tarik]

I deal with this in the summer too. I live in Alaska and even durring the summer months we have alot of permafrost (deep freezing of the ground) which causes our fairways and greens to become very firm. I have played the courses here for about seven years and have yet to see anyone spin a ball back. Bump and runs are a common sight as well as the high cut.

[TheBUNKY]

I live in New Mexico and even though we can play year round the courses change a lot during the winter. The temperature gets down in the low 20's at night and warms to the 50's during the day. What you get are rock hard frozen solid greens. In the past I have put the clubs up for the most part in the winter except to hit range balls once or twice a month. This year I have continued to play all winter and I have had to really work on my shotmaking abilities in order to score. I realized my game was pretty one diminsional. I hit a drive, hit a high approach into the green and putted. If I missed a green I had one or two short game shots involving wedges. I had little need for any other type of shot. Playing in the winter this year you cannot hit on the green or it will bounce 20 feet in the air and take off. I have had to develop low running shots, punches, running hooks and big high cuts. I really think it will benefit me this summer. Anyone else had similar experiences playing in the winter?

 

Ditto that for here in Arkansas too. The best part of Winter Golf, no crowded golf courses!! :cheesy:

[seancasa]

I also can play year around but where I live we have the opposite problem...the ball goes no where when it lands...balls routinely behind the pitchmark on tee shots...etc. The effect however is the same in that normal shots you may have don't work well (anything requiring steep angle of attack) and you must be very precise. The course plays 20% longer also...long irons/FW's are much more in play. Can't complain too much though being able to play...