Kyle Voska Golf

Winter Golf: “It’s Not That Bad Out There”

ENJOY GOLF IN THE WINTER

Winter golf, a wonderful time to play!  You might be laughing or rolling your eyes, but really, it can be a wonderful time to play (Disclaimer:  I would like to state that there are certain conditions that Kyle Voska does not find enjoyable and he cannot be held accountable for someone having an unpleasant time during a winter round of golf if any of these conditions exist:   when it is snowing, sleeting, icing, raining, fog-lifting, winterey mixing, windy, really windy, under 28.4 degrees, cloudy, after a long rain, snow or ice on the ground, warm outfit-challenged, not in mood, or you run out of golf balls during your round).  I love getting out for a few rounds in the winter and I’ll explain why and how you can enjoy it too.

Dressing properly is the key ingredient to enjoying golf when the weather is less than ideal.  First, I highly recommend wearing rain pants over your slacks.  Long-underwear works as well, but rain pants are better because they block the wind and keep your pants dry.  Second, a winter cap is a must.  If your noggin gets cold, you’re toast.  Third, load up the layers around your core.  I recommend 3-4 layers around your chest and up to 2 layers for your arms.  I prefer to have as little as possible on my arms so I can still swing with some speed.  And last, winter gloves.  Some prefer the winter gloves made for golf.  I, however, prefer using cart mittens with heat packs in them.  My hands generally don’t stay warm in gloves because my fingers are isolated.  They stay much warmer in the mittens and I’m able to hit shots with my normal glove and grip.

Learning to adapt to different conditions, winter conditions included, is one of the beauties of this game.  Generally, when you play winter golf in the northern states, the temperature will be below 50 degrees.  When the temperature dips, the golf ball doesn’t go as far.  Due to more clothing, your swing will slow down a bit, and it’s harder to compress the golf ball when it cools down.  I recommend taking at least one extra club on shorter shots and at least two extra clubs on longer shots.  This will make sure you swing within yourself and make solid contact (not hitting solid in the cold can leave a lasting impression).

Winter is a depressing time for many because there’s less light, it’s cold, and there’s more precipitation.  This terrible trifecta makes it’s difficult to spend time outside.  Humans weren’t designed to spend months at a time inside so when you have a chance to go outside it’s important to take advantage of it.  Golf is a great way to spend this time.  You’ll get some fresh air along with some exercise in very peaceful environment.  It’s truly amazing how quiet and peaceful a golf course is in the winter.

Go out and play some golf this winter.  You might be surprised how nice it can be.  Just dress properly and swing easy. When you finish, I’m willing to bet you’ll say, “It’s not that bad out there.”, the very popular winter-time phrase said at The Mill Course.  Have fun and thanks for reading!

February 6, 2013 - Posted by Kyle Voska | Golf Tips, Uncategorized | golf in the cold, golf mittens, kyle voska golf tip, peaceful winter golf, winter golf