What do you do when dangerous climate strikes on the golf course? Do you instantly head for the clubhouse and name it a day or do you merely pause your spherical till situations enhance? It may be robust to know what to do in these precarious conditions.
What if in case you have a tee time booked and get up to a wet day? Do you keep house or head to the course anyway? We reply these questions and extra on this article about taking part in golf within the rain.
Can You Golf Whereas It’s Raining?
Sure, you’ll be able to nonetheless play golf in wet situations, so long as there isn’t any lightning within the space. The USGA solely calls for a suspension of play when there’s a signal of imminent hazard, the commonest of which is a lightning strike. Course officers rigorously monitor the climate and can sound the air horn if play have to be suspended.
So, as loopy as it might sound, you might be free to play a spherical of golf in a whole downpour. Be sure to are ready to play in wet situations by having all the correct equipment and rain gear. We’ll checklist crucial gadgets to maintain available throughout dangerous climate in one of many sections beneath.
Ought to You Golf in The Rain?
It is a robust query to reply as a result of it relies on your tolerance for enjoying golf in less-than-ideal situations. Golfers who grew up in a wet local weather just like the Pacific Northwest are going to be extra snug in moist situations than different golfers who’re used to sizzling and dry climates. Enjoying in moist climate isn’t for everybody and there’s no disgrace in suspending your tee time to a different day.
Why is taking part in within the rain so troublesome? Effectively, some of us merely aren’t snug with making an attempt to finish a golf swing in a rain jacket, rain pants, and a pair of rain gloves. All the added bulk from the additional gear could make the golf swing really feel awkward.
Additionally, in moist situations, the golf ball comes into contact with numerous mud. This may make it troublesome to generate any sort of spin on strategy pictures. Extraordinarily moist fairways may make it laborious to get any sort of backspin in your wedge pictures into the inexperienced.
Lastly, a golfer’s quick sport suffers vastly in wet situations. Attempting to hit chips out of moist sand within the bunkers is sort of not possible and making an attempt to putt on moist greens is difficult to say the least.
How A lot Rain is Too A lot?
Although there isn’t any official rule on this, most people agree that if there’s any standing water on the golf course, it’s most likely too moist to play. Nonetheless, some programs in drier climates have a tendency to carry water exceptionally properly. That is very true for links-style programs.
If the golf course superintendent finds an excessive amount of standing water in a number of locations, the course will shut for the rest of that day and all tee occasions might be canceled. That is to guard the course from additional harm and to stop accidents to any would-be patrons.
Ideas for Enjoying Golf in The Rain
Enjoying golf within the rain is a distinct beast. Fortunately, a number of suggestions will make it easier to shoot a superb rating, even within the craziest of situations. Listed below are among the greatest suggestions for enjoying golf within the rain.
1. Make Positive You Have the Proper Gear
If there’s rain within the forecast, be sure that your golf bag is stocked with loads of rain gear. Additional towels, a rain hood to maintain your golf equipment dry, a water-resistant jacket, and a pair of waterproof golf footwear are only a few of the requirements to pack for inclement climate.
Additionally, waterproof golf baggage just like the Titleist Gamers 4 Plus StaDry are good to have in your battle towards the weather. These kind of golf baggage aren’t low-cost however they’ll defend your golf golf equipment and all your gear in a wet downpour.
Use the additional towels to maintain your self dry and to just be sure you have dry grips on every of your golf golf equipment. It’s additionally a pleasant gesture to share these dry towels along with your buddies in the event that they forgot to pack one.
2. Don’t Overlook Your Spikes
Whereas numerous golfers want golf footwear with out spikes, that’s not one of the best concept if rain is within the forecast. On moist grass, the spikes will assist your toes dig into the bottom and maintain your swing balanced. It’s additionally not a nasty concept to maintain some further spikes in your golf bag in case one breaks off on you.
When you’ve got a favourite pair of golf footwear that you just all the time play with, think about buying the Golfkicks Golf Traction Package. This equipment will permit you to add comfortable spikes to any pair of footwear, which is an ideal accent for wet days on the golf course.
3. Pack Additional Golf Gloves
Have you ever ever tried to hit a shot with a moist golf glove? Evidently, it’s a tall order. Hold a few dry golf gloves in your bag in an effort to swap them out in the event that they get too moist.
You may also check out the brand new specialty rain gloves that are actually available on the market. These are made with an additional sticky grip that will help you management the membership throughout wet climate. A number of golfers prefer to put on considered one of these on every hand throughout dangerous climate.
Questioning which rain gloves to purchase? We extremely suggest the Footjoy Males’s Raingrip Golf Gloves, that are moderately priced and maintain up remarkably properly in any sort of robust climate situations. You’ll by no means have to fret concerning the golf membership slipping out of your palms with these dangerous boys!
4. At all times Hold an Umbrella with You
An excellent golf umbrella can maintain each you and your golf golf equipment dry throughout a moist spherical. If there’s any probability of rain within the forecast, ensure you have your umbrella within the golf cart with you. Heck, even when there isn’t any probability of rain, it’s all the time higher to be ready for that sudden popup bathe.
When you can most likely get away with an inexpensive common umbrella, it’s greatest to spend money on a golf umbrella as a result of they’re extra sturdy and bigger. Bear in mind, cheaper is never higher.
Should you’re undecided which golf umbrella to purchase, take a look at the G4Free Automated Open Golf Umbrella. It is available in 18 completely different coloration schemes and has a one-year efficiency assure. It’s additionally massive sufficient to maintain you dry however modern sufficient to suit inside your golf bag.
5. Hold Cheap Expectations
When taking part in in wet climate, it helps to maintain affordable efficiency expectations. Whereas there’s completely nothing flawed with desirous to play properly, it’s a must to do not forget that no person shoots extremely low scores in dangerous climate.
When you’ve got by no means performed in wet situations, attempt to deal with having fun with the general expertise as a substitute of focusing an excessive amount of in your rating. It is a good alternative to follow staying in a constructive way of thinking regardless that chances are you’ll be racking up extra bogeys than you desire to. Do not forget that one of the best golfers on this planet know easy methods to handle their expectations and feelings.
6. Hold Security a Prime Precedence
When taking part in in dangerous climate, keep in mind to all the time use further warning on the golf course. This is applicable as to whether you might be hitting a troublesome shot from a slick floor or just driving a golf cart. In moist climate, play the protected shot, take the best path, and don’t attempt to be a hero.
By no means try a shot which will trigger you to undergo an harm. Additionally, by no means drive a cart into any sort of standing water as a result of it might be a lot deeper than you assume. Lastly, maintain your eyes and ears open for thunder, lightning, or the sound of the airhorn indicating that each one play have to be halted.
7. Have Enjoyable
Whereas it might not be for everybody, taking part in golf within the rain is usually a fantastic expertise. As loopy as it might sound, I’ve all the time regarded ahead to wet days on the golf course, so long as there isn’t any lightning. There’s simply one thing soothing about hitting pictures on a secluded course whereas listening to the raindrops hit the bottom.
