The Things You Need to Survive Winter Golf

Many people will have put their clubs away for the winter. Let’s face it, not everybody fancies the thought of getting up while it’s still dark and then having to brave rain, wind or ice. What’s the matter with these people?

But for some of us, this is a year-round sport. But winter golf is a very different game. So what do you need to do if you are planning to brave the course in the weeks and months that lie ahead?

Without further ado, here is your essential winter golf to-do list:

Wooly Hat

You can put that sun visor and baseball cap away. You need a wooly hat that will cover your ears. Don’t worry about the way you look - everybody else looks exactly the same. It’s all about comfort! Just don’t let anybody take photographs...

Long Johns

Comfort is more important than appearance. If you have not already bought yourself some long johns just swallow your pride. You can get them delivered online - in an unmarked package! Just don’t let your other half see you in them.

Thermal Tights

There is NOTHING wrong with wearing thermal tights. Honestly! While your opponents are shivering, you will be warm as toast. And they never have to know why you are not complaining about the cold. I won’t tell them if you don’t!

Thick Socks

If you have cold feet, four hours on the course will be a pretty miserable experience so treat yourself to several pairs of thick thermal socks. Just bear in mind that if you are going to do this then you may have to splash out on a second pair of golf shoes that are one size bigger than you would normally wear. 

Hand Warmers

The only thing worse than cold feet is freezing fingers. Buy yourself some thermal gloves to wear between shots and track down some pocket warmers. You will thank me for doing this, I promise you.

Flask

You will need two flasks in your bag for winter golf. One of them will be a thermal flask that should contain piping hot coffee, tea or soup. The other should be a hip flask containing brandy or a few tots of malt whisky. This will make you the most popular player in your group.

Balls - Lots of Them

Much of your winter golf will be played on wet golf courses. There is every chance that a towering drive to a wet fairway will plug when it lands, never to be seen again, so make sure you have plenty of golf balls in your bag. Remember, too, that golf balls won’t fly as far in cold air.

Clean Clubs

You will be playing a lot of golf in wet conditions - remember to thoroughly clean your clubs after every round. A groove cleaner is also a sensible investment.

Shoes That Grip Properly

Make sure that your golf shoes are fit for winter purpose - you really don’t want to be slipping all over the place on rock-hard icy fairways.

Lower Your Expectations

You are not going to be ripping any golf course apart on cold and windy winter mornings. Just accept it. The rough will be wet so recovery shots will be more difficult. And the sand in bunkers will be rock hard when the temperature plunges - so forget all about splashing out of the sand.

Patience

If you are going to be playing regularly during the winter then you are going to need plenty of patience. For a start, because of the shorter days you may struggle to get the tee-times you want as everybody else will be doing the same thing. You are going to get some pretty strange bounces and you may have to accept that you will face winter greens at some point - and with those come plenty of three putts.

Umbrella

Check that your umbrella is fit for purpose. And if it is not, do not buy a cheap replacement. You really need a decent brolly that will withstand strong gusts of wind.

Waterproofs

This is the time of year to check your waterproofs. Remember that you get what you pay for. And waterproofs really are a complete and utter waste of time and money if they are not, erm, waterproof. You should also make sure that they are breathable - if not, you will end up coming off the course looking like somebody who has just stepped out of a sauna.

Bag Cover

If your bag comes with a cover make sure you use it - it is the only way you are going to have a chance of keeping your clubs dry-ish.

Towels

Winter is the time to put two or three towels in your bag so that you can dry your hands, grips, golf balls, etc.

Ball Retriever

It is an absolute certainty that at some point you are going to be confronted by waterlogged bunkers. And it is also a certainty that you will find them. A ball retriever is the ideal tool to fish your golf ball out of said bunkers.

Pitchmark Repairers

Soft greens mean pitchmarks - lots of them. It goes without saying that you should be preparing your own, but you should also spend some time fixing any others you see.

Change of Clothes

Failing to take a change of clothes during the winter is a serious schoolboy error. When you come off the course you are going to want a hot shower - and you don’t want to do that and then climb back into the clothes you were wearing on the course.

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