Welcome Sunshine for UK Golfers after Harsh Winter

Most golfers across the UK would anecdotally state that it was a horrendous winter and early spring for those hoping to get out and play. Courses were closed due to frequent heavy rainfall and frozen conditions inflicted by the likes of the ‘Beast from the East’ and ‘Storm Emma’, which curtailed regular golfers wanting to keep their games in check over the colder months, while those latter arctic blasts pushed the early season for many clubs back several weeks.

It was reportedly the wettest March in Leicestershire for 70 years, and parts of the UK saw average monthly rainfall for April within just the first ten days of the month. And now we have some comprehensive data to back up the presumption that golfers were unable to play as frequently throughout the low season.

Leading sports researchers SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC. (SMS INC.) have noted that rounds played across all regions for Quarter 1 of 2018 were down 22% on the equivalent period of last year. 2017 was the highest since 2012. Scotland was the least affected territory with a drop of 15.7%, but it was the North of England that was most severely hit by a slump in golf, most likely a result of the consistently inhibiting weather and course conditions. In total, rounds played in March were 35% down compared to 2017.

However, there is welcome respite to come for golfers aching to dust off the clubs and get back playing again. This week, significantly warmer and dryer conditions are forecast across the UK, leading to what is hoped will be a boom for clubs and venues throughout the remainder of April. This “mini-heatwave” is a signaller for many people that the golf season is finally here.

Making the most that opportunity, we invite golfers to track their rounds and stats on the Golfshake Score Tracker and participate in the #ConnectWithYourGame Challenge in Association with Cobra Golf. Research has shown that regularly tracking statistics related to your game is an effective tool for identifying weaknesses and lowering your handicap throughout a year. Now is the time to start.

If you want to take advantage of the weather and enjoy a short break away, the Golfshake Travel Section has the latest #GolfshakeTop10 Last Minute Travel Deals, including Slaley Hall, Forest Pines and Wychwood Park. This is a great chance to experience superb venues for tremendous value.

For those wanting to find a suitable tee time nearby - take a look at our Tee Time Search. The Golfshake Course Section features thousands of independent ratings and reviews, in addition to popular 'Best of' Guides that celebrate a series of venues in each region from a variety of prices.

Ultimately, at Golfshake we want you to Play More & Play Better. It’s been a rough few months for golfers, but we hope that frustration has led to increased anticipation that you will now release through getting back onto the golf course during an evening or at the weekend.

It’s now official, the golf season is here!