The Highs And Lows of Winter Golf

THERE is now no denying it. Winter is here. The clocks have gone back, it’s dark early and the heady days of summer when we could play in shorts and short-sleeves are but a fading memory. For many golfers it is time to put the clubs away and wait for the return of longer, warmer days.

But for the real enthusiasts among us, the challenge continues. So what are the highs and lows of winter golf? 

HIGH

Fewer people will be playing and that means when you do get out on the course you are likely to have it to yourself.

LOW

Your kids will waken up beside themselves with excitement that there is snow on the ground. Your heart will sink because you know the course will be closed and people will be using it for sledges.

HIGH

You won’t have to hang around in the fairway waiting for greens to clear - those who do play during the winter tend to play rather quicker than they do during the summer.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

LOW

It’s Christmas Day. You’ve been given a new driver and you are itching to get out there and try it out. But you can’t. It’s Christmas Day - the course is closed and you have to spend the day playing happy families.

HIGH

Quieter courses mean you can chuck a couple of balls down without worrying about holding up those behind you - the chances are that there won’t be anybody behind you.

LOW

It’s been raining for days. Both the balls you have chucked down plug in the mud and you never see them again.

HIGH

You will will probably be playing on winter greens so don’t lose any sleep about taking three putts on what amounts to a piece of fairway.

LOW

You come off the course and realise you have taken 42 putts on the winter greens and know that you will be losing sleep.

HIGH

With the rain tipping down, it is OK to turn round to your playing partners and say: “Is anybody actually enjoying this? Shall we just pack up and head to the clubhouse?”

LOW

With the rain tipping down, you realise that your waterproofs aren’t waterproof and your golf shoes are letting in water. And your playing partners want to carry on until the bitter end.

HIGH

If you play during the week the chances are that you won’t have to book a tee-time.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

LOW

At some point the ground will be frozen solid - and that means pain if you thin an iron shot.

HIGH

At some point the ground will be frozen solid, which means your drives will bounce and roll for miles.

LOW

At some point the ground will be covered in frost and the head greenkeeper will tell you that the course is closed.

HIGH

The greenkeeper has just told you the course is closed and won’t be opening, which means you can jump back into your nice warm car and drive back to your nice warm house.

LOW

Feeling cold and miserable, you head for the warmth of the clubhouse - only to find that it is closed.

HIGH

The clubhouse is closed, which means you don’t need to drink a pint of flat beer.

LOW

Your bunkers will be full of water.

HIGH

Your bunkers will be full of water, which means you can fish the ball out and play from the fairway.

LOW

Your car is covered in ice and you realise that you have forgotten to buy de-icer. You have to scrape it off the windscreen using a credit card, after which you cannot feel your fingers. You also realise that the boot of your otherwise-immaculate car is full of dried mud.

HIGH

You arrive at the golf club and have finally warmed up. The frost has cleared and it is a glorious, crisp winter morning. The course is open and the sun casts long shadows across the fairways. It look magnificent. It is good to be alive.

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