5 reasons why you should play golf this weekend

There is something truly revitalising about this time of year. The extended hours of daylight, the temperatures slowly beginning to rise, the countdown towards the majesty of seeing Augusta National on TV and watching the unfolding drama of the Masters. It's a joyous period if you're a golfer. What a difference it makes. 

Many of us located throughout Great Britain and Ireland been accustomed to seemingly endless deluges in recent months. Courses have been saturated at best, with extremes leading to some venues being routinely unplayable. 

Even those brief hours of daylight haven't brought much brightness - but that is all changing.

Soon, the clocks will spring forward, restoring the glory of twilight rounds after work, with our beloved fairways and greens primed to become rejuvenated by warmer, sunnier conditions. It's already happening - and the opportunity is there for you to grasp full advantage of that moment.

If you're a golfer who has battled through the winter elements, your oasis is here, it's time to shed that woolly hat and leave the additional layers at home.

Maybe you've had the clubs locked away for months, but the longer you wait, the more difficult that return will be, so we suggest that you end that hibernation and make your way back out there.

We're encouraging everyone to play golf this coming weekend - and here is why!

Start Your Golf Season Early

Generally, most places will mark April as being the true beginning of the golf season, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't get ahead of the crowd - especially if you are returning after a long break.

Whether you choose to visit the range - perhaps not the worst idea - or jump straight into the deep end and make your 2026 debut on the course, you will appreciate the benefits of playing March golf in a couple of months when some of your contemporaries are still shaking off the dust.

If you've played all winter and have become used to hitting off mats and playing on slow greens, Golfshake's Ryan Rastall has some new advice for you on adjustments that you need to make.

The Weather is Fantastic This Week

If you're based in Great Britain and Ireland, like the majority of the Golfshake Community, then you may have noticed that the weather forecast for the coming days, including the weekend, is mainly positive, with sunshine aplenty, rain nowhere to be seen, and a hint of early spring warmth in the air.

That should be a motivation for any golfer - we've had enough grim days lately, so let's embrace these palatable conditions!

Chance to Test Your Golf Clubs

Time to upgrade your equipment or make a few tweaks to your bag? Taking your clubs out for a spin is the ideal way to see where you stand before the main golf season arrives.

You might also discover that maintenance is required, like new grips or shafts, particularly if your gear is now creeping along in years.

There is only one way to assess where exactly everything stands - and that's by giving it a go!

Easter Holidays Are Coming

The Easter Bank Holidays fall on the 3rd and 6th of April, meaning that there is a potential to build up some momentum over the coming weeks, starting this weekend. 

We're less than a fortnight away from the clocks changing, so you have the prospect of getting in several rounds over the next month, especially if the weather plays along.

You could visit the course - or make time for a few range sessions - before that window of opportunity becomes greater.

The Masters is Coming Soon

Despite what my colleague Derek Clements has said about the Masters (and he does have a point), the first major of the year is just around the corner as we await to see whether Rory McIlroy can join truly exalted company by successfully defending his title down Magnolia Lane.

Watching this annual showpiece is special and undeniably inspiring to anyone who loves golf. It just makes you want to reach for your clubs and head to the course.

But you don't have to wait for that - you can play before the Masters this year, feel that motion of swinging a club again, rediscover the sensation of striking a golf ball, and relish the mentally enriching escapism that this game provides.

If you weren't planning to play golf this weekend, hopefully we've just encouraged you to give it some thought.