Winter

[Dr. Slice]

i live in Iowa so i cant go golfing in the winter, which is like 5 months without golfing. and right in the spring is school golf. Every single year for the 1st month or so i am rusty. My handicap goes up at least 5 strokes during the 1st couple months... Right now at my home course through 9 holes my everage is about 4-5 over. i want to keep it that way starting next year too.

what are some things i can do during the winter to keep my golf swing as it is?

is it something as easy as swinging for a couple minutes everyday in the house?

[10footer4bird]

thats exactly what i do. keep a sand wedge (is short and won't hit the ceiling) behind the couch and take some swings everyday while watching t.v. also try to make a trip to the heated stalls at the driving range every few weeks. can always putt around the living room too.

[is2linda]

Buy a home in California. You can golf all year long without ever worrying about the snow ruining your day.

But seriously, find an indoor range facility. Good way to keep your swing at top shape.

[Dr. Slice]

Buy a home in California. You can golf all year long without ever worrying about the snow ruining your day.

haha yeah i wish i could live in cali that would be sweet...but i dont think there is a practice facility anywhere nearby

[Beantown Beancounter]

I do a ton of putting and chipping on the carpet. Try to get to the range at least once every week. Take a few swings in the basement or backyard. Maybe knock a couple of balls into the woods. Lots of reading, and the frequent trip to the golf store to browse and hit into their nets. Think this winter I will be doing a lot of chipping and pitching in the backyard. Will have to invest in bright colored golf balls so I can see them in the snow...

[Maker]

I live in the Boston area so I feel your pain about winter. When I was living in my last apartment I would practice Chipping and Putting on the carpet all winter. I also had a heated outdoor driving range that, while a bit chilly, did a good job at allowing me to hit some long balls at least once a week. As long as your ceilings are high enough you can get some plastic practice balls and do some full shots indoors as well.

Of course, now that I own a house with all hardwood floors and no heated facilities nearbye my approach is a little different. I'll work on stretching and use a shortened position on my clubs just to go through the slow motion exercises of the swing. Beyond that, I do everything I can to shorten winter. I'm on the courses before they close in December, and as soon as they open in March. Lots of warm clothing and two cold weather golf gloves do the trick. However, hitting an iron off of snow bank is a lot harder than it looks.

[lionking]

i live in a highrise condo with low ceilings, so winters are a bit challenging to say the least. i've gotten through winters by:

- signing up with GolfTec, which provides indoor lessons
- going to indoor driving ranges
- getting some plastic/rubber balls and a mat and practice your swing inside. you may also want to get paint to touch up the walls/ceilings/furniture you're going mess up.

[alf174]

Heated driving range, inside ranges, or golf simulators. All within 30 minutes of my house.