So cold...

[zero]

I've just been enjoying practice less and less as the temperature drops. The other day I got a large bucket after work and could barely feel my fingers half the time. The least enjoyable and useful practice in a long time. And that's at a covered and heated range! What do you in the cold?

[DrvFrShow]

Go to the gym and work out. I hate the cold. I don't practice unless the temperature is above 47. 

[Dave325]

Winter makes practice a challenge... Just gotta have some workarounds. I was out in the backyard yesterday and spent about 20 min working on my swing before the cold and wind became unbearable. For the really cold and rainy times.... I have a net setup in the garage, so move out the car and work on my irons. Then putting inside. I love to play at this time as long as the course is open, since the population on the course is down and only the brave ones venture out.

Just wondering if a heavy snow would provide a good practice venue for sand trap work! Anybody try that? Hmmmm. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy.

[boogielicious]

2 minutes ago, Dave325 said:

Winter makes practice a challenge... Just gotta have some workarounds. I was out in the backyard yesterday and spent about 20 min working on my swing before the cold and wind became unbearable. For the really cold and rainy times.... I have a net setup in the garage, so move out the car and work on my irons. Then putting inside. I love to play at this time as long as the course is open, since the population on the course is down and only the brave ones venture out.

Just wondering if a heavy snow would provide a good practice venue for sand trap work! Anybody try that? Hmmmm. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy.

I tried that last February, just swinging into the snow. Wasn't much fun! 

[iacas]

2 hours ago, Dave325 said:

Just wondering if a heavy snow would provide a good practice venue for sand trap work! Anybody try that? Hmmmm. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy.

It doesn't work as well as you'd think. The snow has to be nearly perfectly sand-like, which almost never happens. It's too fluffy 99.9999% of the time. You almost need a constant freeze/slightly melt/snow cycle or something. You want almost ice with tiny air holes.

[Dave325]

Speaking of cold... Played 22 holes at my course before it got dark. Pretty chilly. But the sun was shinning. The interesting thing is.... I was the only one at the course other than the guy behind the counter in the clubhouse. Perfect day! Made for a perfect practice round. 

[DrvFrShow]

Yeah, well heated driving range today... 48 F. Sounds good, right? Except for the breeze blowing in my face blowing the heat away. I was freezing. Polar fleece lined pants, base layer top + sweater + down vest. I'm done until the weather gets into the mid 50s.

Oh, and my house is too small for mirror work inside. There's no room. My hands hit something on the follow through even without a club. So that's out. Garage has too much junk in it. Probably won't pick up a club until March.

Edited December 20, 2015 by DrvFrShow

[metbid]

Duluth MN....right now it is 14º F.  Fortunately we have two indoor facilities for winter practice.  I purchased a once a week, one hour practice session on a simulator and 3 lessons with my teaching Pro for $400, which is good through April.  And I can save one lesson until the courses open up again in the spring and use it on course.  Other than that, I do drills to work on the 5 keys.

[Patch]

I played yesterday with friends. With the north wind and the chill factor it had to have been in mid 30sF range.  We had agood time but our games were quite far from what we normally would shoot.  Lots of shenanigans took place. 

Nice thing was we pretty much had the place to ourselves. 

Pretty sure the cart girl did not go home early because our 4 some. 

[RayG]

I keep an eye on the weather conditions before heading to the range. Mostly wind direction and speed. If it is W or NW and the temp is below about 45, I stay home. If it is from any other direction, I can find a bay at one end or the other that is protected. If it is out of the east, any bay is blocked from the wind. All stalls are heated, but some are better than others, mainly because not ALL the elements work. I also wear two regular (not winter golf gloves), but I will have those little hand warmer packs nearby if it's an issue. And even at those temps, I HATE wearing all those layers- I'll wear a thin sweatshirt to start out with the pitches and wedges, but will be down to a normal short sleeve t-shirt or similar after about ten minutes. 

Biggest issue when it gets down into the low 30's is the balls in the machine have been sitting overnight. I think this year they might follow a suggestion by having a supply of balls kept in the office so they arent little ice rocks.

[Lihu]

On 12/20/2015 at 4:00 PM, Dave325 said:

Speaking of cold... Played 22 holes at my course before it got dark. Pretty chilly. But the sun was shinning. The interesting thing is.... I was the only one at the course other than the guy behind the counter in the clubhouse. Perfect day! Made for a perfect practice round. 

You know you're addicted to golf when this happens. and think it was the "perfect day".

[mcanadiens]

It was a sad thing cleaning the clubs after my muddy little round Saturday morning. The sky opened up as I was finishing around noon and hasn't stopped since. By the end of the week we're looking up at 32 degrees. Might be awhile.

[Dave325]

3 hours ago, Lihu said:

You know you're addicted to golf when this happens. and think it was the "perfect day".

Very true. Actually, I much rather to play on an empty course with no waiting and not so perfect conditions.... Than a busy course with nice weather

[Shindig]

I sometimes wonder how much of an effect the cold practice time has on me, other than making me feel discouraged to go outside (I'm aware how spoiled I am by the local weather).  I tend to regress and practice less after summer is over anyway (work schedule typically), so that may affect things too and coincide with the weather change.

[zero]

Some interesting ideas here! I wonder if I can setup a range weather alert - above a certain temp, wind from only certain directions, etc...

Already have the indoor putting mat which has hugely improved putting. But the full swing is suffering dearly...

[Traveller]

27.4667° S, 153.0333° E

here you can play all year around (except in violent summer thunderstorms and bush fires)

 

 

 

[zero]

Sorry, I should've clarified that moving to another continent was not an option  Once my kids are grown I'm seriously thinking about a golf friendly state though, my grandpa retired to Arizona, golfed every day, died a happy man.

[Yukari]

It's snow covered here in Colorado.  And cold temperature isn't helping any.

All the driving ranges near where I am are closed.  So no practice or golf.  I've been working out more at the gym though.