Golf In The Elements: Advice, Tips and Tricks

[Golfingdad]

Rain is not a common occurrence down here in SoCal, so when it happens we are usually ill-prepared.  Therefore, I'm asking those of you who are more used to inclement weather to share some ideas that others might not know.

For example, I know that when you're playing with a caddy in the rain, the trick to keep the important things (hands) dry is to hang a towel on the underframe of the umbrella.  The same trick works for your golf glove, since it'll likely get wet in your back pocket.  But I find it tricky when I'm playing without somebody to hold my umbrella, because when the time comes to set it down, I don't know where to put it.  Set it on the ground and the towel gets wet and dirty.  Try to perch it on the bag and the slightest bit of wind might flip it off and send it tumbling down the fairway.  A different set of problems arise if you're riding in a cart.

Feel free to discuss these questions, and anything else you desire under the umbrella (pun very much intended ) of "bad weather golfing."

[Dave325]

Ah yes, we are well acquainted with playing in not so perfect weather in Ohio. For rain, I usually leave the clubs covered with the snap-on cover. It has a zipper and I take out a club when I need it and zip it back up. When it is a bit raining here, we can get a fair amount of wind to go with it in the Ohio Valley, so umbrellas are a challenge. I personally don't like the picking up and laying down and sometimes chasing it across the fairway (I don't have caddies), so I prefer to wear loose fitting rain gear that has a hood. I keep a towel inside my bag to keep it as dry as possible, but doesn't last long. In the colder weather, I carry a lithium powered hand warmer to keep the fingers warm between shots. The great thing I like in playing in this weather is that the population goes way down and no worries about waiting on the tee box, that's for sure.  

[DaveP043]

We play in some bad weather here in Virginia, and I've  been to Ireland and Scotland and played in a bit of miserable weather there.  I've found that rain gloves are very helpful.  With the right grips (and here is where the Iomic grips I have are really good) you can still have a solid grasp of the club even when the gloves are soaking wet.  I like the towel in the umbrella thing, but handling your own umbrella in the rain is a hassle.  I've invested in a waterproof bucket hat, which is a great thing to have on a rainy day.  Obviously, a proper waterproof jacket and pants can help you feel much more comfortable.

The other part of playing in poor weather is mental.  You have to lower your expectations significantly.  Swing within yourself, make more conservative choices, accept more poor shots than normal.  You can't the weather get to you or frustrate you. Golf is HARD, but its even tougher to play well in bad weather!

[SavvySwede]

Use the least amount of loft you can. The ball just loves to slide up wet wedge faces and anything can happen. Knockdown shots will hold the green just fine once they get a little damp.

[Golfingdad]

8 minutes ago, SavvySwede said:

Use the least amount of loft you can. The ball just loves to slide up wet wedge faces and anything can happen. Knockdown shots will hold the green just fine once they get a little damp.

Good stuff ... I wasn't even considering the actual differences while playing.

[Gator Hazard]

We play in rain often here in Florida and really the only difference is we bring an extra towel or two, wear shorts we don't mind getting wet and just have fun.  Great tips @DaveP043 (I may look into those types of gloves just because my hands sweat so much in the summer) and @SavvySwede. 

[choppineapple]

In Oregon, it rains frequently and a good pair of waterproof/resistant shoes are a good purchase.  I also go a pair of gloves for cold weather to keep both hands warm.  

[the fish]

2 hours ago, Golfingdad said:

 But I find it tricky when I'm playing without somebody to hold my umbrella, because when the time comes to set it down, I don't know where to put it.  Set it on the ground and the towel gets wet and dirty.  Try to perch it on the bag and the slightest bit of wind might flip it off and send it tumbling down the fairway.

This was the tipping point that led me to buy a push cart.  Trying to deal with an umbrella while carrying is a major PITA.  Having an umbrella holder is fantastic!  The last few rounds I played in the rain I didn't even bother putting the rain hood on my bag--the large golf umbrella I have was able to cover my clubs, which is so much nicer than trying to fish around for them underneath the hood.

Outside of that, either bring rain gloves or a spare glove to alternate between if you want to stick with your regular glove.  A spare towel inside your bag is great also, because once your primary towel is wet it is useless.

If you are going to wear rain pants, wear shorts underneath instead of long pants.  If the bottom of your pants get wet, they wick the water up and your calves will be cold and wet.

With the above, I don't have any issue playing in the rain.  As for playing differences, you might find that you lose a little distance with each club, because the layers you have on can impede your swing a bit.  If it is raining, I treat it like a windy day.  Easy swings and err on the side of clubbing up if between distances.

Have fun!

[Golfingdad]

20 minutes ago, the fish said:

This was the tipping point that led me to buy a push cart.

I can totally see this.  A push cart solves all of those problems - provided it's not windy.  (I played with my dad and brother last summer on a sunny and windy day and their carts blew over a couple of times thanks to the umbrella that acted as a sail)

I just don't play enough "walkable" courses around here to justify owning my own push cart, so for now when I walk, I carry.

[Patch]

For colder weather I dress for it. Only thing I add are  a pair barbeque mittens to wear between shots. They go on and off easily, and compliment the pair of golf gloves I never take off. Since I am wearing so much bulky clothing, which causes an abbreviated swing, I am always taking 1 or 2 clubs more than I normally would use. I have shot some pretty decent scores while all bundled up. 

Wet weather, I use more metal woods than irons to help prevent fatties. The metal woods bottom slides over wet grass and mud easier. If it starts flooding, or lightening is in the area, I am going home asap. Light rain is no big deal. Clubs and towels are covered. Those cold weather mittens come in handy to help keep my golf gloves dryer, longer. 

Most of my golf is played warm to hot weather. Staying hydrated is important. I always start hydrating the day before I know I am going to be playing. More water during play, usually 12 ounces every 3 or 4 holes. I also dress appropriately to prevent sun damage to my skin. Long pants, long sleeve shirt, and hat that protects my scalp, face, and ears. I always wear two golf gloves which also helps protect my hands from sun damage. If the course has lots of shaded areas, I will wear shorts. Club selection for shots is pretty normal. 

[Mr. Desmond]

As to umbrellas, my golf umbrella is a davek -- so expensive they give you a new one if you lose it. lol. But in the bottom of the handle, you can unscrew an insert and voila -- turn around the insert and you have a spike - you screw the underside back into the handle and you can spike the umbrella into the ground while you are taking a shot - but if wind, things blow. 

WIth an SM Push Cart many years ago, my SM umbrella escaped from its cart handle, flew off and landed in the lake. Big Gust.

I've also heard to grip down slightly more in the rain - footing can cause you to slide and fat shots can happen - gripping down may help prevent the fat.

In a wet bunker,  more swing. The wet slows down the swing. At least, that is my profanity laced experience.

GoreTex bucket hat. Waterproof shoes, a dry and rejuvenated DWR rainsuit

Edited March 11, 2016 by Mr. Desmond

[DaveP043]

Another thing comes up if you're playing multiple rounds in wet weather, which can happen if you're in the British Isles.  Make sure everything gets as dry as possible overnight, shoes, gloves, bag, clubs, raingear.  I've stayed at a number of guesthouses in Ireland that had special drying rooms.  The had racks so you could take the clubs out of the bag, places to hang stuff like gloves, towels, and bags overhead, and the room was de-humidified so everything was ready the next morning. Taking two pairs of waterproof shoes is a big help.  At home, crumple newspaper and stuff it inside your shoes to help them dry slowly and without damage, change the paper a few times.  

[Mr. Desmond]

Oh, yes, the reason for gripping down slightly on a club is that your feet tend to sink a bit into the ground when it's wet/muddy, plus the possible slippage factor getting back to the front foot.

Good luck out there ... I need to test these tips. It's wet out here.

[boogielicious]

On March 10, 2016 at 4:32 PM, Gator Hazard said:

We play in rain often here in Florida and really the only difference is we bring an extra towel or two, wear shorts we don't mind getting wet and just have fun.  Great tips @DaveP043 (I may look into those types of gloves just because my hands sweat so much in the summer) and @SavvySwede. 

I use rain gloves in the summer when I really sweat. They work just as well as they do when it rains. Usually, I don't wear gloves.

@Golfingdad,

1. I keep a ziplock bag or two in my bag to put my wallet and other things that should get wet dry.
2. My Sun Mountain Micro Cart has an umbrella holder. I carry the umbrella while moving, but put it in the holder when stopped. It keeps me relatively dry and the top of my bag dry too. It has worked well for a couple of years with no issue.
3. Be wary of slipping during shots too. I will club up and swing more controlled to avoid my right foot slipping out.

[Golfingdad]

3 hours ago, boogielicious said:

I use rain gloves in the summer when I really sweat. They work just as well as they do when it rains. Usually, I don't wear gloves.

@Golfingdad,

1. I keep a ziplock bag or two in my bag to put my wallet and other things that should get wet dry.
2. My Sun Mountain Micro Cart has an umbrella holder. I carry the umbrella while moving, but put it in the holder when stopped. It keeps me relatively dry and the top of my bag dry too. It has worked well for a couple of years with no issue.
3. Be wary of slipping during shots too. I will club up and swing more controlled to avoid my right foot slipping out.

We played yesterday and got through 6 holes before it started.  From the 6th green through the 7th hole it was very light and easily manageable.  I was conscious to keep my grips, hands and glove dry as possible.  But then on 8 tee the heavens opened up.  Two of us managed to hit decent drives and the other two quit on the spot and headed to the clubhouse.  (It was also windy such that my cheap umbrella wouldn't stay right side in)

It was enough rain that I just had to accept that everything was wet.  It was apparent enough that rain gloves would probably be the only answer in that heavy of a rain.  We decided to finish out the nine at least though in hopes that it would stop.  My next shot slipped a bunch and was a virtual shank with a hybrid.  After that I clubbed up and swung easy.  The shot after that was from 160 and I hit what felt like a good SIX IRON that came up 20 yards short. After finishing nine, the rain hadn't let up at all so we called it a day.  It was nice, though, to at least have a few shots in the rain to get an idea of what to expect when I'm in a tournament someday and required to play through bad weather.

[natureboy]

Yep. Rain gloves...also great on super hot and humid days when you can't stop sweating.

[Golfingdad]

Bumping this thread with one specific question for one specific group of people:

For those of you who walk and carry your own bag and play in the rain occasionally, what do you do with your umbrella when you are not holding it?

[bkuehn1952]

1 minute ago, Golfingdad said:

For those of you who walk and carry your own bag and play in the rain occasionally, what do you do with your umbrella when you are not holding it?

Not windy:  I leave it open and place the umbrella so it covers my stand bag or just stick the handle in the bag like a club.

Windy: I collapse the umbrella and lay it on the ground.

My hope is that if it is raining enough to need an umbrella, that I am wearing rain gear.