Golfing in the Rain
It's raining on your only day to play golf. The nerve of Mother Nature! Who does she think she is? Fear not my diehard golfers; the only reason you ever have to stop playing golf is because of lightning. If you hear Thunder or Lightning, head for safety ASAP and live to play another day.
How do you play your best golf in the rain? Simply put, preparation is the key.
- Adjust your expectations. Rain golf is more challenging, but that is why we play the game, for a good challenge. With the greens softening up, it is actually easier to hold greens with your approach shots!
- Buy an umbrella! When the first drop hits you, its God's fault, the second drop is your fault.
- Wear your cap. It will shield your face from drops and allow you to see what is ahead of you.
- Have a rain jacket handy. I personally don't own rain pants, because if it is raining that hard, then I am probably not still playing. Plus they are bulky in the bag. However, rain pants are essential for cool and wet golf, so pack them for your golf trips to Ireland.
- Get a dry towel and keep it that way as long as possible. Hang your dry towel off of the inside spokes of your umbrella.
- Keep spare gloves in the bag in a zip lock bag.
- Too lazy to keep your towel dry and use an umbrella then buy a pair of Footjoy Rain Gloves and keep them in your bag. The wetter the better for these gloves and the club will never slip. They are awesome!!!
- Avoid Winn grips in rain and sweaty conditions... they are awesome for good weather, but lack tack when you need it most. I advise the New Decade by Golf Pride.
- When the turf is really soggy, grip down on your club a half inch. It is okay to hit it thin, but a fat shot oh so painful to the scorecard. Thin wins in this scenario.
- It's all about carry. When the ground is wet, roll disappears. Thus, plan your game according to your carry distances. You don't know your carry distances? Head to the range and figure it out fast.
- Play golf courses like the Village Links of Glen Ellyn that offer exceptional rain check policies, ensuring your green fees will not be wasted.
If you are even considering golfing in the rain, then I am already a fan of yours. Go ahead and tee it! Odds are the course will be wide open and you can cruise around the golf course in record time.