Playing golf in the inclement weather sucks. Then again, golfing in the rain can essentially be even more enjoyable to play, but there are quite a few caveats to factor in. These include wearing strong waterproof shoes, the best suited gear and suitable clothing.
Do your best to play safer and make use of a little more club to get similar distances as you would in dry weather.
Putting will also require a little bit of elbow grease, but as soon as you get used to the wet golfing you are likely to have fun on the course.
Provided that the conditions are safe, and that there are no precipitous and dangerous rainstorms, enjoying some golf in the rain can be easy. Here you can find a few tips to ensure you have a superb round of golf.
Should I Play Golf in the Rain?
This is the most obvious question you should ask before setting out to play. In essence, golf courses tend to be less occupied during rainy conditions, which could help if you want to have some extra practice.
A rainy day is a great time to play if you don’t want to be bothered. You have to ensure that the course conditions are right during rainfall. A little drizzle is a great way to play golf in the rain.
If you do decide to go out and play, always ensure that your equipment dries thoroughly after each round. As long as there are no indications of lightning in the area, going out for a round in the rain makes a lot of sense. Some golf courses may even give you a discount on their fees during a rainy day.
When Is It Too Wet to Play Golf?
Whenever there is dormant water on the greens, it is generally too wet to play. When your vision is disturbed due to falling rain or water on your face. You have to make sure that the course is fairly practical to use.
A Few Tips
Below are our best tips for playing in the rain. From time to time, golfers think that it is a little easier to play in rainy conditions. Here are some important things to think about and useful tips for playing golf in the rain. (1)
Scoring Will Be Hard
Before starting your game, there is an ideal score that you would like to shoot. When the rain falls down, it would be wise to forget about it. Gunning for the round of your life in the rain is challenging and adding this extra stress on yourself is just not worth it. You will end up shooting higher, trying to force yourself to go low. It’s best to aim for a mediocre score in this case.
Try to Stay Focused
Playing in the rain requires a little more concentration. You could be in the middle of a swing and be distracted by the raindrops falling from your hat, or a thrust of wind and rain. It can be difficult to remain focused in such side-tracking conditions, but it is vital that you do your best to remain firmly on your feet with your eye on the prize.
Not being in full control of your game will definitely lead to bad shots and embarrassing scores. Stay focused, take the round one shot at a time, for all you know things could clear up on the next hole.
Have A Positive Attitude and Enjoy It
A good golfer who is all too familiar with the psychological side of golf, recognizes that a lack of enthusiasm and golf do not mix. Should you find yourself being more miserable on the golf course in the middle of the rain, go home.
Think of things such as the playing pace being a lot faster, and you are getting some time outdoors. With the right mindset, playing in the rain can be a great deal of fun.
Don’t Take Too Many Risks
Thinking about making that swing where you hit a hole-in-one? That perfect shot that you are likely to only make just once. Playing in the rain will not be the day for that shot- play it safe. Try your luck at shots that you trust and that you are confident you can make.
Being in the rough on a rainy day is also going to be a bit tricky to get out of. The grass will be thicker and clutch your club without wanting to let go. Cautiously work your way around the golf course, and you will avoid having large numbers on your tally.
Be Ready in Top Gear
Playing golf in the rain without the correct gear is a recipe for disaster. There are detailed provisions that will make your playing so much easier. Without a doubt the most important gear would be rain gloves. Did you know that the wetter golf gloves get, the better they work?
Having a good pair of golf clubs is the only thing that makes it feel like you won’t throw your golf club away on a rainy day. Invest in a good pair of rain gloves and keep them in your golf bag at all times.
In addition to gloves, look at these important additions you should have with you when playing on a rainy day.
- Waterproof Golf Shoes
- Umbrella
- Rain Proof Clothing/Jacket/Pants
- Hat
- Dry Clothes for After Golf
- Several Towels
- Golf bag rain cover
What to Expect When Playing in The Rain
The Heavenly showers will have an impact on your golf shots. You will have to calculate your yardages and rolls a bit in a different way.
Here’s how you will see rain changing your ball flight and your shots. (2)
Less Carry On Drives
In the rain your drives will not fly or roll as far as you think. A golf ball which is shot up in the rain will be pushed down and out of the sky a lot quicker than a golf ball on a sunny day.
Some golf balls will also plunge straight into the ground precisely where they land. In case you are used to achieving fifteen yards of roll, you are likely to lose that on a damp day. Provided that you have an idea of what to expect, it shouldn’t be too problematic to deal with.
When to Chip and When to Pitch
Think about chipping and pitching in rainy weather. There are some things that you should take the time to consider. The first is that the ball will not spin that well. The terrain will have a lot of water, thick grass, and occasionally some mud sandwiched between the face of the club and the ball.
This will openly have an impact on how much the ball can spin.
In addition to not being able to spin the ball the same that you usually do, you will also notice that the roll will not be the same.
The wet greens will generally cause your ball to roll just a few feet and stop. For some players, this will be a welcome change; for others, it will be a significant adjustment.
Club Up Your Irons
It is by no stretch of the imagination that your irons are going to be impacted by the rain in the air. In general, you will need to hit an additional club if there is steady rain. Some people like to choke up a bit on that extra club and hit more of a ¾ swing lower trajectory type golf shot.
Putting
There appears to be quite a few golfers who are under the impression that putting is the least affected by rain. Then again, the majority of lower handicap golfers will say that it is the most affected.
When hitting a putt on a wet green, your golf ball will be collecting water. While the ball rolls it will collect more water, which could result in throwing off the line of your putt.
All in all, you should have a firm posture and aim for the back of the cup. During inclement weather, playing surfaces tend to be slower. Being unable to get a steady roll on the ball will result in the ball wavering from the line.
Conclusion
Playing golf in a bit of rain may very well improve your golfing skills. This kind of weather will challenge you to hit different unique shots.
Here you have to fine-tune your swinging and pay attention to your golf shots and a different strategy for each hole.
Put a little creativity in your approach to a golf hole and make a great shot from an area that seemed impossible.Don’t let a little rain put you off of your eagerness to play. Remember to have the appropriate gear in your golf bag and haver fun bracing the wet turf.
