Playing golf in the winter is hard, but there are some very simple changes we can all make to ensure that we have the best chance possible to shoot good scores.
The die-hard golfers amongst us will be out playing during the winter in order to keep their game ticking over for when the warmer months return.
Golfing Gazette writer Antony Martin, who competed on the mini-tour circuit in America for four years in the early 2000s, previously provided a series of golf tips for amateurs to help them improve their games throughout the winter without even leaving the house.
Who is your least favourite golfer on the PGA Tour right now?
However, how should we go about actually playing consistent golf in the winter?
Here are some tips and golf hacks to make your life a lot easier out on the links over the next few months.
Four big changes amateurs need to make in their games to score better in winter
By making some very small adjustments to your game, playing golf in the winter can be a lot easier than most golfers think.
Let’s take a look at four ways in which we can all improve our scores throughout the colder months.
Play chips and pitches with less loft
The key to chipping better in the winter is using clubs with less bounce. Clubs like 56 and 60 degree wedges have very sharp edges with minimal bounce, so they are more prone to digging into the ground.
One of the most common mistakes that amateurs make around the greens is using too much loft and regularly catching the ground before the ball.
In the summer, you can get away with doing that but you’re severely punished in the winter. In order to combat this, start using a club with less loft to chip with, a 9-iron perhaps.
The beauty of winter golf is that the ground is a lot softer so your ball will come to rest quicker than it usually would in the summer.
So you should be able to get a fair bit of control by chipping with a pitching wedge or a 9-iron instead of your sand wedge or lob wedge.
Hit at least one more club on every approach shot
In the winter, not only is the ground softer, resulting in next to no roll-out, but the colder air means that the ball will not fly as far.
A common problem that amateur golfers have is not hitting enough club on their approach shots and this issue is exacerbated in the winter.
Select one more club and the most likely worst-case scenario is that you’ll finish on the back of the green.
Small tweaks can make for more enjoyable winter golf
Two further tips to help you play better golf as the winter properly sets in…
Add more loft to your driver
The key to playing winter golf is flying the ball further through the air.
During the winter, golf balls stop pretty much wherever they land, regardless of the trajectory of the ball flight.
A simple change of tweaking your driver by adding one or two degrees loft could make all the difference.
It will enable you to hit a higher ball flight off the tee, gaining more carry distance than you would usually. If you don’t have a modern driver where the loft can be changed, there’s definitely an argument to be made for hitting your three-wood more off the tee.
Extended warm-up period
Despite what some people may think, golf is an extremely athletic sport.
Do you think you could win The Masters if you started every hole on the green?
If not, how many shots would you also need?
People underestimate just how explosive the movement is from the top of the backswing on into impact and beyond.
During the colder months, we, as golfers, are more prone to injury due to the fact that we don’t adequately warm up our muscles before playing.
If you spend 10-20 minutes stretching and warming up in your house before leaving to play, you will already be ahead of the game.
Then, when you get to the golf course, hit at least 20 balls to help loosen the specific muscles that you will be using throughout the day.
The main point of all of this advice is trying to make winter golf more enjoyable for all of you.
And if you make those very small changes listed above, there is a good chance you will start shooting better scores.
Better scores equals more enjoyment on the golf course!
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
