How to manage your golf game in the wet
You maybe on a golf tour and the forecast the next day is for showers. The other group members are keen to play. The tour championship is midway through they say. So you feel you have to play.
I have been amazed at the wet conditions our clients will play through. If the course is playable, they are there. On days when the golf club members are at home, tucked in front of their heaters, our clients are out there keeping their championship going. Here are tips on how you can manage yourself on those wet golf days.
Decide on your level of rainwear
In your travel bag for the tour, you should decide on what level of rainwear you want to bring. Are you full Gore-Tex from tip to toe or are you minimalist and don’t like the restriction of a full rain suit.
I myself am pretty minimalist. A sleeveless shell is enough for me along with a water resistant bucket hat. I will take a little bit of dampness and enjoy a freer swing. However this a decision for you and the level of discomfort you willing to put up with.
One thing if you are going to wear a golf cap, turn it backwards so when you are playing, the rain doesn’t go down the back of your rain suit and down your neck.
Towel up under the umbrella
Hang your towel up under your umbrella, don’t leave it in your bag. It will stay dryer and be more handy for drying your hands, the ball and the clubs.
That is right you should dry your ball, and the grip and clubface before you tee off and every time you get a chance. The No. 1 reason why shots spear off in different directions in the rain is a wet ball squirming off a wet club face.
Club up in the wet
It is worst than playing in a fog. Moisture content in the air is going to drag a ball down. Add the extra layer you are wearing and the ball is not going to fly nearly as far as you normally hit it. Scoring is going to be harder. Accept it.
So along with the lack of run you are going to get, you need to know how far your ball carries in the air with each club. From there you can work out with the degree of precipitation, how many clubs you need to go up.
More pitches than chip and runs
With the lack of run or predictable at that, it better to lob your short game rather than going for the chip and run or bump and run. Of course if you are on soggy ground, bringing out a club with a lot of bounce can course problems. See our previous blog on on “Playing in soggy condtions.”
Bench the rangefinder
Just the same as in fog, rangefinders don’t work well in rain. The heavier the rain, the less effective they are. Also depending on the quality of your rangefinder, their continuing operation maybe affected by the rain ( I have had one die on me permanently after a wet round).
You can always have a two tier system available to you for when you can’t see the flag. GPS watches or apps can fill that gap and in a wet round and you will be using them more on a rainy day.
Have a proper rain glove in your bag
Beyond a passing shower or some drissle or you don’t have a caddie passing you fresh gloves every hole, have a specialised rain glove always in your bag. Ditch the leather or synthetic leather glove when the rain gets persistent and take a cloth or synthetic fabic glove out.
I have a cloth glove living in my bag and it has been there for years. There are more exotic fabrics now available for rain gloves and they cost more. However it is worth it just for the sheer sake of surety of grip in the wet.
Bring the armpit into play
Love this tip! After you have finished your stroke and you have rainwear on, before putting the club back in the bag, wipe the club head with your armpit. Granted it probably it is the most easily accessible dry bit of your body by this stage!
This will shed the club of excess water so it won’t transfer to the other clubs in your bag.
You can't go past quality equipment
If you are going to use a different golf bag for your golf travels, make sure it is quality. It is made of water resistance material. The bag hood is made of a similar standard material. That the zippers to the pockets are quality. The connections for your straps are solid.
There seems to nothing like rain and mud that will bring out the deficiencies of inferior equipment.
And lastly, it's your attitude!
If you are going to the course miserable about playing in the rain, you are going to have a miserable round. Be prepared before you arrive at the course and enjoy the different way of playing.
You are most probably not going to score as well as playing on a fine day . But golf is so much more interesting when you embrace the challenge and enjoy the different ways it can be played!
If this article helps you that is great. If you are a golf traveller and are still needing help organising your next golf trip in Canberra or regional NSW, contact us through the button below.
