It can’t have escaped your attention that conditions on the golf course are changing. After months of glorious hot weather that resulted in rock-hard fairways and drives that seemed to travel forever, we are now facing colder and damper weather. And that has an impact on how we play the game.
Having first asked whether you are ready for golf at this time of year, we now pose the question of how does autumn-winter golf differ from the summer game?
Leaves
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
If you play on a parkland course you will know all about this one. Trees are shedding their leaves in vast numbers – and that creates its own hazard. In the past week both myself and a playing partner had a fruitless search on the same hole for balls that had disappeared into huge piles of leaves. Fortunately, we have a local rule that allows us a free drop as close as possible to where we believe the ball landed. This is, of course, open to abuse but it does seem entirely unfair to lose a ball in such loose debris.
Ball doesn’t fly as far
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
The air is cooler and the fairways are softer. Sadly, that means the ball is not going to fly as far and will not be rolling 100 yards when it lands. When hitting approach shots at this time of year take into account the fact that the ball is not going to fly as far as it did in July. Take one more club!
Preferred lies
If you are used to playing the ball as it lies then preferred lies may take some getting used to. It’s one of many bad weather rules that will be introduced at clubs. Don’t forget to mark your ball before you replace it – you are allowed to move it the equivalent distance of a scorecard. Golf is tough enough so take advantage of this winter rule.
Blue tees
Many courses use blue tees during the autumn and winter. By and large, this will reduce the length of your course but it also means you get to play a slightly different layout and that can mean altering your course strategy.
Mud
You had better be prepared for the fact that there will soon be mud on those beautiful fairways. And it gets everywhere. Make sure you have a towel (or two) to clean your golf balls and remember to regularly check the soles of your golf shoes to ensure your studs or spikes are not clogged up. In slippery conditions you need to keep your golf shoes as clean as possible to give you the best possible grip.
Mud will also get into the grooves of your irons – so clean them after every shot. If your grooves are clogged it becomes far more difficult to control the ball and you have zero chance of imparting any spin.
Frost
It won’t be too long before we have to cope with frost on our fairways and greens. This presents its own challenges. Trying to take a divot when the ground beneath your feet is like concrete is NOT to be recommended. And when you putt on a frost-covered green your ball is going to increase in size as it picks up ice on its journey to the hole.
Ball will stop
Many of us have spent months trying to judge where to land approach shots as a result of the fairways, approaches and greens being rock hard on account of the baking sun. One of the joys of the damp conditions that are surely on the way is that you can start attacking flags again, knowing that when the ball lands it is going to stop.
And that also means you are going to be walking on to greens and shaking your head in disbelief at all those who have gone before you without repairing their pitchmarks!
Wet bunkers
Our bunkers are going to be playing differently so you are going to need to learn how to escape from damp sand – a totally different technique to that employed from exploding from the fluffy white stuff!
Frozen bunkers
And then there will be times when the sand in your bunkers is frozen solid, once more ruling out the possibility of explosion shots. You are going to have to pick the ball clean off the surface without thinning it across the green. Good luck with that one!
Coloured balls
I am a traditionalist and play with white golf balls. But with winter on the horizon I have purchased some orange balls in preparation for the arrival of the first frosts, purely and simply because they are easier to spot on the fairways.
Restricted movement
The extra layers of clothing we will be wearing leads to a sense that our swings are restricted and that increases the tendency to go after the ball harder and faster. Nothing is more certain to ruin your day. Focus on keeping it smooth and silky.
Need for a back-up plan
It is a racing certainty that at some point in the coming months the weather is going to prevent you from getting out on the course. If you work and have waited all week and looked forward to playing there is nothing more frustrating, so have a back-up plan with your mates. Why not head to the driving range and test your skills against one another? Is there an indoor golf centre near where you live? They are fantastic facilities that allow you to play virtual rounds on just about any course on the planet. They are indoors, they are warm and they have full catering facilities.
Derek Clements is a seasoned sports journalist and regular Golfshake contributor, specialising in tour coverage, opinion pieces, and feature writing. With a long career in national newspapers and golf media, he has reported on the game across Europe, the United States and Australia. A passionate golfer, he has played and reviewed numerous renowned courses, with personal favourites including Pebble Beach, Kingsbarns, Aldeburgh, Old Thorns and the K Club. His love of the game informs his thoughtful commentary on both professional golf and the wider golfing community.
