This time of year can be difficult to play golf, but for those who brave the oftentimes wet and soggy conditions, it can still be enjoyable.
Sure, it’s always great to tee it up and sneak in a round when you can, but when you actually shoot low despite the unpredictable winter weather, it’s even better. In order to do that, though, you need to understand how to play your best and not allow Mother Nature to negatively impact your score.
How to play your best in wet and rainy conditions
From having the right gear to having the right plan of attack, I outline 10 ways that you can still play great when it’s wet and rainy outside. So take a look to see what it takes!
1. Rain suit
A good rain suit is a must! And even though it can be uncomfortable playing in a jacket, when it’s pouring, any discomfort outweighs being soaked (and possibly cold, too)!
So make sure you wear something fully waterproof and not just water resistant.
2. Umbrella
Even if you have a rain suit, I always recommend having an umbrellas as well. Not only will it help keep you a little bit more dry, but it’s a great place to hang your gloves between shots.
You can also use your umbrella to help cover your bag while you swing, assuming it isn’t too windy.
3. Gloves
There’s a good chance that you’ll need multiple gloves on a rainy day, so be prepared by loading up a few extra ones into your bag before teeing off. By stashing a few extra dry gloves, you’ll have fresh ones available that’ll help keep the club from slipping.
4. Towels
Towels can make a huge difference on the golf course, as they’ll allow you to wipe your clubs, hands, golf balls, etc. I personally like to use a larger towel to cover my clubs, which helps keep the grips of my clubs dry.
So whether you bring your own or grab some from the clubhouse before teeing off (and when making the turn), stashing up on dry towels is a must!
5. More lofted club choices
When the ground gets really wet, the ball tends to plug — eliminating any roll. Because of this, it can be smart to hit clubs that have more ball flight, like a 7-wood rather than a 3-hybrid. These launching clubs will help the ball carry farther in the air.
6. Carry the ball — more pitches than chips
Although a pitch shot can be a more difficult choice than a chip shot, in wet conditions, you need a more predictable ball flight. So be prepared to be more aggressive with your wedges and avoid trying to play a shot that would typically roll toward the pin — because when the ground is wet, it’ll prevent this from happening.
7. Understand your ball flight
When the course gets really wet, it can be easy for higher shots to plug and go deep into the ground. This is where understanding your ball flight becomes so important.
The last thing you want is a lost ball penalty, so diversify your club selection and always visually mark where your ball lands. This way, when you walk to it, you’ll know its exact location.
8. Putting — bigger
Wet greens will certainly be slower, so as the course continues to get more wet during a round, you’ll need to be willing to increase your backstroke length to roll the ball close enough to the hole.
9. Expect higher scores
When conditions are wet, rainy and maybe even a little windy, they’re tough for everyone. So remind yourself that you aren’t the only player adapting to the unpredictable weather conditions.
Having a bad shot should be expected, so mentally prepare yourself for it, and try to avoid one mistake turning into two or three bad breaks.
Approaching the round with a positive outlook — and knowing the controllables vs. uncontrollables — will make a huge difference in how you play on rainy days.
10. Rise to the challenge
When choosing between playing golf in the rain or playing in the sunshine, everyone will certainly choose the latter option. But the reality is, it’s not always going to be the case — so with the right attitude, you can lap the field.
Many golfers use bad weather as an excuse, but having a positive outlook before even driving to the course can go a long way in scoring low.
Keep yourself and your equipment dry, stay aggressive when you can, and remember to adjust your game plan as needed to manage the conditions.