Too Cold To Golf?

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Perish the thought!

 

Well, except maybe for this past Saturday...

 

Played in a TwinCitiesGolf.com 2-man scramble - this is what I woke up to...

 

 

Fortunately, it warmed up a bit during the drive to the course...

 

 

Good news is we eventually hit close to 40 during the round. Bad news is it was pretty windy 

 

What's the coldest temps you'll golf in?  Any secrets on bundling up while still staying flexible enough to actually play the game?

 

 

[JBones]

45° is my cutoff for playing, but I'll go to the range as long as it's over 32°. My one and only double eagle came on a 45° day in January of 2012.

[fozcycle]

I can remember that during the 1970's we used to spray paint the golfballs red so we could play when there was a 1" duster of snow covering the course.  We were playing in Central Kentucky and the temps were in the 30's....

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

I can remember that during the 1970's we used to spray paint the golfballs red so we could play when there was a 1" duster of snow covering the course. 

 

Now THAT'S hardcore!!!

[markb]

If the course is open, it's never too cold to play.

[Mr_Theoo]

For me it's the wind that'll stop me from playing than the cold. It's hard to be outside for 4 hours with the wind beating my hands and face up.

 

The way I combat the cold weather is to go with compression type of clothes as the base layer instead of adding more top layers. Nike makes some great cold gear that doesn't restrict movement. The other option of choice is to put on a liquid blanket if you know what I mean lol.

[westy]

I'm with you mark - course is open......game on (this is me and a mate out for a game in 2012, he was level for 9 - gimmes anywhere on green, I mean white!)

 

[hckymeyer]

I'm with Mark, if the course is open I'll play.  I think last year coldest round was a high of 36. 

 

Wear lots of thin layers and it really helps to have a cart cover with a heater inside

[fozcycle]

Sunday morning it was 49* in Tampa, but there were 5 of us that played....warmed up to 62* and Sunny.

[Kenny B]

It was 63 and sunny, not much wind here yesterday.  Played pretty well.

 

I'm with mark and westy.  We play all year long.  Most courses here are open even when below freezing; some close if it is below freezing but expected to warm up to above freezing.  But my 9 hole practice course is open all the time!

 

I have played when the temperature was in the teens, but only if there is no wind.  Ground is frozen; can't land a ball on the green, basically playing long bump and runs from the fairway.  We have had as many as 20-30 people out playing.  I usually walk as I can stay warmer.  

 

Check out the ProActive Sports Ultimittens for $20; you can get them at Golfsmith and probably other big box stores.  My local golf shop had them in stock.  They attach to your pushcart and are nice, nice, nice!!  I put a hand warmer inside and my hands stay toasty while walking.

[markb]

Another thing that cold weather wimps don't realize -- you stay warmer if you walk!   I see guys shivering in enclosed carts with propane heaters while I'm toasty with the mittens on my pushcart, one therma-pak in each pocket to keep all the balls warm and a thin balaclava for the ears and face.

 

You're not a true golf nut until you've hit balls out of snowdrifts and had the ball freeze to the clubface on impact!

[westy]

That was about 25 f when I played, never really gone out much below that. Mostly because the battery on the electric trolley starts to misbehave!

 

I enjoy it, it's just exercise, nothing serious. I like bouncing balls over frozen lakes into par 3's in the cold weather.

[ZenGolfer]

Ive played in temps as cold as the mid 20s.  It wasnt really fun.

[hckymeyer]

Another thing that cold weather wimps don't realize -- you stay warmer if you walk!   I see guys shivering in enclosed carts with propane heaters while I'm toasty with the mittens on my pushcart, one therma-pak in each pocket to keep all the balls warm and a thin balaclava for the ears and face.

 

You're not a true golf nut until you've hit balls out of snowdrifts and had the ball freeze to the clubface on impact!

I'll take my cover and heater any day.  I can wear less layers and still stay warm.

[silver & black]

I have poor circulation in my hands and feet. I freeze out there. I hate the cold! I played Sunday and on the back 9 it got to 38*. I couldn't wait to be done. I'll play at around 40*... much less than that and I just can't take it.

[furu]

It gets interesting when you have to start using these because the ground is too hard for regular tees. And you hit 2-3 less into the green - bouncing on the icy fairway the last 20-30 meters. 

 

 

[westy]

To be fair Furu, it's a bit colder in Norway than England! If I lived in your neck of the woods Id be skiing in the winter.

 

Love it when half the greens are in shade are frozen and the others aren't, you pitch one on the green and holds....the next bounces 20 feet in the air and shoots miles through.

 

You earn your whisky on those days

 

And yes those winter tees are lovely.....

[jbil8802]

I'll play into the 30s as long as there isn't brutal wind and there isn't snow on the ground. I've got the UA cold gear pants and mock that I use for my base layer which work pretty well. I also picked up some UA winter golf pants and a Nike therma fit pullover from a local golf course. FJ Wintersof gloves and a beanie. Can always throw some thermals on top of the cold gear if I need the extra layer. I would say that the gloves are the weakest link.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

It gets interesting when you have to start using these because the ground is too hard for regular tees. And you hit 2-3 less into the green - bouncing on the icy fairway the last 20-30 meters. 

 

 

 

Now that's smart -- we usually just bring an awl with us and chisel a hole into the ground.  

[RoverRick]

For years, my course was pretty much unregulated.  You could play anytime you wanted, and The Course was always open, even if the club house was not.  Now because of the money spent on rebuilding the greens and course, if the ground temperature is below a certain point the course is closed.  Saturday the course did not open until 10 am because of frost.

 

There were 4-5 of us that played every Saturday and Sunday if it was not raining hard.  Coldest I played was 17.  I was hitting a 4 iron 670 yards that day.  That was the max length of the lake and it was frozen. 

[furu]

Western Norway (where I live) = Scotland. The eastern part, around Oslo, is a lot colder. 12C here today. A normal winter day in Bergen is 5-7C and rain. But yes - Norway in general is better for skiing than golf during the winter.

[BIG STU]

For me it's the wind that'll stop me from playing than the cold. It's hard to be outside for 4 hours with the wind beating my hands and face up.

 

The way I combat the cold weather is to go with compression type of clothes as the base layer instead of adding more top layers. Nike makes some great cold gear that doesn't restrict movement. The other option of choice is to put on a liquid blanket if you know what I mean lol.

LOL Down South that liquid blanket you are referring to we call anti freeze but not the kind you put in your car

[westy]

I'll tee it up on frost if I need to - it's ok if your hitting a short club.

 

but those winter tees are funny. The old chaps love them - few of them use them all year round, never have to buy tees!

[Kenny B]

I first saw them about 15 years ago on a trip to New Mexico. The old guys there had these with fishing line attached to a lead weight so they didn't have to chase after them. I brought a couple back with me, and I still have them!

[Kor.A.Door]

I wear long sleeve undershirt, polo shirt sweater, and I have an insulated vest that I can wear, so I can still swing with it on. Gloves, if my hands get cold it's hard to golf, hot hands if necessary.

[RookieBlue7]

I've played on frozen greens.'long as we have covers and heaters and the course let's us out, we're playing

[Jmikecpa]

If the course is open on a Saturday then I am playing....that is why they make thermals and hand warmers. Last winter was a bit rough and hoping that this year is a bit better.

[Kenny B]

I can't complain about the weather yet. Forecast is high 50's to mid 60's for the next 10 days with no rain. Not much wind to speak of either, but that can change quickly.

 

Not bad for November. Think I will go play this afternoon.