Do You Play In The Rain?

[GolfSpy_APH]

Are you a fair weather golfer or someone who will play in any condition?

If you play in the rain what gear do you use and what do you find works or doesnt work for you?

[MattF]

I won't play when it's actively raining. I'll play after it's rained without an issue, I just don't like being rained on.

My Puma Proadapt Alphacats are great in the wet in regards to keeping my feet dry, they're all I need.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

I prefer to not play on the rain. This year I’ve just been getting out as a single a lot and have not had very many booked rounds in advance. Of the 3 bookings it rained every time (2 of them were light and it was fine the last one washed out the round).

other than an umbrella don’t really have any rain gear just try to have a rotation of gloves or none at all and a dry towel.

[Kenny B]

Generally not if I'm playing at home.  I always check the forecast and avoid days with rain.  If it's a sprinkle, that's OK as long as there is no wind.  If it starts to rain when I'm playing, I can head to the clubhouse and wait 10 minutes until it clears.  I live in a desert; I don't have to play in the rain.

[AndySP]

I love playing in the rain! Well, as long as it’s not too cold (below 50 for me). It’s calming and, because the courses are empty, I can play much quicker. 
 

I always bring my push cart with the umbrella holder. I keep a towel up in the supports. I don’t wear a glove in dry weather, but have the black footjoy rain gloves for when it raining hard. I don’t have any fancy rain gear, just some waterproof shoes, a budget shell jacket, and synthetic pants that sort of repel water. I probably should get some nicer stuff, but I’ve always found it almost impossible to find the right fits. Plus, I like to embrace the elements so getting a bit wet is all part of the fun. 

Edited August 26, 2023 by AndySP

[revkev]

Living in Florida I rarely play in the rain intentionally because rain is generally either connected with an electrical storm or tropical system. I do have Nike rain gear in my bag as well as a water proof hat that came from a Rays give away and I carry an umbrella when I walk in the summer months but those items are only used to get me from the course to a safe place when a storm pops up.

 

I used to play in any and every condition when I lived up North, particularly when I lived in Wisconsin. If the course was open I was playing. The season was way too short to be picky about the weather.   And like AndySp I enjoyed playing in the rain so long as it wasn’t too cold out. Less crowded and the challenge of a different condition made it fun. 

[funkyjudge]

5 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Are you a fair weather golfer or someone who will play in any condition?

If you play in the rain what gear do you use and what do you find works or doesnt work for you?

Rain, sleet, wind -- I play in it all! I have even played in snow showers more than once (after all, I play on a winter golf tour in New Jersey). I have a pair of waterproof golf pants (not rain pants) from Under Armour, and a few different weight rain jackets (half sleeve and full sleeve), and a GoreTex bucket hat or two, plus there's always rain gloves in my golf bag wherever I go. For really wet conditions, I find that a pair of nitrile surgical gloves works better than cloth rain gloves.

I'm of Scottish heritage; do you think that a little rain and wind is going to stop me from playing golf? As long as there is no thunder and lightning, it's golf weather, although at times it can get a bit uncomfortable.  Last July, playing at Turnberry's Ailsa Course, the wind was blowing hard off the Irish Sea and the rain was being blown sideways. It was impossible to see more than 40 or 50 yards at times.  I was happy that I had a caddie, but it was still mighty uncomfortable until the squalls let up after about 8 holes.  There were still occasional showers the rest of the round, but that's Scottish golf!

[EasyPutter]

I'm one of the golfers that enjoys playing in the rain and I attribute it to standing looking through a gap in my grandfather's back hedge at a fairway of Wolstanton Golf Club in the rain watching golfers playing golf before I was old enough to start school.  Key to my enjoyment is my rain gear as being caught out without it is not as much fun, so experience tells me to always carry the rain gear as even clear sky WNY afternoon can turn into a soaker by 5th fairway as captured in the selfie photo below. 

The short checklist for rain gear to make it fun:  BIG umbrella, golf bag umbrella, raincoat for the golf bag, waterproof golf shoes, wide brim hat (for stepping away from umbrella rain shadow and not getting water down the neck), extra towel to hang under the umbrella where rain cannot soak it, cord to hold the golf bag umbrella down so wind doesn't lift it.

New umbrella this year!  The MAXFLI 70" umbrella in these photos was 11 years old when this spring playing the 14th fairway on a downhill lie, wind from uphill took the whole pushcart over breaking one of the fiberglass ribs.  Fortunately had bought a Callaway 68" umbrella over the winter and had it on the pushcart when it happened so quickly swapped them and finished the round.  A large umbrella is essential not just for somewhere dry to stand and walk but also for hanging things underneath like gloves if you wear them, a towel to dry the putter, and for hanging the putter cover where it stays dry while putting.

Hot Tip: big umbrellas have two straps to hold them closed, use the velcro tabs to hook them together and it will keep the lower one from hanging off the edge where it can be annoying and they both will not flap in the wind.  Figured it out finally after swapping to the Callaway umbrella.

The DrizzleStik golf bag umbrella is essential when on a course with riding carts without rain hood for the clubs, also works great in combination with a raincoat for the golf bag.  On windy days, a small bungee cord run through the DrizzleStik rib supports keeps it in the bag low where it just does its job of keeping things dry, the other end attached to the bottom of the golf bag to not interfere with the rain cover/raincoat.

Hanging the raincoat hood over a slightly extended ball retriever gives room for the Driver to be accessed without having to move the raincoat cover more than to the side to get the  driver out at the tee box, and all other clubs are as easily accessed and stay as dry as wiping them off will allow.  The golf bag rain cover/raincoat stays in place with the arms led back to the push cart handle tucked where they will stay put.  Putting a club cover over the ball retriever spreads out the raincoat hood making it easy to get clubs out on both sides of the strategically relocated ball retriever (next to the driver) where it does it's support role, and the club cover is excellent camouflage that there is a ball retriever in the bag!

Staying dry is key to enjoying golf in the rain.  The raincoat allows for complete access to golf bag pockets and in heaviest downpours keeps spare towels, socks, electronics like rangefinder, phone, GPS, keys and wallet dry.  Still working on best way to keep the phone dry in the handle bracket when the wind blows rain at an angle but so far a small towel works well, just gets flipped aside by gusts.

Set up and take down is probably the only time that rain is an issue.  Speed of setup and take down can help minimize the exposure but so too does getting push cart set up to hold the big umbrella for you.  This is just one more advantage of using a push cart to hold the big golf umbrella where bigger is better for this use.  Parking the vehicle it is  helpful to put doors where golf gear is downwind.  My driver side rear door is where some things go and the cart and golf bag are inside the rear lift hatch so I look to park with the passenger headlight pointing into the wind for the rain shadow to keep rain out of the open doors while I set up and take down. 

Take down takes longer and everything is wet so look for overhanging trees and if not already parked there, move the vehicle under the overhang to load into open doors.  In one deluge I was able to back my vehicle under the golf course clubhouse awning when play was impossible for standing water on the greens.  Hang the wet raincoat over the back of the passenger side front headrest by its hood, umbrellas go on the rubber floor mats with waterproof golf shoes, and that is pretty much the only extra planning to golf on a dry day for take down.

Best part of golf in the rain is so few people do, the course becomes empty when rain starts, the clubs slide over grass easier at the bottom of the swing arc making ball contact cleaner with no loss of clubhead speed to the grass, and the colors become vivid in an already gorgeous place on Earth.  Too bad I rarely have a playing partner when it rains.

Seriously, can you tell I play much in the rain? 

[funkyjudge]

I have a much better solution for keeping my phone dry when it rains; I don't take the phone on the golf course.  In fact, I almost never take my phone on the course (the only exception is when I am charging my PHEV Volvo's battery while playing golf -- there's two Chargepoint chargers at the course where I play for a senior travel team). When the car is being charged, I need my phone to access the Chargepoint app to disconnect the charger after 9 holes (the two charging stations are about 40 yards from the 10th tee, and if you leave the charger attached for 4 hours or more, it costs $5 per hour; otherwise, it only costs about $1 for me to fully charge the battery).

[EasyPutter]

4 minutes ago, funkyjudge said:

I have a much better solution for keeping my phone dry when it rains; I don't take the phone on the golf course.  In fact, I almost never take my phone on the course (the only exception is when I am charging my PHEV Volvo's battery while playing golf -- there's two Chargepoint chargers at the course where I play for a senior travel team). When the car is being charged, I need my phone to access the Chargepoint app to disconnect the charger after 9 holes (the two charging stations are about 40 yards from the 10th tee, and if you leave the charger attached for 4 hours or more, it costs $5 per hour; otherwise, it only costs about $1 for me to fully charge the battery).

Technically it is a phone.  Golf play time it is my SwingU App electronic device with Do Not Disturb turned on.  My golf bag is/(was just retired unless zippers are replaced) a Sun Mountain C130 Supercharged bag that came with a Philips USB battery pack to ensure I had plenty of power for my golf app but with my new phone I really have not needed it even for 18 holes with full brightness on the screen.

[Subdiver1]

1 hour ago, EasyPutter said:

xperience tells me to always carry the rain gear

Western WA and the PNW in general have taught me that lesson.  Great prepper list for rain golf.  Enjoy.

Edited August 26, 2023 by Subdiver1
prepper, not pepper; Geeze

[RockerFCC]

I really don't mind rain, or even cold. Just so it's not too windy, that for me is what makes it miserable. And I rarely if even would quit cause of weather. I'm not going out there in caddyshack weather, but otherwise I am good.

[Alan Scalzi]

I must not be normal as ill play in all weather! I don't own any rain gear, but as long as my socks are dry I'm good! The nike 270 golf shoes did the trick. Keeped extra clothes ect in zip locked bags!

[No3PuttLaLa]

Living in the PNW has the beauty of year round golf… as long as you’re not shy of some rain.

I get out and play in the rain. I’m always prepared for the lost fairway balls in the winter due to plugging. 
Rain or shine… shoot 109! 

[KC Golf]

On 8/26/2023 at 2:47 AM, GolfSpy_APH said:

Are you a fair weather golfer or someone who will play in any condition?

If you play in the rain what gear do you use and what do you find works or doesnt work for you?

If it’s a fun round with friends on a good course,  I always lean to playing in the rain.  It’s not ideal, but we still always have fun.  Birdie juice is helpful if it’s a cold day,  goes well in my coffee.  

If it’s not too windy, I keep an umbrella open on an upright cart and also take 3 towels and 2 sets of rain gloves.  I use the Titleist rain cover with the towel fabric on the inside and the rain proof she’ll on the outside.  It’s great because it has a clip and it’s heavy enough to stay in place.

In terms of clothing, I wear Goretex gear.  I find Goretex pants are key to a great day.  I try to wear a short sleeve Goretex shell on top vs a full jacket but sometimes it’s raining too hard for that.  Lastly, I wear a rain golf cap.  It keeps your head dry as opposed to a hood.  I think the ones from Titleist are great.

if you are prepared it’s actually a nice experience since it’s fast, since most people won’t play the course.

What doesn’t work… not good cleats.  Water logged feet is miserable.  Cold and gives you blisters. Brims on caps the dripping of water is distracting.  I wear mine backwards. But some courses don’t allow that, but I rarely see Marshalls in the driving rain!  

[JerryB]

On 8/26/2023 at 3:47 AM, GolfSpy_APH said:

Are you a fair weather golfer or someone who will play in any condition?

 

I'm a pretty fair weather golfer.  If I get caught in the rain I'll continue playing as long as the condition allow.  But if its raining before I leave the house, I'm just going back to bed!

[bellken]

Before I retired, I played in all sorts of weather - wind, rain, but, now, I avoid the really crummy days. 

I play with a push cart, and, I have a rain cover for my golf bag. I use an umbrella attached to my cart to help keep me dry. I have Goretex rain gear, jacket (Zero Restriction & Sunderland), pants (Zero Restriction) and, hat (Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero). If it is light rain, I find I can get away with water resistant pants. I have a couple of short sleeve rain jackets (Ping), but, being in the PNW, if it is raining, it is cool enough to wear a long sleeve jacket. 

For the non-summer season, I find regular golf shoes will let water over the top, so, I go with a high top golf boot. My current ones are Adidas S2G midcuts, which, I wore last winter. I do have Ecco Biom 3 GTX hybrids, once, the ground firms up a bit. I, also, wear wool sox, but, I do that almost all year round. 

[hckymeyer]

Wind, rain, cold...pick two and I'll still play.  If it's all three it's gotta be some sort of event, not just a casual round.

For the summer I've got FJ rain pants and then a couple options of short or long sleeve rain jackets.  One is Mizuno and one is FJ.  I also have a cover for my golf cart.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

It never rains when I play golf. WHY you ask. Because I don’t play if there’s a chance of rain. I always base my decision on looking at the radar.  There are to many other days in the week to get my golf fix. Plus I can always get a round in on the simulator on rainy days if I feel the need.

Fair weather for me. 

[Middler]

I won’t play if it’s actually raining (misting doesn’t count) at tee time, or if it’s obvious it’s going to pour during the round. But if there’s a less than 50% chance of rain later in my round, I sometimes give it a go - we’re all too stupid to be the first to say ‘I’m not playing.’  Usually I’m only faced with a couple holes in the rain, but I played an entire round in light rain a couple weeks ago for the first time in years - and it was tolerable. I had my FJ Hydrolite pants on all 18 holes and the jacket on and off all round (mostly on). The worst problem is cleaning droplets off my glasses again and again - I sometimes mishit because I don’t realize I can’t see clearly! OTOH I’ve had rounds where standing water on the greens stopped us - no point in trying to putt through standing water…

[Another Steve]

The rule with my friends back in college was 45* and dry, or 60* and light rain and we were playing. Now i am more of a fair weather golfer.