| Tips for Golfing in the rain |
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Few golfers relish the prospect of playing in the rain. Wet weather affects the playing conditions of the course, and may lower morale – there’s nothing more miserable than struggling through a round feeling the damp seep through clothes and shoes.
But with careful planning, playing in the rain needn’t be a washout. To play your best, learn to adapt your game with a few simple techniques, and always set out properly equipped for a sudden shower.
Modern wet weather clothing is light and waterproof, and does much to keep you comfortably dry. Buy the best you can afford, and look after it carefully, so that you continue to enjoy your game whatever the weather. Have it with you whenever you play a round. |
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| Ready for the rain |
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A few well-chosen wet weather basics should give you good service for years.
A golf umbrella is larger and stronger than a normal one. For extra protection on an exposed course, choose one with a sturdy frame – a weak framed umbrella is likely to collapse when the wind picks up.
Keep two large towels in your bag. Use one to dry and clean your clubface before and after every shot. Grass, mud and water clog up the grooves so that you don’t make firm contact with the ball at impact, and your control over the shot is reduced. Dry and clean your ball on the same towel, after every hole and before you putt. You can’t lift and clean your ball between the tee and the green, so when you are playing from a wet fairway there’s likely to be water on the ball at impact. This reduces the control and the amount of spin you put on the ball, which ends in a flier – the ball doesn’t stop as quickly as it should on landing. Also, when you strike a wet ball a certain amount of spray is thrown up, slowing the ball down as it travels through the air or along the ground. Take the effects of water into account and allow for less backspin, when visualising shots in the rain.
Use the second towel to dry your hands and the grip as thoroughly as possible. If they are wet the club is likely to slip in your hands during the swing, and the clubface won’t strike the ball squarely.
A good waterproof suit makes all the difference to a round in the rain – keep one in your bag at all times so you’re always prepared for a sudden shower. The best type of wet-weather suit lets air pass through, keeping you cool and dry. Beware of buying a cheap non-breathable suit, which traps the moisture in, leaving you hot and sticky.
As well as keeping your head dry, a peaked golf hat stops water running down your face. A hat makes for greater comfort and concentration – rain trickling down your face may blur your vision and put you off your shot.
A rain glove helps you grip a club comfortably in the rain. In wet conditions the rubberised surface of the glove gives a firmer hold than other materials, and stops the club from turning in your hands. If it starts to rain during a round replace your normal glove with a rain glove immediately. Never use a leather glove in the rain. Not only is it more liable to slip in your grip, but moisture ruins the glove.
Keep your clubs dry under a waterproof bag hood. This stops water running down inside the bag and making your clubs wet. Most new bags have hoods, or you can buy one separately from some pro shops.
Waterproof shoes, either rubberised or lined with a waterproof fibre, stop water seeping through so you can avoid the dismal experience of playing a round with wet feet. For a firm footing in slippery conditions, check after every few holes that your studs aren’t clogged up – remove excess mud and grass with a tee-peg. |
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| Swinging in the Rain |
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As well as having the correct wet weather equipment you must also be aware of swing problems caused by wet conditions. A normal swing is difficult in a wet-weather suit. The extra weight and additional layers restrict the body movement. Don’t try to overcome the problem by forcing your swing. Keep your normal tempo and make a three-quarter swing if it feels easier.
The key is to maintain your concentration and tempo in the rain. This may be harder than you think. A wet fairway slows down the roll of the ball, so many players wrongly increase the speed of their swing to compensate for reduced length. This is often disastrous. When the course plays long, take one more club that usual and concentrate on keeping the same tempo as always. It’s particularly important to play within your limits in damp conditions. Never gamble. |
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| Know the Rules |
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It’s vital to understand the rules that apply to rain-affected areas of the course. Excessive rain can cause small areas of the green, fairway and bunker to become flooded. These areas are described as “casual water” in the Royal and Ancient rulebook. If there’s casual water directly between your ball and the pin when you are putting, you can reposition the ball - but not move it nearer the hole in the process.
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| In The Bunker |
If your ball lands in casual water you can lift it out and drop it on the nearest dry area without penalty. In a bunker the nearest point of relief must be in that same bunker – and not the nearest dry point on the fairway or green.
If you lose your ball in casual water you can drop another one without penalty near to the point where you think it landed – providing your partners agree. You pick up a one-stroke penalty, as with a normal lost ball, if your partners don’t agree that the ball finished in casual water.
Of course, these wet-weather tips are important for a
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| On The Green |
golfing
trip to the UK or Ireland, however you may be lucky and experience dry sunny weather. Even in the UK and Ireland
sunscreen can be just as vital as a waterproof suit!
If you land in a bunker area flooded with casual water you can lift and drop your ball without penalty – but the ball must remain in the same bunker.
When your path to the pin is obstructed by an area of casual water you can place your ball on the nearest dry point at the same distance away from the hole – the rules don’t let you move closer to the hole. |
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| Read our Golf Tip for playing Links courses |
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