Playing golf is supposed to be entertaining, relaxing and fun. To anyone who has played a round or two of golf in biting rain or howling wind, golf is anything but fun. Instead, it can be a grueling challenge during which the golfer finds out just how much he can take and learns how his concentration holds up. While it may not always be fun, a golfer who can continue to play in tough weather conditions such as rain, cold, wind and snow will feel proud of his accomplishment.
Dress for the Occasion
The rains may come down suddenly, and you may not know you are about to play in driving wind. However, you can be prepared. Your golf bag has room for many extra items, and one of them can be a waterproof rain shirt. Put it on and protect yourself from getting soaked. Your core will stay warm and dry, and you will be able to concentrate on your game.
Keep Your Grips Dry
While this is hard to do if it's raining hard, you can also keep a towel in your bag and do what you can to keep your grips from getting slick. Take a towel and rub down your grips to get the excess moisture off. To hit good shots consistently, you can't have wet grips. The club will slip in your hands if you attempt to swing a wet club. Keep it as dry as possible.
Hit the Ball Low
When you are playing in the rain and wind, you have to keep the ball low. If you hit the ball high as you would on a normal day, the ball will veer off course and you will find yourself in trouble on your next shot. To hit the ball low, play the ball midway between your front and back leg and make sure your hands are a few inches in front of the ball as you make impact. This is a minor adjustment to your swing that will give you an opportunity to keep the ball straight on a windy and wet day.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
