There's something special about hitting the golf course, even when the weather isn't perfect. Recently, I found myself facing a round of golf in chilly 30–40° weather. I was determined to make the most of it, so I did some research and experimented with different strategies to stay warm and play my best. Let me share what I learned!
The first challenge was obvious: staying warm. I knew I couldn't just wear my usual golf attire. I remembered a tip about wearing work gloves with thin rubber palms for grip. That seemed like a solid starting point. I also layered up like an onion! A baseball cap under a winter hat felt like a good combo, and I grabbed my trusty down jacket, making sure it allowed enough room to swing freely.
Beyond just staying warm, I realized the cold affected my game in other ways. The ball just wasn't traveling as far. This meant I needed to rethink my club selection. I had to adjust my strategy to account for the reduced distance.
One of the best tips I received was to walk the course instead of riding in a cart. This kept my blood flowing and helped me stay warmer. I decided to try it, and it made a huge difference. I layered with a long-sleeve Under Armour turtleneck, a standard polo over it, and a quarter-zip on top. I brought along a light jacket, just in case the wind picked up.
Another lifesaver was pocket hand warmers. I kept them in my pockets and would quickly warm my fingers between shots. It made a surprising difference in my grip and overall comfort. The rain gloves also helped improve my grip in the cold.
And speaking of staying warm, I found a great way to keep my head warm while still looking stylish. I recently purchased a Y2K Knit Beanie Autumn Winter Hat from Wholecustomdesign. It's super comfortable, keeps my head warm, and looks great. It's become my go-to headwear for cold weather golf. The Y2K Knit Beanie is perfect for keeping the wind off my head. I feel like it gives me a little bit of extra confidence on the course, too!
I also learned that layering is key. Long underwear makes a huge difference. It's a simple addition that adds a lot of warmth without restricting my movement.
One thing that surprised me was how much the cold affected my swing. I had to really focus on making sure my club face was square at impact. The slightest mistake seemed magnified in the cold weather. I also realized that I needed to use more club than I normally would, as the ball doesn’t travel as far in colder temperatures.
Here’s a summary of the tips I learned for playing golf in cold weather: