Getting caught in the rain while enjoying your day on the golf course is a downer. It's even worse if you're not prepared. These 14 tips will help you not only prepare for a deluge, but help you salvage a good score, and make sure the soggy conditions don't affect your next round. If you think you know how to handle golf in the rain, we're certain that we can teach you a thing or two..
5 Tips To Prepare for a Rainy Round of Golf
As your round approaches, you notice rain in the forecast, which is a gut-wrenching feeling. But as the saying goes, "prior planning prevents poor performance." This could not be more true for preparing for a rainy day on the golf course. Here are five of the best ways to prepare for golf in the rain.
1. Get a Weather App
Make sure you have a weather app downloaded on your phone that gives you live radar. The two most popular apps are Weather Channel and AccuWeather.
As you prepare before your round, note how much rain is predicted, and when (in relation to your tee time). Will heavy rain earlier in the day impact when you actually tee off? Will the weather be ideal when you start, but rainy when you finish?
The app can also help on the golf course by alerting you of severe weather. Knowing if your light drizzle is going to turn into a lightning storm is key to staying safe.
2. Dress Accordingly
Dress for the best-case weather scenario. Meaning, shorts or golf pants, a polo shirt, and a hat. An outfit that you'll be comfortable in should the rain blow over and the sun comes out. Use the large zipper pocket on your golf bag to pack your rain gear. This should include:
- Rain jacket
- Rain pants
- Extra hat
Having these items stowed away in your bag will not only keep them dry until you need them, but will also leave you extra room in the basket of your golf cart.
Make sure you have a pair of waterproof golf shoes. Any golf shoe that's made from a soft material or canvas will lead to a miserable and squishy day on the course.
3. Extra Towel and Glove
When playing golf in the rain, you can never have enough towels. If you have room in your golf bag, pack an extra. You can also ask the golf course if they have any extras that you can tuck away in the interior compartment of your golf cart. You'll need extra towels to wipe golf clubs, golf balls, the seat of the cart, and your hands.
Also, pack an extra golf glove for the day. This will be incredibly useful in a steady drizzle because you'll be able to switch out your wet glove for a dry one after nine holes.
4. Own a Reliable Umbrella
Make sure that you own and pack a reliable golf umbrella. A small umbrella that you keep in your trunk for emergencies will not suffice. If you don't own a proper golf umbrella, get one before taking on a rainy day on the golf course. Golf umbrellas are larger and typically stand up to wind gusts much better than a standard umbrella.
5. Communicate With the Course
If you have the luxury of a later tee time, call the golf course in the morning to check current conditions and the course status. You may learn that the course has implemented a cart path only rule, or perhaps no carts are being allowed at all on the course. A quick phone call to the golf course can also save you time from making your drive should be course be closed entirely.
Once you arrive, ask if the course has warning sirens to indicate threatening weather, and if the course has storm shelters so you know where you can seek cover in the event the weather turns severe.
Playing Golf in the Rain
You can over-prepare for a round of golf in the rain, but at a certain point, it's time to tee it up. Here are some tips to help you shoot a decent score, despite Mother Nature, and take down your less-prepared opponents.
