When playing in the winter, there are a few mental adjustments
that you must make depending on the conditions.
When playing in the winter, there are a few mental adjustments that you must make depending on the conditions. When the golf course you are playing is very wet due to rains, the person who makes the adjustments will benefit by saving a few strokes.
Foremost you must realize that the ball is not going to roll anywhere once it hits the ground so always plan on carrying the ball to your target. I know that not many of you think that way so in the winter time take a couple of clubs more than normal. A ball that hits 15 yards short of the green and bounces and rolls up on to it in August won’t do the same in January.
When chipping, the ball is going to stop much quicker on a wet green. You can therefore carry a ball closer to the pin because it isn’t going to bounce and roll much. You may normally play a wedge to travel 50 percent in the air and 50 percent on the ground but during the winter it’s probably more like 75/25.
Lastly, when you are putting don’t plan on the putt breaking as much. The more moisture the green has the less the ball will break. Furthermore, since you must hit a putt a little firmer that will also cause the putt to hold it’s line longer.
Remember when all else fails take a lesson. You’ll be surprised how much we can help.
To schedule a lesson with PGA-certified instructor Don DeLorenzo, call Gilroy GC at 848-0490.
