There’s always a line. Sometimes it’s a bit of wind, and sometimes it’s a tornado, but all of us golfers have a demarcation point regarding bad weather where it’s not worth being on the course anymore. Here, at Golf Digest, we have a truly varied panel of experts, from the “too cold” contingent to “is that all you got, Golf Gods?” devotees. And so (for your and our benefit), we surveyed them.
The weather has been iffy at best as of late around Golf Digesds HQ, so be warned that some answers here will be … cranky. But what else can you expect from a group of golfers looking to get a round in and falling short? With summer thunderstorms approaching, the wind picking up and the rain always seeming to pop up on weekends, we can’t blame anyone here for having a rant or two to get off their chests.
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Alex Myers, Senior Writer: Summer thunderstorm season on the way? I mean, it rains 70 percent of the days now. Had golf canceled today. And the “nice days” like yesterday, it’s 30 mph winds. Fun! I’m furious.
Joel Beall, Senior Writer: The prospect of a thunderstorm delay is what unnerves me. My tolerance for playing in rain is remarkably high—without trying to sound like a tough guy, there’s something deeply satisfying about grinding out a good round in bad weather. But a prolonged suspension due to electricity in the air, no thanks. Golf already demands significant time; I can’t stomach adding another 45 minutes huddled beneath a flimsy wooden shelter in the middle of the course, waiting for the all-clear. Tangential rant—could we please upgrade these storm shelters? A few benches and maybe some board games wouldn’t kill anyone (unlike the lightning we’re hiding from). If I’m potentially meeting my maker on the seventh hole, I’d at least like to go out while destroying my buddies at travel Monopoly or sitting on something that isn’t designed to realign my spine. Nothing says “premium golf experience” quite like cramming four sweaty adults onto a concrete slab for an hour, desperately trying to maintain phone signal to check if Thor is done with his temper tantrum.
Andrew Redington
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Keely Levins, Contributing Writer: This is the opposite of what you’ve heard from Alex Myers, but I’ll play in just about anything. I grew up playing golf in Vermont. If you waited until the weather was nice to get a round in, you’d truncate an already short golf season. I’m off the course at the first rumble of thunder—I don’t mess with that and really no one should. But the cold doesn’t bother me. I don’t seek out golf on windy days when it’s pouring, but if I’ve made plans to play, I’ll be there. It’s good to get on the course when the weather is awful. It makes a drink after the round taste better. And it makes the good-weather days better, too. You’ll appreciate sunny days more after you’ve fought to hold onto your clubs in a downpour.
Why are you golfers obsessed with playing in awful conditions. byu/Tman2999 ingolf
Greg Gottfried, Web Producer: The problem with living in New York City—I’m never moving, so it is what it is—is how much work goes into getting a round in. You can’t just decide one morning that you’re going to trek to New Jersey or Westchester and just try to play golf; you have to plan these things days/weeks in advance and finagle a ride to the course. This gives less leeway when it comes to golf weather. Whatever the Golf Gods say goes. Just last week, we got caught in the rain … and played through it. Luckily, it slowed down and became a drizzle, but my socks were soaked by the fifth hole. A few weeks before, it was so windy that the ball started rolling away after finding a spot on the green. But what can I do? I’m not a good enough player to focus on my scores; I’m just there to get my steps in and make a shot or two that I can tell my friends about later that day, even the ones who couldn’t care less. I’m fine with cold, can power through rain (for the most part) and love to complain about the wind afterwards. I’ll almost always make it work. Not because I’m strong, but because if I paid for 18 holes, I’m playing 18 holes.
Ross Kinnaird
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E. Michael Johnson, Equipment Editor: How bad? It depends. Are you playing Lahinch (the course has to be closed) or a casual round? Let’s start with a few things. If you’re playing in some sort of competition, you tee it up unless it is canceled or play is stopped. Come prepared and with a good attitude and you’re two up on the field. For purposes of this exercise, however, we’ll assume it’s the regular weekend game. My mindset has shifted over time. In younger years, when I played less, I was more inclined to endure rain—even cold rain—because of FOMO. Now it’s different. I play a lot, so it’s no great sacrifice to pass if the weather is iffy. For me, sprinkles or sporadic showers are OK to power through. Steady rain all round is a non-starter for casual golf for me now. But for those hearty souls who are like my younger me, remember to take the clubs out of the bag afterwards, dry the grips and turn the bag upside down to dry. You’ll be ready to go for your next round, hopefully on a warm, sunny day.
Shane Ryan, Contributing Editor: So if it’s cold or wet? This, to me, is paradise. I will get out there and play in almost anything. One of my fondest memories is playing with my friend at Pinehurst on a discount January weekend in 30-degree weather and literal snow. We toughed it out and earned the grudging respect of the southerners working the course who wore 12 coats each. One day last summer, in a heavy rain that didn’t shut down the course, another friend and I played what we called “Scottish golf,” getting absolutely soaked over nine holes. I shot a 40 that day—a good score by my standards—but the great thing about bad weather golf is that it takes me out of my head, and I can forget the score. Simply finishing in the snow or mud or rain is its own reward; you can safely throw the standards out the window.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
