Generally speaking, I’m a big if-you-commit-to-something-you’ve-got-to-show-up guy. But, alas, s–t happens.
When it comes to a planned in advance round of golf, the type of “s–t happens” scenarios vary for everyone. My kid’s practice time got changed and my spouse can’t drive them then. I’m absolutely swamped at work. The pot of boiling pasta water overflowed and burned my right hand and I can’t grip the club right now. Bailing on a tee time is never OK, but those are the types of legitimate excuses that probably won’t get you banned from my rotation entirely.
As for weather-related back outs, well, those are simply unacceptable. Sort of.
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Here in the northeast, temperatures are dropping and the season is all but shutting down. But the sickos will keep grinding away until courses are blanketed with snow. Never mind that the ground is concrete, the greens are extremely aerated and sandy and some of the ponds are beginning to lightly freeze. As long as you don’t send us that “course is closed” email, we’ll still show up.
A fresh blanket of snow has settled over our courses, sketching out every hump, bump, and contour of the legendary 14th hole, Foxy. pic.twitter.com/kokZq45hck
— Royal Dornoch (@RoyalDornochGC) November 20, 2025
There is, however, a temperature breaking point for all of us. Most rounds from November on are spur-of-the-moment bonus day, but for me, personally, anything under 40 degrees fahrenheit is simply not worth it. Not all under 40 degrees fahrenheit days are created equal, though. If the tee time is between 10 and 11 a.m., and you know the sun is going to be beating down for four hours AND there is little to no wind in the forecast, that’s completely doable and actually invigorating. But those are quite a few qualifications to rely on as you prepare yourself to go to the course that morning.
For the older folk, I know anything under 55 is veering into “thanks but no thanks territory.” There is a reason Florida is called God’s waiting room.
But for the 45 and under crowd (talking years of age, here), at what temperature is it actually OK to say “guys, we can admit the season’s over now, I’m not coming.” I think below freezing, AKA under 32 degrees, is the most fair bail-out zone that should not yield a nasty text message in return. I’ve played in everything from 34 and snowing to 43 and overcast that feels more like 20 and you simply tell yourself it’s better than being inside (it’s not).
Bill Murray – SNS Group
Often those days are quite memorable just for how miserable they are. For the last few years, I’ve played in a Black Friday golf outing my best high school friend’s father-in-law puts together, and we always make the most of it no matter the weather. It’s hailed, it’s been balmy, it’s been bitterly cold. It’s become one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions, and the only reason I can’t make it this year is because I have a child now that every in-law and their mother wants to see at some point Thanksgiving weekend. I’ve already vowed to make my return in 2026, through rain, sleet or snow.
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This Friday, by the way, looks like 42 and sunny. Though at some point the clouds will roll over and that 42 will quickly feel like 32, at which point, you’re already out there and you might as well make the most of it. What I’m saying is, weather-related bails are always dumb, because they instantly kill any potential memory or moment you could have had, as opposed to the first of many days of being glued to the couch that you’ll quickly forget this winter.
Do you have a “stupid” golf problem? A question you’re too ashamed to ask your close friends? A conundrum that needs to be talked out in a public forum? We’re here to help. If you have etiquette-related inquiries or just want to know how to handle some of the unique on- or off-course situations we all find ourselves in, please let us know. You can email me (chris.powers@wbd.com) or send me a DM on Twitter/X (@Cpowers14) or on Instagram (@cpthreeve).
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
