If you live in the northern climes, then golfing in the snow is inevitable. As the cold weather creeps in and there is little chance or reprieve, golfing when the white rain appears will happen. In my earlier years, I definitely would hit the links while the temperatures hovered around 0° C or 32°F. On many occasions I would would have toques, gloves, many layers, and a face warmer on just to be able to hit the links. Now tha that I am in the back nine of my career hitting the links when there is a chance of snow is a no go for me. It does not eliminate the challenge of golfing in the snow for many, just not going to be an issue for my game.
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Practicing Off Of Range Mats – Good or Bad?
Many practice facilities use mats vice grass for their hitting area. This is not uncommon where I live because the mats are much easier to maintain. There are some courses that have both mats and grass where the usage will depend on weather and ground conditions. Regardless, I personally do not like hitting off mats at the range because I find that I do not glean the same feedback from the ball flight. This might seem strange, but I have used enough mats to understand that there is a major difference in my practice sessions when I do not hit on grass.
<!–more–)Early in the golf season, mats are use exclusively in norther climes. Using the grass at the range causes unrepairable damage early in the season. Hence, mats are used to protect the practice area. Unfortunately, this slows my process of knowing off the winter’s rust. Below is a good example:
I was hitting behind the ball and yet still produced a decent ball flight. I realize my set up position is wrong and I corrected that challenge immediately. However, if I was not paying attention to where my ball was first making contact with the mat I would have thought all was right with my golf swing.
I do believe that golf mats have a place at the practice range. Given where I live, they provide a valuable service to avid golfers like myself. It is a matter of understanding how to garner the most benefit from using a range mat. Because I have a DIY indoor driving range for the winter months, I am learning to lightly tough my driving mat with all my clubs. It actually helps come spring, but I will save that conversation for later.
Ultimately, this is the question:
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Selecting the Proper Golf Grip For Your Swing
When I first started golfing, I did not know anything about golf grips. I used the ones that came with the clubs I hit and never changed them. Of course, that was many years ago and I have since gained some knowledge and understanding about how the size of a golf grip can affect my game. The interesting thing about it the changes I made, the experimental grips were all about feel because my production with my clubs did not change all that much…..except with my putter. We can discuss that at the end of this article.
Continue readingHow Important Are Grooves On A Golf Club?
For years I wondered if grooves on a golf club play any significant role. I wondered if it impacts spin because I was always told to keep my clubface and by default grooves clean of dirt. After a fair bit of research, I found the real reasons for grooves. However, the reasons to keep them clear during play is not what I thought at all!
Continue readingThe Evolution of Hickory Sticks According To A Grateful Golfer
I bet you are wondering what the heck is going on in the world of golf! I find it interesting to look back our roots to understand how or at least how our modern clubs were developed. My friend Lorne, President of the Golf Historical Society of Canada, is a true historian of golf. He imparts his knowledge about this great sport to anyone who is willing to listen and of course, I am a willing listener. After several discussions with Lorne, I realize that innovation in golf back in the early 1900’s was driven by several factors, but one stands out in my mind: supply and demand!
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The Grateful Golfer 