Swinging in the rain: How to stay dry on a wet golf course

Don’t let rain stop play. Dave Thompson/PA Wire
  
The truth is, if you’re playing a British course you could be hit by a rain shower at any time of the year – not just autumn and winter. And there are many challenges for the avid golfer wanting to play in the rain. Greens suddenly become lifeless, with your firmest putt stopping dead in a puddle. Drenched bunkers resemble quicksand, while driving winds fire tiny droplets into your eyes. And to add to all this, you’re probably soaked through and struggling to keep a grip of your club on every swing.

Here’s our simple guide to staying dry during the rainy days.

Invest in a good jacket

It all starts with a good jacket. It needs to be waterproof, light and loose enough to allow you to swing freely, but not so loose it gets caught up in your swing. Same goes for clothing underneath the jacket – nothing too thick or heavy as it will affect your swing.

Go for something breathable otherwise you’ll be sweating buckets on the inside while it rains outside. Also, find a jacket with covered zips as otherwise, water can seep in.

Wear your waterproofs

It’s not just your jacket that needs to keep out the rain - trousers need to be waterproof as well. This keeps your legs dry and warm, stopping you from cramping up. It also means you can put your hands or gloves in your trouser pockets without the risk of them getting wet.

There’s also a chance you might have to go into knee deep grasses to retrieve a ball, so the full trouser needs to be waterproof.

Go for trousers that have a specially designed pocket to keep your score card in, so there’ll be no arguing over a water-smudged card as to whether it was a 4 or 5 on the 16^th hole.
   

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Pick the right gloves

Specially-designed rain gloves actually prefer the rain, as they react with water to improve your grip. But don’t just pack one pair – have a couple of spares handy just in case. Put your wet gloves in the lining of your trousers to help them dry off faster.

Keep your hands in your pockets when not playing. Before taking a shot, dry your hands before putting the gloves on, then remove any excess water on the gloves with the towel.

Protect your bag

Golfing umbrellas are big for a reason. On a wet course, they’re not just protecting you but your bag as well.

An umbrella over the bag gives you a great spot to prepare your shot. To get the best from your swing in the rain, grip the club when you’re under cover and don’t loosen it until you’ve taken the shot and are safely sheltered.

If you haven’t got an umbrella, you’ll need a rain cover for your bag to keep the handles dry and protect extra towels, for drying off anything that does get wet.

Keep the towels at the top of the bag so you can pull the clubs through them when selecting a club, and you can easily dry them off when putting them back.

Pack a hat

Whether the rain’s coming down in sheets or it’s been blown into your face, you’ll need a hat, not only to keep your head dry and warm but to keep your vision clear.

It’s no use trying to line up your shot if every time you look up you can’t see the pin. Lightweight bucket hats are a great option.
   

Stock up on socks and shoes