What to expect from a mid-summer golf course

British golf courses in the summer can offer their own unique challenges. We take a look at what to expect from a summer course…

The British summer might be unpredictable but, despite the regular showers, we do sometimes enjoy a heatwave, and during these hot spells, golf courses can change. We’re not as prepared for dry periods as some other courses around the world, which means we have to adapt our game to the changing conditions.

Here’s what to expect from a sun-baked, dry course…

Fast greens

As the sun dries the grass and mud, surfaces become harder. This means they become faster. Shots will skid more easily off the dry surfaces and chip shots will bounce higher with less dampness to take the sting out of them. To counteract this, you’ll need to adjust your game. For longer approach shots it might be worth not trying for the green but, instead, laying up. This is because longer shots tend to be flatter, so more likely to skid into the rough - whereas a chip shot has more height. This can cause added bounce, but the effect of the extra bounce is less than the skidding.

Hard fairways

The same goes for fairways. While the longer grass here gives them a bit more protection than on manicured greens, you’ll still be adding an extra few feet onto your drives as balls skip along the dry surfaces.

It’s not just the ball that will be affected by the dry surface, your swing will be too. A bad shot on a well-watered fairway might mean you end up taking a chunk of turf with you or merely scrape a layer off the top, but a hard surface means the club will bounce off if you swing too low. This could cause the club to veer to the side, creating a hook or slice shot, or bounce above the ball making you top it.

You’ll also need to choose some different golf shoes as your spikes might not be able to dig into the hard land below.

Dry bunkers

Anyone who’s tried to build a sandcastle knows the extent to which sand can react to the weather. Dry sand will fall away easily, while damp sand holds solid.

In golfing terms, this can mean a strong drive into a bunker can sink your shot deep into the soft, dry sand, instead of landing on top of the firmly compacted damp sand - you’ll have to adjust your bunker shot to take this into account. A gentler swing aimed deeper into the sand could help out.

You’ll also need to watch your footing, as the soft sand can easily slide from underneath you, causing you to lose balance.

Overgrown rough

Just because the rest of the course is dry as a bone, it doesn’t mean the rough hasn’t grown like crazy with the mix of summer sun and regular showers. If it’s not been looked after it could mean the rough is deeper and more challenging than ever.

If you swing wildly and lose your ball in the rough, you could find yourself tangled in branches or knee-deep in long grass.

Thirsty work

Finally, don't forget that the conditions can affect you as well as the course - four hours in the blazing sun can be thirsty work. Make sure you’ve got plenty of supplies with you. Dehydration can affect your decision making skills, which could mean the difference between making par or hitting a bogey.

What to expect from a mid-summer golf course

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