What is your temp cutoff for golf ?

[RoyalMustang]

On 12/1/2024 at 7:43 PM, NV825 said:

Played today and the high only hit 46*F and had a slight breeze that made it even colder. Just layered up appropriately and was stoked to get out and play, even if my ball had no chance to hold the green on some shots in.

 

As my dad used to say living in Western Oregon: there's no bad weather, only bad gear. He worked outside in the woods 85% of the year in the coast range, where it rains 70-90 inches a year. Good on you for getting out there! 

[SnowbirdTom]

8 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

What was her answer?  Maybe you guys wanted to have another White Christmas. 

 

Our wandering Texas son moved back up to Michigan mid-summer with his fiance.  We also had some home repairs that need to be accomplished.  Next winter, we'll go walkabout again.  Gonna take a look at the RDU Triangle (Pinehurst!!) for winter 2025 if the travel budget works out. She needs to be near a reasonably large airport for the wife's consulting work and I need someplace with interesting golf. lol

 

We've had 43 white Christmases together and have come to moderately dislike snow.  

[Double Mocha Man]

4 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

 

Our wandering Texas son moved back up to Michigan mid-summer with his fiance.  We also had some home repairs that need to be accomplished.  Next winter, we'll go walkabout again.  Gonna take a look at the RDU Triangle (Pinehurst!!) for winter 2025 if the travel budget works out. She needs to be near a reasonably large airport for the wife's consulting work and I need someplace with interesting golf. lol

 

We've had 43 white Christmases together and have come to moderately dislike snow.  

 

Annual snowfall in Pinehurst is 2 inches.  So you should be good. Sounds like a great place to spend a winter. Where have your other Winters been outside of state, and which was your favorite. Hey, I might just need this information one day. Up here in Northwest Washington State all is not toasty and warm all winter.

[SnowbirdTom]

19 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Annual snowfall in Pinehurst is 2 inches.  So you should be good. Sounds like a great place to spend a winter. Where have your other Winters been outside of state, and which was your favorite. Hey, I might just need this information one day. Up here in Northwest Washington State all is not toasty and warm all winter.

Three winters in Houston, TX area.  Copperfield, Spring, then Katy in short term rental apartments. 

 

2022 - Copperfield (west central Houston) was get your feet wet and check out all the area  courses.  I wandered all over Houston trying different courses.  The munis in Houston proper are mostly unbelievably good.  Memorial Park and Gus Wortham could have been my daily rounds and I would have been in heaven.  Real hard to get tee times, they fill up fast.

 

2023 - Spring by Bush Interantional Airport had me at Cypresswood GC with a walking senior monthly membership at a cost of $145, two courses and full practice facility, unlimited golf.  Got introduced to a super senior crew that played a weekly scramble for fun.  Also got into several of the club's scrambles and had a hoot.  The worst day, we teed off at 47*, me wearing shorts and a polo much to the old dudes consternation.  It rapidly warmed to mid 60s and they were shedding gear real fast.

 

2024 -Katy (I-10 and Hwy 99), I joined a local country club for $1500, then paid $250 a month dues for Flex Membership - unlimited walking rounds after 1pm.  Got in with some members and played 4 days a week at the 1PM tee time.  It was ruff living and an absolute ideal situation.  Course was decent, practice facilities adequate, round traffic was low, food was excellent and the members were laid back, mostly retirees.  I fit right in.  The month I resigned my membership to come home, the course got sold and the upgrades started.  I'm sure the costs to members increased shortly thereafter.

 

I just stumbled across a monthly membership golf club with two courses in the Pinehurst area.  Reciprocal agreements with lots of others. 

 

Retirement is a hoot.  Summers in Michigan, I worked at a local muni for unlimited free golf.

[Double Mocha Man]

7 minutes ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Three winters in Houston, TX area.  Copperfield, Spring, then Katy in short term rental apartments. 

 

2022 - Copperfield (west central Houston) was get your feet wet and check out all the area  courses.  I wandered all over Houston trying different courses.  The munis in Houston proper are mostly unbelievably good.  Memorial Park and Gus Wortham could have been my daily rounds and I would have been in heaven.  Real hard to get tee times, they fill up fast.

 

2023 - Spring by Bush Interantional Airport had me at Cypresswood GC with a walking senior monthly membership at a cost of $145, two courses and full practice facility, unlimited golf.  Got introduced to a super senior crew that played a weekly scramble for fun.  Also got into several of the club's scrambles and had a hoot.  The worst day, we teed off at 47*, me wearing shorts and a polo much to the old dudes consternation.  It rapidly warmed to mid 60s and they were shedding gear real fast.

 

2024 -Katy (I-10 and Hwy 99), I joined a local country club for $1500, then paid $250 a month dues for Flex Membership - unlimited walking rounds after 1pm.  Got in with some members and played 4 days a week at the 1PM tee time.  It was ruff living and an absolute ideal situation.  Course was decent, practice facilities adequate, round traffic was low, food was excellent and the members were laid back, mostly retirees.  I fit right in.  The month I resigned my membership to come home, the course got sold and the upgrades started.  I'm sure the costs to members increased shortly thereafter.

 

I just stumbled across a monthly membership golf club with two courses in the Pinehurst area.  Reciprocal agreements with lots of others. 

 

Retirement is a hoot.  Summers in Michigan, I worked at a local muni for unlimited free golf.

 

Sounds like the winter at Cypresswood Golf Course might have been the best experience. Which was your wife's favorite? Are you planning on giving the Phoenix / Scottsdale area a chance?

[SnowbirdTom]

11 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Sounds like the winter at Cypresswood Golf Course might have been the best experience. Which was your wife's favorite? Are you planning on giving the Phoenix / Scottsdale area a chance?

Golf is crazy expensive in the Phoenix winter.
 

The Houston area had many opportunities for diverse fun. The wife was happiest in Katy because it was the nicest neighborhood with lots of shopping, parks and good restaurants.  It was also the biggest apartment with a view of the pool.

 

If we were to go back, NE Houston in the Kingwood area would be the next winter home.  I’d have access to Cypresswood again. 

I’m honestly going to stay east of the Mississippi River just because of logistics and miles traveled round trip.

 

Edited December 3, 2024 by SnowbirdTom

[Double Mocha Man]

6 minutes ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Golf is crazy expensive in the Phoenix winter.
 

The Houston area had many opportunities for diverse fun. The wife was happiest in Katy because it was the nicest neighborhood with lots of shopping, parks and good restaurants.  It was also the biggest apartment with a view of the pool.

 

If we were to go back, NE Houston in the Kingwood area would be the next winter home.  I’d have access to Cypresswood again. 

I’m honestly going to stay east of the Mississippi River just because of logistics and miles traveled round trip.

 

 

Thanks. Keep us posted on the Pinehurst area qualities for this winter.

[TheBiles]

I’m fine playing down into the low 40s if there’s no wind, but any kind of wind or rain, and that goes up to the mid-50s. 

[SC_Alan]

I’m fine playing down into the low 40s if there’s no wind, but any kind of wind or rain, and that goes up to the mid-50s.

 

 

That's my cut off as well

[RoyalMustang]

2 hours ago, SC_Alan said:

I’m fine playing down into the low 40s if there’s no wind, but any kind of wind or rain, and that goes up to the mid-50s.

 

 

That's my cut off as well

 

Wind chill can be brutal. That's the toughest thing about being a cyclist: I can be out there in mid 20s and sunny and as long as I'm fully covered (including a balaclava), no biggie. But on a long descent where I'm moving 35-40mph instead of 18-22, yikes. I did a ride once in 5 degree weather that had one long descent down the backside of a pass, and I had to stop at a coffee shop in town and guzzle 32 ounces of hot coffee just to avoid hypothermia setting in. The crazy thing is I was overheating on the climb up the pass just before that, feeling like I was a coffee bean inside of a roaster. Note to self: stay away from long rides in the cold desert mountains in 5 degree temps.   

[bigred90gt]

On 10/24/2024 at 7:26 AM, Dunk89 said:

I’ve done the frozen greens and ponds stuff 😞.For many many many years..Fasf forward a few decades.Anything below 60 is rare for me.How about you ?

When I lived in New Jersey, I used to wait out the frost delays and play when the fairways were still frozen. That was 20 years ago. 

 

These days, if I have to put on a sweater, I consider doing something different, lol. I just really do not like the cold, at all. My body is pretty broken down, and anything that requires long sleeves is pretty painful for me. 

[subrew]

I'm more concerned with hot golf, than cold golf.  I'm usually first one out most mornings, so right now we're talking high 30s to mid 40s.  I keep my clothes and shoes and bag inside the house, and during the roughly 8 minute drive to the course my two gloves sit under my legs getting warmed up by the seat heaters, and a couple balls go down between my legs to get a bit toasty.

 

I walk fast when I play, so I'm usually plenty warm by the third hole, and actually shedding a layer by the sixth.

 

I just don't play golf when it is super hot.  Even on those 100+ degree summer days, I'm teeing off before 6am when it is only in the 70s.  There is no way I'm going out for an afternoon round in full sun.  

[Golfbit2X]

Played with temps at 38°F today on Bethpage Blue.

 

The ground was frozen so the Yellow course was closed down but at least the superintendent decided to leave the Blue open.

 

Playing winter golf is a bit more complicated in the Northeast than summer golf but at least it's not as busy with only a few flights on the course yesterday. 

 

I also got to finish my round in 3 hours and 53 minutes. 

 

The 3.25" serrated blade from my Gerber Center Drive Plus multi-tool came in handy with penetrating the frozen ground to tee-up the ball. 

 

Another concern is traction while traipsing through the Blue course as the slopes are pretty severe so I think using my new Altra M Lone Peak All Weather Low 2 trail running sneakers worked much better than golf shoes on snow-covered frozen ground. 

 

Despite my poor putting performance, I was still happy to make 5 successive one-putts on the last 5 holes including a Birdie on the Par 3 17th as the dusk was setting in. 

Edited December 8, 2024 by Golfbit2X

[bloodredsun]

Being on the other side of the planet from most of you, Friday was 32C/92F which was not too hot but I don't go out much hotter than that. The biggest issue was the deafening cicadas but given the storm and cold weather battering UK/US I am not complaining 😉

[elwhippy]

It got up to 55 / 12 this afternoon.  More than acceptable for December. 

[Golfbit2X]

Played River Vale CC at 28°F for the first time in NJ yesterday. I played horrible, making a score (Par 72) of 104 (+32) which I think was the second worst score I've shot this year. 

 

The worst I've shot was (Par 71) 110 (+39) during the Club Championship at Ferry Point. 

 

Anyway, I have a legitimate excuse this time, apart from a SLAP tear in my right shoulder playing injured, I also had two puncture wounds on my left thumb courtesy of my Lhasa Apso, Jlin who was a bit too frisky with her ball. 

 

Gripping my right hand over my left hand and over my left thumb made it a bit painful.

 

It also didn't help that the course was frozen solid on most holes and the course was a bit challenging with a lot of blind tee shots, tilted fairways and severely elevated greens.

 

The ground was so frozen that I still had to exert a lot more time and effort in using a hammer and nail just to create a hole for my tees.

 

I'll have to use a different tact next time, and probably use a power drill and bit.

[elwhippy]

Ouch. 

 

[mesquite2]

Our tee markers have a large nail on the bottom used to place them in the ground, our winter players use them to put a hole in the ground & then put their tee in the hole.

[Double Mocha Man]

26 minutes ago, mesquite2 said:

Our tee markers have a large nail on the bottom used to place them in the ground, our winter players use them to put a hole in the ground & then put their tee in the hole.

 

For all you guys who use nails, hammers, etc. here's an item I picked up a couple of years ago that is fully adjustable for tee shots with drivers.  It also came with a much shorter tee to use on par 3 holes.  I recall it was about five bucks for both from my local golf shop.

 

 

[RSinSG]

23 minutes ago, mesquite2 said:

Our tee markers have a large nail on the bottom used to place them in the ground, our winter players use them to put a hole in the ground & then put their tee in the hole.

This is a good idea. Last week all of were looking for holes on the tee box as it was a challenge.

 

 It was low 40’s when we started but also sunny so by the 3rd hole we were all taking off layers as we were walking. Then the sun started playing hide and seek behind little clouds and we were putting layers back on. This went on the entire round and it felt like someone was fooling with a thermostat. Add in a little breeze and it went from freezing to sweating - big temperature swings. 

[Golfbit2X]

2 hours ago, mesquite2 said:

Our tee markers have a large nail on the bottom used to place them in the ground, our winter players use them to put a hole in the ground & then put their tee in the hole.

That's a brilliant and convenient approach! I'll have to try that this coming weekend as the temps here are still going to be below freezing. 

[GoldenAges]

I'm in the Tampa, Florida area. I played Sunday when it was 45 degrees F to start, and only warmed up to 56 degrees by the time we finished. It was too cold for me. I four jacked one and then 3 jacked two from 25 feet. I had no feel, unless frozen is a feel. 

 

Needless to say, I think 50 degrees will be my new threshold and probably only if it is forecast to warm up during the round. Golfing in the cold wasn't overly enjoyable for me.

[DifferentKinda]

18 minutes ago, GoldenAges said:

I'm in the Tampa, Florida area. I played Sunday when it was 45 degrees F to start, and only warmed up to 56 degrees by the time we finished. It was too cold for me. I four jacked one and then 3 jacked two from 25 feet. I had no feel, unless frozen is a feel. 

 

Needless to say, I think 50 degrees will be my new threshold and probably only if it is forecast to warm up during the round. Golfing in the cold wasn't overly enjoyable for me.

 

Haha same. Was my birthday weekend and I could not give up the desire to golf so the wife and I kept our 7:30am tee time - had to order hand warmers from Amazon and layered up. Had a par on the first hole but the walk from 1 to 2 didn't help and had two blow up holes before pulling it somewhat together again. Was fine after the turn with the sun out, but took a lot of mental energy to stay in the round early on...agreed on the 50 degree cut off!

[Archimedes65]

On 12/7/2024 at 10:28 PM, Golfbit2X said:

 

Playing winter golf is a bit more complicated in the Northeast than summer golf but at least it's not as busy with only a few flights on the course yesterday. 

 

I also got to finish my round in 3 hours and 53 minutes. 

 

 

Reading this makes my head hurt.

[Archimedes65]

What bugs me about playing in cold weather, isn’t being cold.  It’s the loss of distance and feel on shots.  Out here on the coast, in cold, damp weather the ball just goes nowhere.

 

Edited December 24, 2024 by Archimedes65

[shoot4par]

My Dad’s rule for stuff was if he can see his breath in the morning, he’s going back to sleep. I’ve applied that rule to any casual round. 

Edited December 25, 2024 by shoot4par

[bcjim]

Cold sucks but it has a few advantages. No need for sunscreen or an umbrella or arm sleeves etc. No gnats, flies, or mosquitos. No packing excess water to survive. No changing my soaked shirt after 9 holes. I'm not wiped out for a day after walking 18. Less crowds.

 

I'd rather deal with all that, tbh, but I'm just trying to stay positive. 😭

 

 

[PedronNiall]

Already said, all in the conditions. A 40° cloudless day with no wind can be nice enough that you can go down to just your base layer when practicing or walking. 40-50 can also be fine if a front moves in and there's a temporary bit of humidity and little wind. 

 

Rain or wind and the clouds that come with either on top of the cold are when it gets miserable. Not really a fan of fooling with a cart cover and heaters, so if walking and hand warmers aren't enough to stay warm and enjoy the round count me out. 

[Dan Drake]

Put me in the "It's more about the wind, humidity, and sky cover than the actual temp" camp.  I've been far colder out on the course at 42° layered up and with beanie & gloves on than on top of a mountain at 0° with no gloves, no hat, one base layer and some sunglasses.  

 

Some wind and humidity will blow that chill right into your bones, at least that's how it feels to me.  

Edited December 29, 2024 by Dan Drake

[jimb6golf]

Staring out the window, outside of Boston area, and looking at melting snow and very soggy ground conditions.  Temps climbing this week but too much rain the forecast to play unfortunately.  Hopefully next weekend will be better.  At least most of the snow has melted so there is a chance.