Advice for playing golf in the rain

[Robert L.]

Tomorrow is going to be a rainy day here in Central Massachusetts, and I'm going to try something I've never done, playing in the rain. I'm doing it to gain some experience playing in inclement conditions. I've got a rain jacket, a bucket hat, rain pants, waterproof shoes, a good umbrella, and lots of towels. I'm looking for some advice like playing, dealing with rain, and so on.

Edited May 8 by Robert L.

[PedronNiall]

1) Don't, haha.

2) Rain gloves that grip better when wet or go full pro mode and carry 9 gloves to rotate every hole and hang them under the umbrella to dry.

3) Hang a good towel inside the umbrella as well. Grips and hands will need a wipe on occasion no matter how careful you are. 

4) Leave your umbrella open and sit it over your bag while you're putting and such to minimize how soaked your bag gets. Just want to stop it from getting bad enough for it to get humid inside the bag and dampen your grips while they sit. Guessing you're walking, anyway. No point in riding when it will be cart path only from the sound of things. 

5) Find a good angle as you walk so the water from the umbrella stays off you and the bag as much as possible. Name of the game is slowing the onset of the wet. 

[596]

I'll second "don't". 😂 

 

My advise is wait until the next day. 

 

Good luck

[Jose c.]

club up on most shots, also choke up, try and pick the ball.

[Pepperturbo]

I prefer rain to wind, but play in the latter more than the former.  I actually enjoy a nice rain, and wind is fine until it's 3+ clubs worth.

 

As long as you have the proper waterproof gear, which sounds like you do, just be patient.  Finding out how to include rain tasks in your pre-shot routine while keeping your grips dry is maybe the most important to consider, least to me.  If you wear glasses, bring lenses wipes and extra towels.  Walking will have more of an impact on you than taking a cart.  LOL I like walking using a push cart.

Edited May 8 by Pepperturbo

[SNIPERBBB]

Learn to embrace the suck. The rest of the group might be grumbling , you just smile and keep on keepin' on. No amount of grumbling will make the rain stop.

 

Wet balls and clubs means you're not going to get as much spin as your accustomed to.  So you might get some fliers that you're not used to but the other side is that the greens should soften up so they are more receptive.

 

Rain gloves are a must. Unless you got the money to burn on a full bag of gloves.

 

Rain jacket ought to a be a bit loose on you, if not, it will get a bit annoying and could rob you of a bit of distance because it will make you swing like like your muscles are completely stiff.

 

Rain hat should be a wide brimmed hat, not a hat thats "rain proof" because that just means the rain runs down the back of your neck. The wide brimmed rain hats at least keep it off your neck.

[ferrispgm]

I agree with @SNIPERBBB  especially the embrace the suck part. I actually like playing in the rain or wind as it gives me an excuse to be a little creative and makes me think more.

 

Playing wise, I like to play the ball forward a tiny amount and start with a tad more pressure on my lead side.  With irons I usually make more of a 3/4 swing from the fairway.

 

 

[BombinJim]

Make sure you bring a brush and towel to ensure your clubs are cleaned. Wet conditions will have your clubs dirty after every shot.

[SNIPERBBB]

16 minutes ago, BombinJim said:

Make sure you bring a brush and towel to ensure your clubs are cleaned. Wet conditions will have your clubs dirty after every shot.

Thats the one benefit of playing in the rain...clubs are easier to clean

[Petethreeput]

Sadly, I play in the rain all the time.

 

SniperBBB and FerrisPGM have it.  The one thing I would add to this is to accept the loss of distance.  In many instances it isn't egregious so I might try to chase the extra 5 yards with the 7i instead of accepting the 7i is going to be 5 yards short because it's raining.  Want to make tough conditions tougher, try swinging harder to get the distance back, that ought to do it.

 

One last thing, beer, lots of beer.  I won't stop the rain, but eventually you will forget how dumb it is to be playing golf in the rain. 

[getitdaily]

Keep a big towel draped through your umbrella support beams. It does a few things, stays dry, allows you to dry hands and grips, and weights the umbrella down while you're around the green.

 

When around the green, put wedges under the umbrella, grip side up. 

 

Biggest thing with rain....KEEP YOUR GRIPS DRY.  Fail on that and you're done.

[SNIPERBBB]

20 minutes ago, getitdaily said:

Keep a big towel draped through your umbrella support beams. It does a few things, stays dry, allows you to dry hands and grips, and weights the umbrella down while you're around the green.

 

When around the green, put wedges under the umbrella, grip side up. 

 

Biggest thing with rain....KEEP YOUR GRIPS DRY.  Fail on that and you're done.

If you have rain gloves. its the opposite. Rain gloves  need things to be wet. They dont like dry.

[Greenie]

7 hours ago, Robert L. said:

Tomorrow is going to be a rainy day here in Central Massachusetts, and I'm going to try something I've never done, playing in the rain. I'm doing it to gain some experience playing in inclement conditions. I've got a rain jacket, a bucket hat, rain pants, waterproof shoes, a good umbrella, and lots of towels. I'm looking for some advice like playing, dealing with rain, and so on.

 

The main thing you need to play in the rain is RAIN GLOVES. Once your grips get wet and your hands start slipping you will be hating playing in the rain. 

Rain gloves grip well once they are soaking wet.

Edited May 9 by Greenie

[jut111]

Yeah rain gloves are a game changer. Wetter they get better they grip. Don’t have to micro manage grips. Very freeing for me. 

[Asics10]

Please report back so I don't have to do that experiment 

[b.helts]

It really depends on how much rain. At a certain point, without a caddy to look after your gear while you’re hitting shots, you can’t keep clubs dry. It becomes either more work than it’s worth or flat out impossible. 
 

It’s almost easier to just lean into the wet. Let your gear get wet, let yourself get wet. Wear good rain gear and have rain gloves. 
 

do you wear glasses when you play? The only thing I try to keep dry in the rain is my little glasses towel. 
 

and as others have said, embrace the suck. It can be fun but only if you’re ready for it. 

[PJE]

I’ve played in the rain quite a bit. I don’t do it anymore. But:
1)Try to keep the grips dry or drier. 
2)Some people like the rain gloves. 

3) I think high quality rain gear, warm clothes, and really good waterproof shoes are essential.  If you’re warm and dry, instead of cold and wet, it’s a lot easier to enjoy the game and be upbeat even if it rains hard. 

 

[Sean124]

Good tips from everyone. I grew up in Seattle. Using a push cart with an umbrella attachment is the best option. You stay dryer than riding and don’t have to constantly mess with the umbrella while carrying. The rain gloves are great unless it’s also cold. Then the biggest key is keeping my hands warm. 
 

Wet is manageable. Cold is manageable. Cold and wet sucks.

 

Now that I live in Phoenix, I’m better at playing in heat that would make most people pass out. 
 

Edited May 9 by Sean124

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

Rain gloves from Callaway are thin and super grippy, dry AND wet. The black ones. Use them sometimes in dry weather, too. 
 

Great tips all around, keeping grips dry and clubfaces clean, and towel under umbrella are the most important ones. 
 

I can also confirm that if you’re warm, it can be fun to embrace the stupid decision and fighting the elements becomes a lesson in perseverance. You‘ll be prepared if you have to play a tournament in rainy weather. 
 

One thing I‘ll add is, bring hot tea in a thermos. And some whiskey. 

[Jose c.]

 In the rain with rain gloves my golf pride cp2 grip's stay tacky. Cord grips like the mcc line,seem to get slick. I also find the mcc to be slick in cold weather.

[mshills]

Push cart with umbrella. 
Hang a towel up in the umbrella to keep it sorta dry. 
One more towel that will get wet. 

Rain gloves. 
Wool socks so your dogs don’t bark once they get wet. 
Waterproof bucket hat - make it wide. 

Galvin Green pants ($$$) and jacket ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$) if you have to do this regularly!