Work on your game in the offseason

Hello Golfers. This will be the last installment for this summer. I hope you have gotten some ideas that can help your game.

Since this is the last article before the off-season, I thought I would help with winter golf in the Northwest. Even though the weather is not ideal, there is still plenty of golf to be played. There are a couple of things to remember when playing in the winter.

The courses will be wet and the air gets heavy. Try these hints to help with the conditions. One is to use more club. With the heavy air and the lack of roll, the holes will play longer. If it is a 6-iron in the summer, then take a 5-iron in the winter.

Also, when hitting pitch shots around the greens, carry the ball closer to the hole because there will be less roll even on short shots. Carry extra towels and if you use a glove, have a couple of extras in your bag so that when one gets wet you can change to a dry glove.

Don’t always think that winter conditions are a negative. During the winter, the fairways will effectively play wider due to the soft conditions. Also, the greens tend to be very receptive as opposed to the hard conditions during the summer.

One other concern is wardrobe. To enjoy winter golf you need to have a few items. It is a must to have waterproof shoes to keep your feet dry. Also get yourself a good set of lightweight, breathable rain gear. This is another reason to use more club in the winter. With the added clothing, your swing will not be as long or as wide, causing you to lose distance.

A waterproof bucket hat is recommended. With the technology in today’s fabrics, a good rain suit, waterproof shoes, and a hat can be found at very reasonable prices.

I would like to thank everyone for all the positive feedback this summer. Please continue to e-mail any questions that you might have. See you next June!

Tyrone Hardy is a PGA Professional and the Director of Golf at Ballinger Lake GC. www.ballingerlakegolf.com, tyroneh@ballingerlakegolf.com.