Not only can you play in the rain, expect to and prepare for it. If you are committed to playing in a tournament with a partner or a scramble team. or your regular group wants to play in rainy conditions, you might want to know whether or not you can play in the rain.
Can You Play Golf in the Rain? Yes, most golf courses do not close during the rain, meaning that players are allowed to continue golfing during the downpour. While the course conditions will change, you are totally allowed to play golf in the rain.
Now that you know you can golf in the rain, you probably want to know how to prepare. Playing in the rain is very different than playing in regular weather. Check below for our tips for playing golf in the rain.
How to Prepare for the Rain
As we mentioned above, playing in the rain is much different than playing in regular weather. The course plays differently when it’s wet outside, so if you know what to expect, you should shoot a decent game.
Tips for Playing in the Rain
- Be prepared for harder sand in the bunkers. You may want to hit an inch behind the ball instead of your usual two inches.
- Be patient. The rain is probably affecting others too. Focus on one shot at a time. Realize that play in front of you will probably get slower. Get used to the fact that you’re going to be out there a while.
- Take more club. Your shots will not go as far when it’s wet outside, so pick a club that you will get more distance with.
- Be more aggressive with chips and putts. The greens will be slower. And your putts will not break quite so much.
- If there is lightning in the area, get off the course right away. Even if it’s far away, it can be a real danger. An air horn signal means you must stop play.
Be prepared for the rain. Have the gear you need. Have the attitude you’ll need. Have the strategy you need. You’ll do fine.
Golfing in the rain is better than not golfing at all. pic.twitter.com/iMgKlA76kw
— Christopher Heady (@heady_chris) July 26, 2020
Do Golf Courses Close When it’s Raining?
Golf courses rarely close when it’s raining. Golf courses predominantly stay open during the rain unless the conditions get very bad (tornado, hurricane, etc.). With a lot of rain over a period of days, course conditions can become soft, and play can damage the course. But usually that means cart use is suspended. Carts can make ugly and harmful ruts all over the course.
Even after the sun comes out, the course conditions may be too wet for carts. That can be a good opportunity to play without fighting the crowds, if you’re willing to walk. Sometimes during bad weather, the course is so empty, the pro shop is closed. There’s no sense in the club paying pro shop attendants. That doesn’t necessarily mean the course is off-limits. However, if there is a “Course Closed” sign, you’d better stay off it.
How Will Rain Affect My Golf Score?
There are a few ways in which golf will affect your score. Between the moisture in the air, and wetness of the ground, your golf game will change while it’s raining. In general, your ball won’t travel as far, nor roll as far. So, your distance on most of your shots will be shorter, ultimately impacting your score.
- Moisture/Humid air means thicker air, which is harder for the golf ball to travel through, decreasing the total distance
- Wetness on the ground makes it harder for the ball to roll, which also contributes to less distance on your shot.
In many amateur tournaments, a steady rain can mean scores a couple shots higher. A brief rain shower probably won’t affect scores. One benefit of rain is that sometimes the tournament committee will allow you to lift, clean, and place your ball if it is in your own fairway.
Buying Rain Gear Can Help Too
You can outfit yourself for rain with Footjoy raingear. It’s not cheap, but it’s high quality. Rain pants cost $130, and a rain jacket will set you back $190. The umbrella is $65. You can find golf umbrellas for less, but don’t go too cheap, because your golf umbrella needs to be durable to hold up in the wind. Keep in mind that if you like to walk, all this gear will make your golf bag heavy. If you ride in a cart, no problem.
There’s no need to obsess over dry grips. In the old days, a golfer might lose hold of his grip and helicopter the club down the fairway. Or he might go to great lengths to keep his grips dry, hanging a towel from inside his umbrella to keep the towel dry. The Drizzle Stik ($27) and the Titleist StaDry Towel ($50) are still popular items. The Drizzle Stik is an umbrella with a golf-like shaft that fits in your bag. The StayDry Towel has a waterproof exterior that keeps the interior towel dry in order to use on your grips.
Golfing in Rain Boots, Well of Course we are! #fortheteam #fullyprepared pic.twitter.com/emoDPRLhxM
— Wendi (@wendis47) September 28, 2013
Really all you need to keep your grips from slipping out of your hands are Footjoy Rain-Grip gloves ($22). The wetter they get, the tackier they become. They go on both hands. What you have to watch for at this point is cold. If it’s a cold rain, your fingers might feel like they’re going to fall off. But Footjoy makes WinterSof gloves ($22) as well. If it’s a warm rain, you might want to wear a short sleeve rain shirt. Footjoy carries them in their raingear collection as well
A hat is more essential for rain, even if you don’t normally wear one. Some are made especially for the rain. If you wear glasses, you will need the hat visor to keep the rain off of your lenses. Bucket hats ($45) seem to be popular for rain.
