The first order of business if you are going to play in inclement weather is to be prepared . Like anything you want to succeed in , preparation is the key . Before you go out for your round of golf go through the checklist of necessary items . Rain gear , umbrella , towels , extra gloves , hand warmers , hat and — most importantly — a good frame of mind .

Good rain gear can set you back $ 250-500 but if you play a lot of golf this is just another part of your investment . GoreTex rain gear keeps you dry and warm and lets your body breathe so you aren ’ t sweating on the inside harder than it ’ s raining on the outside .

Your umbrella will keep you dry but equally important it will keep your clubs dry . Position it over your bag so the rain doesn ’ t get in and get your grips wet . If your grips are dry you can play reasonably well . Hang your towel up under the umbrella from the supports . That is the driest spot around and you need to keep your towel as dry as you can . Pack an extra towel in your bag to change out if needed . Drying wet grips with a wet towel does no good .

Keep a pocket hand warmer with you so if it is cold as well as wet you can keep your hands warm so you don ’ t lose the touch and feel necessary to play the game well . The disposable type works great and you can even put them in your shoes to keep your feet warm . Make sure the shoes you have are waterproof . Playing golf with wet feet is about as miserable of an experience you can ever have .

Lastly , make sure you have a hat of some sort . Keeping the rain out of your eyes is essential to being able to see the golf ball . Now that you are prepared to brave the elements , let ' s go do this . There are several items to remember to get the most out of your game when the weather isn ’ t cooperating .

Number one on the list if you are playing in the rain is that the air is “ heavy .” The added moisture is going to cause more “ drag ” on the ball and shorten the distance on every flight . Anyone who has played at higher elevations like Lake Tahoe has experienced the “ thin ” air when your golf shots travel farther because of less drag . This is the opposite , so add an extra club or two when you ’ re hitting your shot . The ball will travel up to 10 % less in wet weather .

You may even go so far as to change the type of golf ball you use . Different golf balls have different properties . Some fly further … some roll further . A lower compression ball is a bit softer and with the colder weather , it will be easier to compress that type of ball , allowing it to travel farther .

If your game relies on you bouncing a ball up onto the green you have to rethink your club selection entirely . Landing five yards short and bouncing it onto the putting surface isn ’ t going to happen in wet conditions , so plan accordingly . Hit the club that will allow the ball to fly onto the green . When chipping , soft greens will not let the ball “ release ” like usual , so plan on flying the ball a bit further .

So what if it isn ’ t raining but it is very windy ? I feel that this is as much — if not more — of a challenge than wet weather . A golf ball that only weighs a couple of ounces is no match for 30-40 mph winds . The safest way to play in the wind is to stay “ under ” it when it ’ s against you and “ ride ” it when it ’ s behind you . What that means is when you are hitting into the wind don ’ t take out high lofted clubs . Use lower trajectory shots and play your ball back in your stance to hit lower shots . Nothing good can come from you hitting a 7 wood into the wind . The wind also exaggerates any crooked shots . If you get a slice going right it ’ s really going right into the wind . Remember to subtract yardage when you are going into the wind . A good rule of thumb is if you are hitting against a 10 mph wind your ball will probably travel 10 yards less . When hitting downwind the opposite is true . Get it up in the air and take advantage of the extra yardage . Tee it higher with your driver and let the wind help you out . With the wind behind you it actually helps straighten out crooked shots and of course they will go further .

So if the urge strikes you to play golf when the weather is less than ideal by all means do it . Just remember to be prepared and play smart . Or even smarter , schedule an hour or two in the golf simulator at Gilroy Golf Course . You can play some of the world ’ s greatest golf courses and never leave the city limits . Call the golf shop at ( 408 ) 848-0490 to book a reservation for some indoor golf . But if that doesn ’ t work , a golf trip to Hawaii , Arizona or Palm Springs will usually do the trick . Then , just wait for our great weather to return .

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