\tMany golfers simply pack their clubs away for a few months, but a considerable number of you don’t. However, that’s not to say that even these players love everything about getting out there at this time of the year.<\/p>\n
\tWe asked the Golfshake Community on Facebook<\/a> to identify the worst things about playing golf in winter, and several factors were repeatedly mentioned.\u00a0<\/p>\n \tLet’s take a look at the things that everyday golfers most dislike about winter golf.<\/p>\n \tThe Weather<\/p>\n \tIt goes without saying that if, like us, you’re based in the UK, then the weather can turn a bit rough during the winter. Whether it’s heavy downpours, strong breezes, or freezing temperatures and frosty conditions that can regularly shut the course, it can be a struggle to keep playing, even if you have all the waterproof gear<\/a> and suitable footwear<\/a> that you could hope for.<\/p>\n \tRestricted Hours of Daylight<\/p>\n \tThere is so much to relish about the peak months of the season – including the long hours of daylight meaning that you can easily fit in a twilight round after work or play multiple rounds a day if you were so inclined. However, as dusk descends by the middle of the afternoon in late November and December, the opportunity that many of us have to play golf becomes restricted, which, if you’re the keenest of golfers, can be highly frustrating and mean that a floodlit range is your best bet<\/p>\n \tUnderfoot Conditions<\/p>\n \t \t(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography<\/a>)<\/p>\n \tCertainly related to the weather, but if you’re someone who plays a course that doesn’t drain well, those heavy deluges can leave unpleasant underfoot conditions, with muddy shoes and trousers guaranteed. Golf balls can easily become plugged on these occasions. You also have to think of those frosty days that see your course closed.<\/p>\n \tWhile not quite the same, if you play a tree-lined course, the thousands of fallen leaves across the fairways make losing an accurate tee shot a potential concern.<\/p>\n \tCold Hands<\/p>\n \tWhether it be winter gloves or handwarmers, there are ways now for golfers to keep the feel in their hands on even the coldest days, but if you haven’t come prepared, then frozen fingers only make playing the game more difficult.<\/p>\n \tIf you’re someone who has arthritis in your hands, then it’s especially important to ensure that you do what’s possible to retain warmth.<\/p>\n \tWinter Greens & Winter Tees<\/p>\n \tWhile some courses do remain fully open, it’s generally expected that you will encounter some degree of winter greens and tees during the low season.<\/p>\n \tThese temporary additions can shorten holes and even rapidly change their character. Winter greens especially are uninspiring to face as a hole cut into a small bit of the fairway often doesn’t feel like proper golf.<\/p>\n \tCourse maintenance is understandably something that many venues introduce during these quieter months of the year, but while the long-term benefits are obvious, it can diminish the experience of playing a round when many parts of the layout are roped off.<\/p>\n \tFairway Mats<\/p>\n \tIf you haven’t had to contend with winter tees and greens, you may be required to use mats on the fairways. These little pieces of astroturf help to protect the real grass for the peak season, but they don’t accurately replicate the same experience of hitting shots off a natural surface.<\/p>\n \tThat said, if you’re like me and don’t hit too many fairways, then fairway mats are a welcome compromise<\/a> if it means you can still play more or less a full course.<\/p>\n \tPlaying golf in the winter does require some concessions to the conditions and the realities of things, but if you accept that and pick your moments wisely, it can be rewarding to keep playing 12 months of the year.<\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Golfshake_-_Wet_Greens_KD_cfldc5.jpg\")
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