How many shots do you lose in winter compared to summer

[Dave B]

It's a well known fact that you lose distance in winter due to air density, temperature, ground and course conditions.

On some holes which are a typical 7 iron in summer I'm now using a 5 iron. The ditches I can usually drive over in summer are now a much more challenging prospect as a good drive may clear the ditch if I hit it right out of the middle but there is no margin for error or lucky bounces which you often get in summer.

My local course is 6124 yds long and can be difficult at the best of times. At a guess I'm taking a good 5 or 6 shots more due to the winter conditions.

How are the winter conditions affecting your golf and course?

 

[USER1999]

Not at all. The tees are pushed forwards, so 6600 becomes more like 6000, and so it pretty much plays the same. In summer it is par 72, ss 72, but in winter it is par 72, ss 70, so I guess it must be easier.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm not sure if I am losing too many shots. You can fire 5 irons or even fairway woods into greens and they are stopping so for me its only a different number on the bottom of the club. You just have to hit it. The problem comes when you swing like a fool and hit it like a muppet

 

[Brookesy]

Havent really noticed much difference in loss of length tbh, keep wondering what people are going on about when they say this. Only thing i have noticed is less roll, getting the same amount of carry tbh, have done quite a bit of work on my swing recently which could have made me ball striking better?

 

[Imurg]

Ours plays to the same length (6166).
There is obviously less roll from the driver but approach shots are easier as you know you can fire at the flag and the ball should stick.
Since November I guess I've scored about on a similar level to summer - it's of no real consequence to me of I have to hit a 6 iron in instead of a 7 or 8.....

 

[Oddsocks]

We are still using whites and only 2 holes are on front tees so playing shorter by about 150 yards max. Yes you get no run on wet fairways, but you can also attack the pins so that balances nicely. The only prob in winter for me is bobbly greens, but if you can chop/pitch close then again it weighs things up nice.

Not sure what the new course will be like when I move though

 

[Whereditgo]

All things considered I think its probably easier in the winter for the reasons previously stated by others. A couple of other things that help to make the course play easier would be; less roll usually means getting held up in the light rough as opposed to running into trouble and lots less vegetation when you do happen in there.

 

[AllyLodge]

I think sometimes the conditions are a "bit" tougher than in summer. I was sniffing for the whole 18 holes yesterday ne:
Apart from that, our course doesnt move the tees forward or any of that tiff, but I think that's definitely not a disadvantage, as I hate temporary greens and bucket holes. As long as you pack on the layers, I find it to be just as enjoyable.

-Ally

 

[Bash]

Our course is the same, so doesn't make much odds other than having to add a club (or two) onto your 'new' winter distances

 

[Phil2511]

My course plays alot shorter on most holes. I would guess 700 to 800 yds less overall. Pretty much zero run and alot of plugging. Plus lift clean and place through to the green means better lie and better strikes so alot of high scores have been coming in for the majority of our winter league players that would normally struggle to make 18pts over 9 now are shooting 22,23,24 and 25 pts.

The low hcap guys are the only ones that seem to suffer in winter as there isn't as much benefit from placing on a fairway as in semi or deeper rough. Plus what may have been driver 6 iron for a high hcapper is now a driver and wedge. So where the high man would have to hit longer clubs that would normally get him into trouble or else lay up and play up from a bad lie they now set it up nicely and hit the shorter less risky club and make pars and bogies on holes they have 2 shots at.

The guy that won our winter league last year by a country mile and whose hcap went from 25 to 17 went back to 25 in April and managed to get to 23 by the end of the qualifying season. Only was cut those 2 shots on full length course due to playing alot more than before due to having retired.

 

[Tiger]

Summer and winter affect me in different ways. Summer I get more distance reducing the club I hit into the green by one or two clubs BUT sticking on the green is tougher. Tends to be windier in the winter but at least a wayward shot is much more likely to stay in play or on the fairway. Greens putt better in the summer but fairways can have crazy bounces. So all things considered I prefer Autumn or Spring