Playing on frozen fairways

[louise_a]

Our fairways were frozen this morning, doesn't the ball go a long way. Twice I was in with a chance of hitting par 5s in 2, a couple of drives went around 220-230 yds, a good 50/60 further than normal.

Got to admit I rather enjoyed it, despite the temporary greens.

 

[fundy]

Have to be honest think golf in frozen conditions is almost pointless, no control whatsoever over approach shots chips and putts, they all become a lottery, basically minimises skill level differences and is by far the least enjoyable way to play golf, give me wind and rain any day instead

 

[PhilTheFragger]

You wait till you hit a green and watch your ball bounce 40 feet in the air and airmail the green

I'll be aiming short of the green and hoping to run it up

 

[CMAC]

you might as well play on an empty carpark

 

[duncan mackie]

just like playing on baked links courses ........

once the temperature drops for a period, such that the greens (we play them frozen) freeze below the top 1/2" it does become a little more dificult to judge - but skill will still come through as it does in baked conditions.

the greens aren't quite as true to putt though

 

[bluewolf]

It's enjoyable in its own way. No good for scoring, but its fun to watch the ball bounce in strange directions and then putt to a dirty great hole in the middle of the fairway.

 

[Crow]

just like playing on baked links courses ........

once the temperature drops for a period, such that the greens (we play them frozen) freeze below the top 1/2" it does become a little more dificult to judge - but skill will still come through as it does in baked conditions.

the greens aren't quite as true to putt though

Agreed, a guy we played against in our Winter League last year was lethal when it came to running a ball onto a frozen green, he was even able to judge the strength of shot needed to bump it through frozen semi-rough.

Needless to say we were hammered.

 

[Fish]

Greens were frozen and fairways solid early this morning which I coped with but the bunkers were a nightmare!

Found myself in 2 today due to the ball running on further than anticipated but they had a then crust on them so when you tried to take some sand before the ball a whole crust of sand hit the ball!

Lesson learnt today, stay out of bunkers when zero temperatures.

 

[Crow]

Greens were frozen and fairways solid early this morning which I coped with but the bunkers were a nightmare!

Found myself in 2 today due to the ball running on further than anticipated but they had a then crust on them so when you tried to take some sand before the ball a whole crust of sand hit the ball!

Lesson learnt today, stay out of bunkers when zero temperatures.

A few of the geenside bunkers at our place have low lips and it's quite common when they're frozen to see people taking putter to escape.

 

[G1BB0]

same at my course crow except a lot of the bunkers have low lips and they do it all year round.

Will annoy a few next year though as they are all getting made deeper and the faces raised

 

[Chrisb83]

First year I've played in winter conditions and last weekend noticed I was striking the ball a lot better off the frozen fairways. But to counter the shots I saved I lost them on putting as I just couldn't gauge the distance at all with the ball sliding along rather than rolling which only got worse as they started to thor in places.

 

[steve7]

Played first time today on frozen fairways and temp greens.Putts all over the place.But enjoyed the walk around with the bro-in law.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not a fan of playing in the frost and trying to hit temp greens and would rather hit the range

 

[SAPCOR1]

It's like playing crazy golf, minus the mini windmill

 

[One Planer]

you might as well play on an empty carpark

Have to be honest think golf in frozen conditions is almost pointless, no control whatsoever over approach shots chips and putts, they all become a lottery, basically minimises skill level differences and is by far the least enjoyable way to play golf, give me wind and rain any day instead

Just about sums my view up.

I don't worry about the scoring in those conditions, I just use the round to work on somthing specfic, say driving or making a good contact with irons and wedges.

 

[SocketRocket]

Hit it LOooooowwwwww.

 

[GreiginFife]

Is it really any different to playing in sodden wet conditions where the ball plugs and doesn't go anywhere. Both sets of conditions need you to adapt your game to suit, so if that means playing it low and letting it run then surely that's where the skill and control element return?
I will be playing an annual charity game at Gullane at the end of January as I do every year, this year it was -6*C when we tee'd off and the course was frozen. Was it still a good, if somewhat testing, game of golf? You bet it was.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

I remember playing our 3rd hole at 350yds and hitting the ball about 20 yards past the hole with a 3 wood.Wow I thought it was brilliant lol.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Freezing this morning so expecting much the same for first match of Winter League tomorow morning. Don't mind 'through the green' but can't really be bothered with temps - though ours are pretty good. Previous club experimented with 'big' holes one year when on temps - nope - not for me.

 

[6inchcup]

winter golf is a waste of time,soft plugging greens, frozen solid fairways,frozen tracks were trolleys have dug up the course when wet,the frozen footprint in front of the oversized winter hole stuck in the middle of the fairway,if i want to put layer upon layer of clothes to go out i would sooner walk the dog than trudge round my golf course,you learn nothing and have more chance of injury.