Playing on frozen fairways

[virtuocity]

Tried winter golf today. Lasted 4 holes before I got bored and left.

Hit the range instead. My ball striking is really coming on- I hit my PW 195 today.

Range wasn't frozen, honest.

 

[ventura]

Played this morning for the first time on a frozen course.

Don't think I'll be doing it anytime soon again. Lost balls in the middle of the fairway (should have got some bright ones!) and good approach shots bouncing 20 yards through the green. Putting was awful too.

Think I prefer wet winter conditions over cold ones.

 

[vkurup]

Played at Pineridge in semi-froze conditions. Some greens were frosted to the core. Hit a beautiful 8iro approach shot on the first hole. Ball landed just short of the flag that was up, the bounced off like a rubber ball off concrete off the back end of the green!! Putts were useless as there is no way to judge speed, break etc. So we started a new local rule of shaving off 1 putt per hole if the hole was frosted.

The other bit issue was the lack of grip off my ATV 360 shoes while teeing off the mats. On the second hole, teeing off the mat, on the downswing the right leg slipped straight off the mat!! Hooked the ball to almost 90degrees. Just managed to keep my face off the ground.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I played yesterday and it was a bit of a laugh.

There were some funny bounces and I lost two balls because I was hitting into the sun but I'm just out for a bit of a walk and to keep my swing going until the new season starts.

I did manage to use a frozen puddle to bounce a chip into our 13th though

 

[Fraz]

Playing Troon Lochgreen tomorrow, really hoping the fairways have not frozen too much as it looks bright and little wind so has the potential to be a good day out!

 

[Fish]

Played today and it was daft!

08.15 shotgun start so was really frozen and cold.

Hit the greens and watch it ping off or hit it short and the aprons were soft and it plugged, you just couldn't win whatever you decided to do.

Took so much time cleaning the line for your put where everyone in front had knocked the ice off their shoes all over the greens.

I don't mind winter golf but Arctic golf is just plain silly.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I love it, play to the conditions and scoring is possible. You wouldn't play a links course like an american driver-wedge-fest would you?

Its a different form of golf, a good challenge and you have to be inventive to score, which is something I relish!

 

[Mungoscorner]

I love it, play to the conditions and scoring is possible. You wouldn't play a links course like an american driver-wedge-fest would you?

Its a different form of golf, a good challenge and you have to be inventive to score, which is something I relish!

Absolutely spot on.
Although i may have a different opinion tomorrow,as i'm playing at 8am,the forecast is -1 tonight,and barely scraping above freezing during the morning.Most course's in the midlands were flooded last weekend,and likely to be frozen solid tomorrow.Got to love the British weather.

 

[Holty]

Found it really tricky today, conditions changed so quickly - first hole it was like trying to throw a marble onto an upturned saucer, and trying to hit a wedge to the green almost broke my wrist!

 

[ScienceBoy]

Absolutely spot on.
Although i may have a different opinion tomorrow,as i'm playing at 8am,the forecast is -1 tonight,and barely scraping above freezing during the morning.Most course's in the midlands were flooded last weekend,and likely to be frozen solid tomorrow.Got to love the British weather.

Be smart with your clothes layering, slap on some winter playing gloves and run in 7 irons from 140 yards... or whatever you can come up with!

I personally love getting all wrapped up and donning the winter playing gloves, I even use them for range sessions on cold evenings. I am a firm believer in practising in your winter/wet weather clothes as well as playing in them!

 

[Heidi]

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

away! I had two birdies today on temps - i like to think there was some skill involved and not just hitting the ball in the general direction of the hole

I had one drive today that was about 60 yards further than i've ever hit a ball - think it must have slid there on the ice

i only play golf in the winter to keep my swing going.

oh - and to collect the twos sweep

 

[Garesfield ACE]

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.

I know what you mean louise..regarding the extra distance on frozen fairways.....our par 5 5th hole is downhill for around 380 yards until it levels out then uphill dog leg right to left for last 70 yards or so.............I'm not a long hitter and best I have done previous with my drive here is 260 yards................yesterday I smashed one 330 yards (GPS confirmed it ) and JUST COULDNT BELIEVE IT......I was so chuffed I rang my mate up in the clubhouse bar so he could see where I was standing at the end of my drive!.....lol.....ALSO the closest I've got to the green in 2 is around 40 yards...........well I went and put it on the proper green in 2 for the 1st time.....but we were playing temps and I went to far!!...lol

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

well chilly today - all temps due to frozen greens but fairways fine. Winter League match - me and buddy dormie 2 up and opponents then go and birdie the last two holes holing 15 footers on both across bumpy hard fairways and temp greens when we're sitting good for pars. Oh well. That's golf. All square at end the correct result as both pairs played well today. Between us we had 7 gross birdies which is not bad on temps.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I have been up since 4, its been around -2 overnight here in Cambridge. I bet the fairways are frozen solid today but still I want to head out, if only I had my clubs!

Anyone braving the permafrost this morning?

 

[Fraz]

I have been up since 4, its been around -2 overnight here in Cambridge. I bet the fairways are frozen solid today but still I want to head out, if only I had my clubs!

Anyone braving the permafrost this morning?

Im heading out for 11:20 @ Troon Lochgreen. On my own now tho since my mate just text to say he is ill. Already paid for both rounds so i aint not going!

If anyone from here wants to take his space pm me!

 

[Imurg]

I can be a good laugh playing in the freeze as long as it's consistent. On Friday it was pretty solid to start with but then the fairways defrosted but the greens were still hard. With all the rain we've had you couldn't pitch short as the ball just stopped but you couldn't pitch on the green as it wouldn't stop.
Scoring was understandably low but we still had fun.

Well I did, not sure about Fragger and his 8 blobs.....

 

[CliveW]

What is this "large hole" that you speak about? I have only played to regulation size holes albeit on temp greens. I'm off to Gullane in a mo, the outside temp is currently -3.5 degrees with a bit of frost which came in with the dawn, but at least there will be full greens on the coast. My only worry is the snow that is forecast for the afternoon as I don't fancy an 80 mile drive home in that!

 

[ScienceBoy]

What is this "large hole" that you speak about? I have only played to regulation size holes albeit on temp greens. I'm off to Gullane in a mo, the outside temp is currently -3.5 degrees with a bit of frost which came in with the dawn, but at least there will be full greens on the coast. My only worry is the snow that is forecast for the afternoon as I don't fancy an 80 mile drive home in that!

Some clubs use a larger hole on temp greens, probably down to a mix of club decisions and quality of temp greens. I have played some temp greens that were like the real thing and others that would put a fairway to shame, the latter tend to have the larger hole.

As for qualifiers, I doubt the larger hole is allowed but I have heard it being used for winter leagues...

 

[Crow]

Well I payed in our Winter League today, against a pair of guys in their 70s.

Giving 10 and 7 shots away, I have to say we were soundly beaten 4 and 3, partly due to our dodgy play but also the fact that hole yardages are less using temp tees and greens and their normaly shorter shots ran and ran on the frozen fairways so they were a hard pair to beat with their shots.

In fact I've decided that I don't mind winter golf unless I'm giving a lot of shots away, when the advantage definitely shifts to the higher handicap.

(And they had all the lucky bounces )

 

[TheJezster]

I like it. It's different and requires skill to get it right.

Played our 3rd winter league 4 ball this morning, tee off just after 8am, so dressed up in my skiing socks, long johns, base layer and polo underneath tank top and fleece and a pair of huge mittens to wear while i wasnt holding the clubs. No problems whatsoever, I was toastie and we won 2&1 for our 3rd win out of 3. Sitting quite well in our group of 8.