When it’s going darker earlier, or the weekends are cold, wet and windy, the idea of playing golf might not be top of your mind.
But you also might not want to put the clubs away for a few months, especially when you know golf is about consistency, and you don’t want to spend your first few months after winter trying to remember how to swing again.
While it can be challenging to keep up with your golf game during the winter months, you can still do plenty of things to stay sharp and improve, ready for the glorious day you can get back on the course.
Here are a few tips for keeping up with your golf game this winter.
Putt and chip at home
How many rounds have you had ruined by three or four putts? Or how many birdies have you seen vanish thanks to a missed short putt?
For most golfers, too many to count.
Luckily, working on your putting game is something you can do regardless of the weather.
You don’t need a putting matt to practice (although if you’ve got the space and can afford one, they’re worth it). You can put a plastic cup against the skirting board and practice from different distances).
If you’ve got space in a garden, you could also practice some basic chipping techniques.
You don’t have to go crazy and try chipping over the fence or into a washing machine like a young Tiger Woods. Simply aiming for a washing basket or plastic tub is enough to get a feel for chipping at a target.
You might want to do this outside or in a relatively empty room unless you’re happy risking breaks and dents.
Practice your grip
The proper grip is an essential part of a successful golf shot, and it’s something you can practice anywhere.
It really is as simple as picking up a club, putting your hands in the correct position and getting a feel for how the club feels.
If you’ve got the space, you could do some half swings to get a feel for the club or even go through some full swings if you’ve got the space outside.
While it might seem a small detail, simply holding the club and working on your grip can pay dividends.
Practice the stages of your swing in front of a mirror
This might require a bit of extra space and a full-sized mirror, but you’d be surprised how effective going through some slow-motion swings (or even part swings) can be when you can see what the swing looks like.
Break your swing down into different stages.
Check how you’re addressing the ball.
Analyse the initial movement as you take the club back (noting your arm position, body and leg position and shoulders).
If you’ve got the space to get to the top of the backswing, make sure you’re still in the correct position.
And then check everything again as you bring the club down and through the swing.
You’ll start to see little changes you could make and get a feel for how each part of the swing should feel. This will create some muscle memory that will be useful when it comes to getting on the course.
Make use of the driving range
While it might be a bit cold and wet for a full 18 holes, that’s no reason you can’t make use of a driving range.
Getting on the range is ideal for practising all the shots in your arsenal.
If you’re going to go to the range, make a plan for what you want to achieve.
Most people go wrong because they’ll buy the most available balls and start hitting.
Are you working on your drive? Trying to perfect your mid-range game? Or do you want to work on chipping?
Pick one or a couple of shots you want to practice, and take your time to focus on technique and consistency.
When you get back on the course, you’ll have built some good habits that will serve you well.
Winter could even be an excellent time to take a few golf lessons.
Keep playing when you can
While it might be getting wet and cold outside, and the nights are drawing in earlier, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out on the course and play.
While practising at the range and in front of the mirror will help, there’s no replacement for getting on a course and facing the different shots you’ll have to deal with.
So, when the opportunity presents itself, get yourself wrapped up in some winter, waterproof golf gear and hit the links.
Stay fit
Despite what some people might say, golf can be a physically demanding sport.
You’ll be walking for miles, and your body will be twisting and turning regularly, which can take its toll.
So you should take the winter months as an opportunity to stay fit, go on walks, stretch your muscles and stay loose.
It might not seem like much, but it’ll help when you get to the late holes when you’re playing regularly again.
Stay on top of your winter golf game with Clarke’s Golf.
We know it can be tough to stay motivated in winter, but there’s plenty of opportunity available to stay active and play golf.
At Clarke’s Golf, alongside our online store and golf shop, we’ve got a 27-bay driving range complete with a range of short and long-distance targets so you can practice everything you need while getting ready for spring.
If you want extra help with your game, book a lesson with one of our professionals, and we’ll have you hitting better and shooting lower scores in no time.