Playing in the Rain.

GreeBo

I was recently playing a few holes in an absolute downpour, it was absolutely thumping down.
Anyway, since it was only some casual holes (actually after an 18 hole comp) I wasnt terribly worried about getting wet as there was no downside or score to worry about.
Funny thing was that if I didnt actually stress about getting wet and just got on it with I was fine. Game wasnt really affected at all, at least the mental game wasnt.
I had all the gear on and the bag covered and a brolly and my rain gloves and it was all good.

Just something to think about next time you get caught by the wet stuff. Just ignore it (with your wetgear!) and it will go away.

Typically I used to have real issues playing in my wetgear top, now? Mneah!

One thing that still kills me is when you bend down the bottom of your wetgear soaks your socks...anyone have a top for this? I cant find spats/gaiters online anywhere (that I would wear!)

uberwolf

what constitutes good wet gear?

I have a bog standard rain coat, which I always feel is impeding movement (not always a bad thing with my swing!)

soundsham

bought galvin green raingear about 2and1/2 years ago

have to say its bulletproof

expensive outlay but i reckon it'll last 10yrs

Myksyk

... yeah galvin green ... you can use it to scuba dive in when you're not golfing,

yeah_ok

playing in the rain is never something i enjoy a whole lot but i think i played reasonably well the last time it was lashing on the course.

is it worth paying the big bucks for the likes of galvin green? i only have cheapish waterproofs but they seem to do the job

soundsham

as the ad says
BECAUSE YOUR WORTH IT ....................:D

if you play on any team stuff or if your willing to stay out in the rough weather in competition,you better have the gear to take the rain
have had the cheap stuff.......doesnt work
honestly i got 2 of my mates to shell out for the full set and a 3rd bought the top after me & they have no regrets either
save up the vouchers or ask for presents of vouchers when you can and it'll take the sting out of the big spends.....thats what i do anyway

OldGoat

I hate the rain, I loath and detest it.
The problem is that I wear glasses. I have to dry my glasses before each and every shot and even then I still have to rely on my playing partners to spot the ball for me.
I've gotten to the stage where I won't play/pay if it's raining when I get to the course. If it starts to rain during the round I just grin and bear it and hope that I have enough golfballs in my bag to see me round the rest of the course.

OilBeefHooked2

OldGoat wrote: »

I hate the rain, I loath and detest it.
The problem is that I wear glasses. I have to dry my glasses before each and every shot and even then I still have to rely on my playing partners to spot the ball for me.
I've gotten to the stage where I won't play/pay if it's raining when I get to the course. If it starts to rain during the round I just grin and bear it and hope that I have enough golfballs in my bag to see me round the rest of the course.

Contacts ftw imo.

OldGoat

david-k wrote: »

Contacts ftw imo.

Sadly contacts are not an option, nor is laser.

Mister Sifter

OldGoat wrote: »

Sadly contacts are not an option, nor is laser.

My old man is in the same boat. The only way he can get by is by wearing a cap in the rain. Even then it's not ideal but it lets him play.

1stuey1

the only probelm i have is the grip i have with my glove if it rains my hand just slips! can you get some sort of all weather gloves?

Mister Sifter

1stuey1 wrote: »

the only probelm i have is the grip i have with my glove if it rains my hand just slips! can you get some sort of all weather gloves?

Stuey, you can pick up something like these for about 20 euro.

http://www.discountgolfstore.co.uk/1914/Callaway-Rain-Series-Pair-of-Rain-Gloves.html

I've never used them myself, tend to just go with an all weather footjoy in the wet, but i've seen a few folks wearing them. Failing that, pinch your missus' pink marigolds!

ShriekingSheet

1stuey1 wrote: »

the only probelm i have is the grip i have with my glove if it rains my hand just slips! can you get some sort of all weather gloves?

You can get gloves for the rain but it's likely that the grips on your clubs are more the problem. You said before you have an old set - this is one of the disadvantages. Not so much due to the grips being old but certain types of grips are better in the rain. Other older types like the stripey Ping ones can be nearly unplayable when they're wet.

Also pay attention how your grips are getting wet and how you can prevent it.

Myksyk

Hate, hate, hate the rain. Have used MacWets (gloves) and they are good but they only solve the grip problem ... not so good for the more fundamental problem of the undeniable, depression-invoking crapness of playing golf while wet, cold and 20 over!

GreeBo

Great raingear is an essential if you plan on playing in the rain.
It can be defined as "that which keeps you dry, both from rain coming in and sweat going out"
I find the tighter/more fitted the jacket is the better to play in, I used to go for the big and loose but it just gets in the way.

Cheaper stuff can appear grand, but you will probbaly still need to change afterwards and will feel too hot. They are heavier and sweat like a goodthing. Also they are probably only a 1 year job. Expensive stuff last much longer and is guaranteed.

100% goretex for me, GG top, Callaway bottoms and Ecco shoes. Bone dry. I highly recommend the ecco gore-tex shoes. I bought two pairs they are so good and there is nothing worse than wet feet.

I disagree with "you will get wet no matter what so dont bother"
I *never* get wet in the above gear, socks to neck are perfectly dry and comfortable.

Definitely get the rain gloves, they are fantastic and much better than the all weather versions. I got a callaway pair and they are excellent. cant be used when dry at all though, so be warned. (They are suede)

For glasses you can get a rain visor, looks a bit gimpey but if its pissing rain then who really cars. Other than that get a big peaked hat.

Finally, if you carry your bag then there is far more chance of your gear letting in as the strap will force the water in. Try to use a trolley in rain.
If you are using a trolly, get a bag cover! The ones that cover the heads are useless..the heads dont matter its the grips that are getting soaked down the bottom that matter!

Enjoy your next game...if the snow ever clears!

ShriekingSheet

I've never minded playing in the rain. It can be expensive to get the right gear, as Soundsham said, but the right gear can really make a big difference. But aside from that, there are some easy things you can do, that many people (especially those who complain about the rain) don't do. These things pretty much cost you nothing.

- Basics
You can spend as much or as little as you like but if you want to play in the rain, you need a jacket, bottoms, an umbrella, golf shoes and I find a peaked cap is good to sheild your eyes/face and makes you that bit more comfortable.

- Never take your gear out
We play in Ireland. Rain happens a lot, even on nice days you might get a shower. Regardless of what gear you have, keep it in the bag for any important round. Maybe, if you carry your bag, leave the umbrella if the forcast is for 100% clear skies but otherwise, removing raingear is a dodgyy habbit to get into - even to reduce the chances of you forgetting to put it back in for the next cloudy day.

- Bag
I bought a tour size leather bag some years ago. I always preferred to carry my bag but having thought about it, on bad days, I can fit more gear into my big bag, and when fully zipped up with the hood on, it's like a fortress. Carry-bags and some other trolley bags are made of lighter fabric and get much wetter. Carrying a wet material bag like a Ping Hoofer can soak yer a*se. Wihtout worry about adding weight, I can take an extra jacket or an extra towel and keep it in under the hood, on top of the irons which helps keep the clubs dry as well as being handy to rub my hands with before a shot and the grip of the club afterwards.

- Gloves
There are some really decent wet weather gloves. Personally, I use the same glove all year round. When it rains, I just have 3 or 4 in the bag and take it off as often as possible and store it in the back pocket of my rain bottoms.

- Grips
There are some really grippy grips such as Golf Pride Full Chord, but these aren't as "nice" in dry conditions. I use Golf Pride Tour Velvet which come as standard on many clubs, or if you're having them put on, they are usually among the cheapest. They have no chord on them, just plain black with either Golf Pride or the club manufacture name ahead of where your lower thumb goes. When really wet, these might not be as good as full chord grips but as per the above, I don't let much rain get in my bag and always have a dry towel handy so they never really get all that wet.


Anyway, having a spare dry towel, extra golves, having the head cover on your bag and being careful in not leaving it open costs you pretty much nothing. The other stuff, well it's up to you. The great thing is, if you can get used to functioning well in the rain, you know you'll have an advantage over all those who dread it.

GreeBo

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

- Bag
I bought a tour size leather bag some years ago. I always preferred to carry my bag but having thought about it, on bad days, I can fit more gear into my big bag, and when fully zipped up with the hood on, it's like a fortress.

+1 for this.
When I stopped carrying my bag I went straight to an electric caddy car and just bought myself a powa kaddy deluxe bag. I can pretty climb into this sucker and it holds everything I could possibly need, all my wetgear, bag covers, sleeveless tops, extra jumper, a million gloves, hats everything.

Once I decided I wasnt going to carry, it made little sense for me to drag a trolley (that and I had a crap load of credit to get rid off in the pro shop )

Having this big bag means never having to choose what wet gear to bring..of it I need an umbrella...its all always there. Vital for Irish summers.

madds

GreeBo wrote: »

100% goretex for me, GG top, Callaway bottoms and Ecco shoes. Bone dry. I highly recommend the ecco gore-tex shoes. I bought two pairs they are so good and there is nothing worse than wet feet.

Anyone know the cheapest stockist of Galvin Green gear, be it North or South?

f22

Online from the UK is your best bet for GG, although it won't be cheap.

Try www.golfalot.com and use their price comparison section.

soundsham

GreeBo wrote: »

Great raingear is an essential if you plan on playing in the rain.
It can be defined as "that which keeps you dry, both from rain coming in and sweat going out"
I find the tighter/more fitted the jacket is the better to play in, I used to go for the big and loose but it just gets in the way.

Cheaper stuff can appear grand, but you will probbaly still need to change afterwards and will feel too hot. They are heavier and sweat like a goodthing. Also they are probably only a 1 year job. Expensive stuff last much longer and is guaranteed.

100% goretex for me, GG top, Callaway bottoms and Ecco shoes. Bone dry. I highly recommend the ecco gore-tex shoes. I bought two pairs they are so good and there is nothing worse than wet feet.

I disagree with "you will get wet no matter what so dont bother"
I *never* get wet in the above gear, socks to neck are perfectly dry and comfortable.

Definitely get the rain gloves, they are fantastic and much better than the all weather versions. I got a callaway pair and they are excellent. cant be used when dry at all though, so be warned. (They are suede)

For glasses you can get a rain visor, looks a bit gimpey but if its pissing rain then who really cars. Other than that get a big peaked hat.

Finally, if you carry your bag then there is far more chance of your gear letting in as the strap will force the water in. Try to use a trolley in rain.
If you are using a trolly, get a bag cover! The ones that cover the heads are useless..the heads dont matter its the grips that are getting soaked down the bottom that matter!

Enjoy your next game...if the snow ever clears!

while ecco shoes are great(I had a pair last winter) they weigh a tonne compared to some other models out there
100% waterproof fairly comfortable but heavy old yokes

GreeBo

soundsham wrote: »

while ecco shoes are great(I had a pair last winter) they weigh a tonne compared to some other models out there
100% waterproof fairly comfortable but heavy old yokes

This is a good point, Ive compared them to a pair of Adidas ones my dad has and his feel like paper compared to mine. That said, his are as waterproof as paper is, now that the 1 year warranty is up. They are still much lighter than any of the all leather dry joys he has though! (not that you can wear all leather golf shoes in Ireland unless you play on a links )

george67

One thing that still kills me is when you bend down the bottom of your wetgear soaks your socks...anyone have a top for this? I cant find spats/gaiters online anywhere (that I would wear!)[/quote]

i bought myself a pair of allweather trousers , lined waterproof to 3000 breathable to 3000 (whatever that means) they are fitted pockets fly belt etc so no overtrousers great for winter I liked them so much that i bought another pair with more waterproofing 5000 but not as heavy lining better for warmer wetter days

GreeBo

But do these trousers still not rise up when you bend over to mark your ball etc?
The only way to avoid this is to get them over long..but then you end up walking on them and they get destroyed....

soundsham

GreeBo wrote: »

This is a good point, Ive compared them to a pair of Adidas ones my dad has and his feel like paper compared to mine. That said, his are as waterproof as paper is, now that the 1 year warranty is up. They are still much lighter than any of the all leather dry joys he has though! (not that you can wear all leather golf shoes in Ireland unless you play on a links )

maybe but many other footjoy types such as aqualites and footjoy lt's if you can still get em are way lighter as are most nike and adidas as you noted yourself
so no need for the hob nailed:eek: ecco's
only kiddin nice shoes but too heavy for me
also cant figure out your problem with the raingear pants

when you buy one try it on in the shop and the bottom of the trousers should rest on your shoes but not touch the floor simple as that
(or 1 inch longer than a normal pants approx)
anything shorter and water pours into your shoe
anything longer and you trapse it along the ground picking up muck and water

george67

GreeBo wrote: »

But do these trousers still not rise up when you bend over to mark your ball etc?
The only way to avoid this is to get them over long..but then you end up walking on them and they get destroyed....

no because you're not wearing 2 pairs pants you don't get the riding up / falling down crap
they're lined so sit on you're shoe more solidly so don't get caught under shoe also have an inner ankle "cuff" at end of lining keeps leg solid
a great wind break as well if your legs are warm the rest will be too

WHIP IT!

One of the best golf purchases I ever made was a pair of skintight skiing leggings for €12 in Lidl! Stick em on, waterproof trousers over. Snug as a bug. Served me well for the last two winters. :cool:

soundsham

+1

bang on got em in m&s this oct..........worn twice:(

will be wearing em to work soon the way the weather is

george67

Won't need courses all closed I'm depressed and it started to snow again

Myksyk

Yep, anytime I've been out this winter I've worn skin tight running leggings and a canterbury skin tight cold base layer; then stick on your other layers plus a comfy hat - snug, bug, rug!

OldGoat

george67 wrote: »

One thing that still kills me is when you bend down the bottom of your wetgear soaks your socks...anyone have a top for this? I cant find spats/gaiters online anywhere (that I would wear)

I got myself a set of gaiters in Millets in the UK a couple of years ago and they stocked a range of them so I'm sure there would have been something to suit you sir. They sell online too.
I have also seen then a little closer to home, in Dublin in the 'Army Bargain' shop just off Capel Street and I'm sure that you could probably find some in 'The Great Outdoors' on Liffy Street.

G1032

uberwolf wrote: »

what constitutes good wet gear?

I have a bog standard rain coat, which I always feel is impeding movement (not always a bad thing with my swing!)

Got ProQuip Silk Touch rain gear about a year ago. Never lets in drop of rain. Got it from www.onlinegolf.co.uk

Spoke to someone a few days ago who has a Galvin Green suit. Has had to bring it back TWICE because the bottoms leaked. Not good enough for the money that costs.

george67

ronaldochokes wrote: »

Got ProQuip Silk Touch rain gear about a year ago. Never lets in drop of rain. Got it from www.onlinegolf.co.uk

Spoke to someone a few days ago who has a Galvin Green suit. Has had to bring it back TWICE because the bottoms leaked. Not good enough for the money that costs.

have proquip myself on second jacket had first for 10 years never let in any rain and i used to carry my bag so wet would be squeased in by straps with lesser jackets .
replaced it with a longer jacket one that comes down past your pockets
my brother still wears original jacket

SEORG

I invested in the Mizuno Impermalite rain gear last year. I have to say that it is very lightweight and fits well. I carry my bag and not a drop of water has gotten through.

I have even worn it when out for long walks in the rain and it is well ventilated.

GreeBo

soundsham wrote: »

also cant figure out your problem with the raingear pants

when you buy one try it on in the shop and the bottom of the trousers should rest on your shoes but not touch the floor simple as that
(or 1 inch longer than a normal pants approx)
anything shorter and water pours into your shoe
anything longer and you trapse it along the ground picking up muck and water

I'll try again.
Wearing any pair of trousers (rain gear or regular) when you hunker down to read a putt etc your trousers will rise up as they get pulled up from your knees and hips...try it now if you dont believe me!

The problem is not that the trousers are too short (they are just as you described lengthwise) and not that they catch on the inner trousers, just that when you hunker down they get pulled up above the back of your shoe and will sit against your sock.

Maybe I should just stop reading putts in the rain!

george67

GreeBo wrote: »

I'll try again.
Wearing any pair of trousers (rain gear or regular) when you hunker down to read a putt etc your trousers will rise up as they get pulled up from your knees and hips...try it now if you dont believe me!

The problem is not that the trousers are too short (they are just as you described lengthwise) and not that they catch on the inner trousers, just that when you hunker down they get pulled up above the back of your shoe and will sit against your sock.

Maybe I should just stop reading putts in the rain!

you might have to learn the crab like camillo villegas , might frighten rain away

GreeBo

I actually tried that (at home alone of course!)
and it is possible for mere mortals to get down like that....getting up is a different story!

Myksyk

GreeBo ... Galvin Green are the way to go. The rain doesn't soak into the pants (runs off like mercury off a slanted table) so they're never wet enough to drench your socks.

GreeBo

Thanks but my Callaways are the same material as my GG top, as you say the water just sheets off...but when your sock is exposed (as it is when you are bent down) it sheets off into your sock!

soundsham

whatever bout that guy going back twice

i wouldn't go past galvin green

G1032

GreeBo wrote: »

Thanks but my Callaways are the same material as my GG top, as you say the water just sheets off...but when your sock is exposed (as it is when you are bent down) it sheets off into your sock!

GreeBo, Would you be willing to try wearing hiking gaiters??

Link here:
http://www.goski.com/gear/product/Outdoor_Research_Rocky_Mountain_High_Gaiter_Packcloth.html

These will cover the lower leg and the top of the shoe. No water or muck will get on socks...............

GreeBo

yeah Ive looked as them...but they are a bit unwieldy...I used to have a pair that were just for the ankle for cycling...but again...they were a bit "hard-core" for the golf course.

I found one website that does sell spats for this purpose but I cant seem to find them anymore...they probably went out of business

Gap in the market, Dragons Den, here I come!

ShriekingSheet

GreeBo wrote: »

yeah Ive looked as them...but they are a bit unwieldy...I used to have a pair that were just for the ankle for cycling...but again...they were a bit "hard-core" for the golf course.

I found one website that does sell spats for this purpose but I cant seem to find them anymore...they probably went out of business

Gap in the market, Dragons Den, here I come!

Sounds to me like your bottoms are just too short. I'm a tall guy and I still find I can get bottoms that sit low enough (but not under my heel) to do what your describing.

Also, do you have the zips on the inside of the ankle? I always leave them open a bit so the ends flare a bit. Maybe it's part of the reason mine don't come up as much.
...plus it looks cooler :cool:

Myksyk

GreeBo .... Your options are waning. I think the only remaining alternatives are:

1. Get Waterproof socks.
2. Get extra long pants and turn up the bottoms.
3. Enroll in a therapy course to desensitize yourself. A little sock wetness is inevitable.
4. Stop playing in the rain!

Mister Sifter

Greebo, give these babies a bash... they should act like an umbrella for your socks...

GreeBo

Do they come in pink?
It would be cool if they could match my glove and my belt:pac:

george67

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Greebo, give these babies a bash... they should act like an umbrella for your socks...

nice one graeme , I lol'd a lot:D:D:D:D:D

soundsham

Myksyk wrote: »

GreeBo .... Your options are waning. I think the only remaining alternatives are:

1. Get Waterproof socks.
2. Get extra long pants and turn up the bottoms.
3. Enroll in a therapy course to desensitize yourself. A little sock wetness is inevitable.
4. Stop playing in the rain!

just to add another
5. Make a hole in your shoe to let the water pour out