Fair-Weather Golfer

FixdePitchmark

Got to the course at 8pm and the rain had kept the summer gang at home.

I've been a fair weather fairy for most of my golfing life. I looked up at dry light filled clubhouse and said to myself "am I off my head here".

Went out the back so nobody could see the head case on first (lol) , seen 7 on the course when it would be well over 50 most nice nights with play backed up.

Was very wet for 3 then dry for last 6, was last on course and amazing the place in fading light with rough sea as the sound.

6 pars and some great golf. This mad game. Sorry for long intro again.

Are you an all weather man ?
Does it make you a good golfer ?
Would you ever just go to bar or home above?

JOSman

Same with myself tonight. Played some really good stuff. Good night was had by all. Still don't like playing in the rain but showers are okay.:D

charlieIRL

Rain / wind doesn't bother me at all when I'm playing unless its lashing down and flooding the course.

spacecoyote

Wouldn't let the weather get in the way of a round of golf...a stormy wife on the other hand...

Wichita Lineman

I'd play in all weathers. Much prefer it to be dry and sunny obviously. Would not go to bar / home unless course closed due to being unplayable.

Arsenium

No major problem with rain. It's almost a kind of homely feeling with the feel of the rain and the sound of the wet gear etc. Unless it's torrential and you are soaked. Glove (s) included. No fun if you can't grip the club.

Wind is different. I don't enjoy high winds. I am improving in that regard but I just can't enjoy it.

If I drive to the course though it would take truly awful conditions to stop me playing a few holes at least.

slave1

Previously I would go out whatever the weather, now with a family I prefer to avoid my time on the course in the wet and arrange around the weather, don't want to ruin a "pass" with rain all the way around.

realgolfgeek

I tolerate it, certainly don't enjoy it.

Would much prefer high winds to heavy rain any day.

Dr_Colossus

Played a few holes last night and it wasn't pleasant, light enough rain but enough to soak you and your clubs in a short period of time. Wasn't enjoying the 5 holes I played so came off the course and hit the practice range instead. Course was reasonably busy though which I was surprised with given the conditions.
In terms of inclement conditions in general I've never cut short a competitive round by walking in and I've played in some real shockers over the past couple of years. Once I'm set to play nothing bar the course being closed will stop me but that's not to say I enjoy the weather, it stinks to the most part but better than spending the day looking out at it.

Nemesis

I was also out in the rain on the golf course last night running junior golf.

The kids didn't mind one bit

Keano

A small bit of rain yes but if it persists and gets heavier I'm out! Golf is meant to be enjoyed!

DuckSlice

ive shot my best ever round in the wind/rain, a 79! i only not play if its heavy rain, or the wind is so bad u cant tee the ball up!

slave1

Needs to be said that there's been serious improvement in rain gear over the years, I have a Galvin Green top and Mizino trousers that are water tight even in the worst conditions, pair if "rainjoy" gloves that have amazing grip in the wet too, without this stuff it would a different ball game!

alxmorgan

slave1 wrote: »

Needs to be said that there's been serious improvement in rain gear over the years, I have a Galvin Green top and Mizino trousers that are water tight even in the worst conditions, pair if "rainjoy" gloves that have amazing grip in the wet too, without this stuff it would a different ball game!

+1 on this. Got soaked in that really heavy mist last night and dry as a bone inside gore-tex jacket.

TheDoc

Well I think we all know my stance on this now

If its drizzle thats fine, if it's proper rain I'm out, so I'm most probably a fair weather golfer. If it's something important like a team match, a matchplay or an event outside of my club I'd attend no major problems, might not overly enjoy it, but hopefully focus on the golf distracts me.

Got me thinking about that other thread yesterday actually.

Was driving down the motorway and I had my whipers on at full speed, wondering was I really a "whimp" for not wanting to play golf in those conditions

For Paws

Fix, why didn't you title this thread
'How badly are you addicted ?'

I've always been a 52 weeks a year man. It would have to really bad before I'd consider not playing.

Once played Ballyconneely in wind & rain so fierce you had to aim at 60 degrees away from you target & then watch your ball describe an arc back towards the green.

Anatom

I don't like teeing off on the first, i.e. beginning a round, in the pouring rain, but I don't mind it at all once I've started if that makes sense. Once I'm out there, it doesn't really matter what the weather's like unless its absolutely torrential rain, in which case I'll stop, light a cigar under the brolly and let the shower pass - a true Hamlet moment.

It doesn't effect my performance either. I'm equally rubbish in the dry or the rain...

GreeBo

Anatom wrote: »

its absolutely torrential rain, in which case I'll stop, light a cigar under the brolly and let the shower pass

Not during a competition I hope! :eek:

If its open, I play.

Anatom

GreeBo wrote: »

Not during a competition I hope! :eek:

If its open, I play.

I can safely say that its highly unlikely I'll be picked by my club for ANY competition - at all - so, there's no danger there!!

(I'm not including the usual Sunday morning club competition in there obviously!)

Looking forward to playing tomorrow evening in a society outing. The weather's not looking too bad either. Even if it is, well, I'll have a supply of relaxant ready and waiting...!!

GreeBo

Anatom wrote: »

I can safely say that its highly unlikely I'll be picked by my club for ANY competition - at all - so, there's no danger there!!

(I'm not including the usual Sunday morning club competition in there obviously!)

Looking forward to playing tomorrow evening in a society outing. The weather's not looking too bad either. Even if it is, well, I'll have a supply of relaxant ready and waiting...!!

You cant shelter at all though, in any type of comp!

Forecast is bad here this weekend

Anatom

GreeBo wrote: »

You cant shelter at all though, in any type of comp!

I honestly didn't know that. Are you saying that you can't take shelter from a heavy shower, even under an umbrella??! I wasn't talking about running to the nearest building...

Earlier on in the year, there were definitely instances when everyone on the course would have taken shelter under the nearest trees etc. while the wind blew bags (and possibly people) over...

Arsenium

GreeBo wrote: »

You cant shelter at all though, in any type of comp!

Forecast is bad here this weekend

This is interesting. We had a society outing recently. The First group out included the captain of the society. They teed off, looked around to see a massive rain cloud approaching and said we'll head in until that passes. It took about 10 mins of very heavy rain and away they went again. Someone actually mentioned that they were not allowed do that.

I know it was a society so it was a different set of rules but should there be a penalty for that?

OilBeefHooked2

Arsenium wrote: »

This is interesting. We had a society outing recently. The First group out included the captain of the society. They teed off, looked around to see a massive rain cloud approaching and said we'll head in until that passes. It took about 10 mins of very heavy rain and away they went again. Someone actually mentioned that they were not allowed do that.

I know it was a society so it was a different set of rules but should there be a penalty for that?

Not a problem with that really, iirc the wording is something along the lines of "you can't unduly delay play" and the penalty is DQ but only by the committee, so it must first be reported and then investigated fully, in my experience I have never heard of it happening and common sense would say it is not intended for people taking shelter from weather conditions.

alxmorgan

david-k wrote: »

Not a problem with that really, iirc the wording is something along the lines of "you can't unduly delay play" and the penalty is DQ but only by the committee, so it must first be reported and then investigated fully, in my experience I have never heard of it happening and common sense would say it is not intended for people taking shelter from weather conditions.

I wasn't taking shelter boss, we all spent 5 minutes looking for my ball as we thought it was stuck under that tree there.....middle of the fairway you say ?

For Paws

Arsenium wrote: »

This is interesting. We had a society outing recently. The First group out included the captain of the society. They teed off, looked around to see a massive rain cloud approaching and said we'll head in until that passes. It took about 10 mins of very heavy rain and away they went again. Someone actually mentioned that they were not allowed do that.

I know it was a society so it was a different set of rules but should there be a penalty for that?

What Society was that ?
The Sunnysiders ?
The Factor Tens ?
The Dry Joys ?
Maybe TheDoc would be interested in joining up.

GreeBo

david-k wrote: »

Not a problem with that really, iirc the wording is something along the lines of "you can't unduly delay play" and the penalty is DQ but only by the committee, so it must first be reported and then investigated fully, in my experience I have never heard of it happening and common sense would say it is not intended for people taking shelter from weather conditions.

From RANDA:

Bad weather is not of itself a good reason for discontinuing play.
If the player discontinues play without specific permission from the Committee, he must report to the Committee as soon as practicable. If he does so and the Committee considers his reason satisfactory, there is no penalty. Otherwise, the player is disqualified.

Arsenium

For Paws wrote: »

What Society was that ?
The Sunnysiders ?
The Factor Tens ?
The Dry Joys ?
Maybe TheDoc would be interested in joining up.

To be fair they were the first group out and we had time to spare on the timesheet due to cancellations etc. So instead of getting drenched before playing the full 18 they decided to take shelter after playing their first shots and then went on once the rain was cleared.

Perfectly reasonable in that situation but I just wondered what the story is in a real / official golf competition.

FixdePitchmark

Not in my windiest wettest wildest wet dreams could i have seen a fight out of this one.
Ive been burnt again when it is just hot air.
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind when driving home for Christmas.

As golfers we need to chill , Bob Marley and a hamlet required by all .

Domo86

For Paws wrote: »

What Society was that ?
The Sunnysiders ?
The Factor Tens ?
The Dry Joys ?
Maybe TheDoc would be interested in joining up.

From a society point of view The Doc usually goes out with The 'Grooveless Wedges' as far as I know :rolleyes:

For Paws

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Not in my windiest wettest wildest wet dreams could i have seen a fight out of this one.
Ive been burnt again when it is just hot air.
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind when driving home for Christmas.

As golfers we need to chill , Bob Marley and a hamlet required by all .

'Bob Marley' ??
I always thought the Hamlet music was Bach.
Would you dream 4ball include Bob Seeger then ?

FixdePitchmark

For Paws wrote: »

'Bob Marley' ??
I always thought the Hamlet music was Bach.
Would you dream 4ball include Bob Seeger then ?

Knew that - but on the Bob lately.

brianclown

GreeBo

Arsenium wrote: »

Perfectly reasonable in that situation but I just wondered what the story is in a real / official golf competition.

A big DQ I'm afraid.

Miley Byrne

GreeBo wrote: »

You cant shelter at all though, in any type of comp!

Forecast is bad here this weekend

Thats mad Ted. Not allowed shelter at all? Why do fellas carry umbrellas on their bags so? And are they breaking the rules by putting them up after they tee off?

PARlance

For Paws wrote: »

'Bob Marley' ??
I always thought the Hamlet music was Bach.
Would you dream 4ball include Bob Seeger then ?

I was looking at it the other way, a hamlet wouldn't have been Bobs first choice

Dr_Colossus

Pissing rain here again this evening, just finished work and was due to play a few holes practice but not too keen to get a soaking two evenings running. It's tough when the only time you have to play it spends raining and it's fine the rest of the time.

Russman

GreeBo wrote: »

A big DQ I'm afraid.

I wonder has that ever been applied in "real life" ? (genuinely)

I'd say its a fairly common situation, where guys shelter for a few minutes on a tee box etc. I can certainly remember one situation last year, it might even have been the Capts Prize ('twas something big anyway) where there was a horrendous downpour and basically the entire field took shelter for probably 10-15 mins. I say entire field as it was a shotgun start so everyone was on course at the same time !

Ilik Urgee

I've been on course mid-comp where all it's taken is for one group to stand in from a shower for the neigbouring few holes to stand in too.

All it takes is one, the herd will follow if it's torrential enough. If it's not the herd start baying and the instigators come back out!

OilBeefHooked2

GreeBo wrote: »

A big DQ I'm afraid.

That's a very strict interpretation, are they queuing up to play with you when it's pissing it down?.

Arsenium

I was thinking of this thread last night as it began raining on the walk to my second shot on the first hole...and stayed raining for the rest of the round.

It wasnt bad enough to make it unenjoyable, as I said before playing in the rain almost feels natural in Ireland. I did realise though that I need a new glove or two...or maybe even three new ones. As the gloves get soaked that's when it becomes a pain in the ass for me. Worrying about the club slipping mid swing. No fun.

Side question...how many gloves do guys bring in the bag? I always used to have one but I got a terrible soaking earlier in the year and rooted in the bag and found two old gloves that I had discarded. By the end of the round, all 3 had been used..and duly soaked.

Miley Byrne

Arsenium wrote: »

I was thinking of this thread last night as it began raining on the walk to my second shot on the first hole...and stayed raining for the rest of the round.

It wasnt bad enough to make it unenjoyable, as I said before playing in the rain almost feels natural in Ireland. I did realise though that I need a new glove or two...or maybe even three new ones. As the gloves get soaked that's when it becomes a pain in the ass for me. Worrying about the club slipping mid swing. No fun.

Side question...how many gloves do guys bring in the bag? I always used to have one but I got a terrible soaking earlier in the year and rooted in the bag and found two old gloves that I had discarded. By the end of the round, all 3 had been used..and duly soaked.

Good point. I don't mind the getting wet part of it. It's the club slipping that is the worst part. I would have my current glove in the bag, but I also have 5 or six old gloves in a jiffy bag packed away in the bag aswell just in case. And of course a pair of the McWets are in there somewhere too!!

Anatom

I always seem to have two gloves in the bag. Not sure that I have ever switched over from a wet one during a round though. I just plough on (sometimes literally when its wet!!) with the round.

Looking forward to this evening though and the weather forecast is for it to clear this afternoon...

GreeBo

denisoc16 wrote: »

Thats mad Ted. Not allowed shelter at all? Why do fellas carry umbrellas on their bags so? And are they breaking the rules by putting them up after they tee off?

You cant take shelter, i.e. stop play just to avoid "weather".
Using an umbrella doesnt interfere with play.

david-k wrote: »

That's a very strict interpretation, are they queuing up to play with you when it's pissing it down?.

I dont see how its an interpretation? The rule says that bad weather is not a good enough reason to delay play...what other meaning could there be?

Arsenium wrote: »

Side question...how many gloves do guys bring in the bag? I always used to have one but I got a terrible soaking earlier in the year and rooted in the bag and found two old gloves that I had discarded. By the end of the round, all 3 had been used..and duly soaked.

I have my "good" glove and then usually 1 or 2 older ones in the bag.
I also have a pair of rain gloves, if it looks like its down for a while I just put on the rain gloves, if its a shower I will protect the good one and use an old one, other than that I just use the main one.

FixdePitchmark

Lads i've rain gear in the 100 to 200 euro range, not great imo.

Is the top of the range stuff worth it, i play at least 2 times a week every week ? Top of the range looks 300 euro +.

Miley Byrne

GreeBo wrote: »

You cant take shelter, i.e. stop play just to avoid "weather".
Using an umbrella doesnt interfere with play.



I dont see how its an interpretation? The rule says that bad weather is not a good enough reason to delay play...what other meaning could there be?



I have my "good" glove and then usually 1 or 2 older ones in the bag.
I also have a pair of rain gloves, if it looks like its down for a while I just put on the rain gloves, if its a shower I will protect the good one and use an old one, other than that I just use the main one.

So if was a torrential downpour and the couple of groups ahead of you had stood under a tree for shelter for say, 3-4 minutes. Would you approach them and tell them that they are DQd. I'd be minding my own business and finding a tree of my own to stand under.

Anatom

denisoc16 wrote: »

So if was a torrential downpour and the couple of groups ahead of you had stood under a tree for shelter for say, 3-4 minutes. Would you approach them and tell them that they are DQd. I'd be minding my own business and finding a tree of my own to stand under.

That's what I meant really by taking shelter, but it seems to be against the rules...

GreeBo

denisoc16 wrote: »

So if was a torrential downpour and the couple of groups ahead of you had stood under a tree for shelter for say, 3-4 minutes. Would you approach them and tell them that they are DQd. I'd be minding my own business and finding a tree of my own to stand under.

Its not my place to inform them. They have to inform the committee and explain why they sheltered.

/edit to say that I'd be playing through as I wouldnt be sheltering

Serious question:
Do you mind your own business about all rule infringements or just the ones you dont agree with?

Russman

GreeBo wrote: »

Do you mind your own business about all rule infringements or just the ones you dont agree with?

Ahh Greebo, c'mon, that was toooo predictable :)

d2ww

I would be very much a fair weather green fee golfer, and most years would get in about 30 rounds. This year I've played 3 so far. I can only guess that green fee revenue for the clubs must be really poor to date.

Russman

d2ww wrote: »

I would be very much a fair weather green fee golfer, and most years would get in about 30 rounds. This year I've played 3 so far. I can only guess that green fee revenue for the clubs must be really poor to date.

That's a very good point, I'd love to know how clubs' green fee income so far this year is bearing up compared to their budgets, I'd say a lot of clubs could be under unexpected-ish pressure.

I also saw an article yesterday about the price drops on new equipment and how they're a few month earlier than normal this year. It seems the endless winter/terrible spring had a huge impact on sales.

GreeBo

Russman wrote: »

Ahh Greebo, c'mon, that was toooo predictable :)

Predictable : Yes
Obvious : Also Yes!