Alright, so the sky opened up this morning. Proper downpour. Most sensible folks would probably roll over and go back to sleep, or find something dry to do. But me? The tee time was booked, and I figured, well, why not? Golfing in the rain, it’s an experience, right?
Getting Ready for the Soak
So, I started getting my gear together. First, I grabbed my clubs, usual stuff. Then it hit me – rain. Right. Had to dig out my waterproofs. Thank goodness I invested in a decent set a while back. I remember one time, years ago, got caught in a sudden shower with just a flimsy windbreaker. Miserable, absolutely miserable. Spent more time shivering than swinging.
I knew my grip would be a problem. Everything gets slick. So, I made a mental note: loosen up that death grip. A softer hold, yeah, that’s what’s needed. And a slower swing. No point trying to smash the ball when you can barely stand without slipping. I also stuffed about five extra towels into my bag. You can never, ever have too many towels when it’s wet. One for the grips, one for my hands, one for my face, you get the idea.
Out on the Course
Got to the course, and surprise, surprise, it was pretty empty. Just a few other mad lads like myself. The fairways already looked a bit like a swamp in places. Water was pooling up. I thought, okay, this isn’t going to be about pinpoint accuracy today. The plan? Aim for the biggest part of the fairway. Keep it simple. Avoid those waterlogged spots if possible, though that was looking like a challenge.
My first few shots were… interesting. I really focused on that slower swing. The ball didn’t fly as far, obviously, but it mostly went where I was aiming. Small wins, eh? The thing about wet ground is it just kills any roll. The ball hits and pretty much plugs. So, all your distance has to come from the carry. That changes how you pick your clubs, for sure.
Here’s what I found:
- My hands, even with a rain glove, got wet. Had to dry my grip and hands before pretty much every shot. Super annoying.
- The ball spin was just… weird. Sometimes it felt like it had none, other times it would check up surprisingly. Not consistent at all.
- Lost a ball in what looked like casual water but was probably a small pond by then. That was frustrating.
- On the bright side, because the ball plugged, if you hit a decent shot onto the fairway, it stayed there. No unlucky bounces into the rough.
I actually started to hit some pretty solid shots after a while. I think being forced to slow down, not trying to murder the ball, actually helped my tempo. Funny how that works. It’s like my mate Dave, always trying to hit it a mile, rain or shine. He’d be a disaster out here today. He once tried to play in a hailstorm. Came back looking like he’d been in a fight with a woodpecker. Never learns, that one.
Why Bother, Right?
You know, some folks back at the clubhouse were probably thinking I was nuts. And maybe I am. But I’d already paid for the round, you know? It’s like that fancy streaming service you subscribe to. You pay for it, you might as well use it, even if the only thing on is some rubbish reality show. This is my rubbish reality show, I guess. Golf in the pouring rain.
I’ve heard people talk about using specific balls for wet conditions, like those Bridgestone ones or some Inesis Tour balls that are supposed to spin more, or less, or whatever. Me? I just fish out whatever’s in the side pocket of my bag. If it’s round and white (or yellow), it’ll do. Maybe I’m missing a trick, but honestly, another thing to buy and think about? Nah, I’m good.
The thing is, playing in conditions like this, it really makes you focus. You can’t just go through the motions. Every shot is a bit of a battle against the elements. And when you do hit a good one, it feels even better. There’s a certain satisfaction to it, battling the rain and still managing to get the ball around the course.
The Aftermath
Finished my round. I was soaked through, despite the waterproofs. Water always finds a way, doesn’t it? My shoes squelched with every step. But you know what? I wasn’t even mad. It was a proper challenge.
My score wasn’t anything to write home about, not by a long shot. But I played. I got out there. And I definitely confirmed a few things for myself: a softer grip and a slower, smoother swing are absolutely key. And aiming for those wider targets, not trying to be a hero, that definitely helps keep the big numbers off the scorecard. Or at least, slightly smaller big numbers.
Would I do it again? Yeah, probably. Golf’s golf. But next time, I’m definitely packing extra socks. My feet felt like they’d been swimming.
