The leaves on the trees are changing color, the sun’s rays are fighting against the clouds, it’s getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. As autumn approaches, the signs for our favorite hobby also change – autumn golf is coming! We explain what you should bear in mind.
Autumn golf – it’s all about the right clothing
No matter what time of day, it’s likely to be wet at Herbst Golf. In the morning, dew will cover the course, at midday and in the afternoon it could get muddy and at dusk the dew will return and fog could spread. Apart from that, it can start to rain at any time. To ensure that you are prepared for all eventualities, your footwear, pants, jackets and headgear must be right.
Starting with the shoes, the lightweight summer shoes, some of which are made of simple mesh uppers, should be replaced with a weatherproof pair. There is plenty of choice here. Whether traditional leather versions with soft spikes, modern sneakers with water-repellent textile or pure autumn golf shoes with a warm lining, there’s nothing that doesn’t exist.
Normal golf pants often soak up water at the hem when wet. Either specially developed rain pants or pull-on rain pants can help against this. Both have the same purpose: to keep you dry. While the pull-on rain pants are simply put on over the “normal” golf trousers in bad weather, special rain pants are developed for themselves. Waterproof pockets, a thicker lining against the cold and a water-repellent outer layer make these pants the perfect companion during inclement weather.
While in summer you should make sure your clothing is as breathable as possible, sweaters, jackets and windbreakers for autumn golf have to fulfill other tasks. Without functioning as their own sauna, they need to keep you warm but not make you sweat. Ideally, they should also be waterproof.
If your hands get cold quickly, you’ll be happy to have thick mittens or winter golf gloves. The latter are designed to be worn on both hands and simply left on between swings. The mittens offer a little more warmth, but have to be taken off for the swing, as you can’t grip a golf club correctly with them on.
Even the head has been taken into consideration, as rain-repellent caps or warm hats make playing golf in the fall easier.
Autumn golf – adjust your equipment correctly
But the game also changes with the conditions. The wetter the ground, the less balls roll out after landing. Golf balls also fly shorter when the air is cold and wet. The loss of length is exacerbated by the multiple layers of clothing you wear, as you don’t swing quite as fast as you would in summer with an airy polo shirt. So there’s no need to panic, worry or rush to the pro store because something is wrong with your clubs. Losing a few meters is completely normal.
However, you can also take advantage of this because it is easier to place the ball on the fairways from the tee box as the balls do not bounce. The wet ground is also noticeable when hitting into the green, as less roll on a drive on the fairway due to wetness also means that irons and wedges roll less after landing on the green. Target shooting is the order of the day.
From an equipment point of view, there are numerous changes that make playing in such conditions easier. Firstly, if possible, the carry length should be increased. The further the ball travels in the air, the better. Modern drivers, woods and hybrids can be adjusted at the hosel. 1°-2° more angle does not hurt in any case, the slightly higher spin and the higher flight curve allow a few extra meters in flight and make playing easier.
Those who rely on long irons in summer could possibly pack hybrids in their bag again. With the larger sole, they are more forgiving on wet ground and better at preventing “fat” hits. The flight/roll ratio of hybrids also tends to favor more flight compared to long irons, which also helps in wet conditions.
In the short game, wedges with a lot of bounce and thicker soles are better. They do not cut so directly into the ground and with the help of the bounce the wedges literally jump out of the ground again. This phenomenon is most noticeable in the bunker, but it also works on soft ground.
The greens are generally slower, duller and do not roll quite as evenly. Putters that are heavier have advantages over lighter models here. Professionals simply swap the weight inserts to increase the weight. All of these equipment adjustments were clearly visible at the Masters 2020, as it was played in the fall instead of April.
In the summer months when the green is lush, the sky is blue and visibility is clear, yellow, orange or light green golf balls are highly visible. For some, they offer a clear advantage in flight and when searching. In the fall, things are a little different. Here you should rather use the classic white balls, which are easier to recognize and find under these conditions.
You can also use little helpers to remove the unavoidable mud from the game ball and help you to make much better contact with the ball. In addition to the club towel, there are also pocket-sized golf ball cleaners that can be conveniently taken onto the green.
Autumn and winter rules
Winter greens, cart and trolley bans or tee recommendations – on many golf courses, playing in the fall or winter is the norm. If there is ground frost, you can’t get the tee into the ground properly. In some cases, plastic tees break off with almost every shot. Winter tees, which you can simply lay down, provide a remedy. The right length for driver, wood and irons should be available in different heights.
Be careful with trolleys! As some golf courses prohibit the use of trolleys in wet or muddy conditions to protect the fairways, you should take a look at the homepage before your start time to see what the current status is in this matter. Lightweight pencil bags are ideal for carrying, but also offer less space for clubs and other items.