What is the coldest weather you have played in? At what point are you crazy for going out and playing?

I play regularly as long as it's at or above 0C. I can't recall ever playing when it was any colder.

No problem if it is 40*F or above. Below, I have to be talked into it.

It all depends on the wind. If there's little or no wind, I'll play in anything above 35 or so.

But if it's windy...45º is as low as I'll go.

Depends on wind and sun. I will go out in 40 and sunny no problems. But 40 and cloudy, that is cutting it close. Add wind to the clouds and forget about it.

Same here with the wind. That is really the driving force. I am good with 40* plus with no wind.

I played once with my dad when is was around 30. The first two holes were silly... completely frozen greens. It was like hitting into cement.

Not even remotely fun.

I've played in snow with an Orange ball at Panshanger Golf Course in Hertfordshire UK (guy didn't even discount the green fee )...
This being said... I don't think I'd do it again..
You're crazy when you play golf naked... LMAO...

I played in December in Northern Wisconsin. It was a freak year and we didn't have any snow. The course was marked off for the snowmobile trails and there were still cups cut in the local muni by my parents place. The day we played it was in the upper twenties and yes the ground was frozen...funny to say we played, but dumb idea.

Well, I just got back in from a quick 9 now, and the moisture from the fairways actually froze on my blades face....

But hey, I wanted to try out the new set of blades one time outside on a real course before I started the indoor season.... Gues it was the last one outside this season if the temp does not pick up a little again before the snow comes around calling for other outdoor activities....

Must have been just around 0C/32F...freezing my A%¤ off, but it was worth it!

As long as there is no snow on the ground I will play. Played in the low 30's plenty of times last year, I just make sure I am dressed properly.

We will still have 30 guys show up at the course to play in a $20 pot game when its 25*(f) out, assuming that there is no major frost. I always thought it was fun hitting bump and runs across the frozen ponds.

It's all relative I suppose. Here in MS, if it's in the low 40s, the courses are fairly empty. That's about as cold as it gets here, and after living here for a few years its a bit cold to be playing for me. I still do it on occasion if there's no break in the cold forecasted for a while.

On the flip side, I grew up in Michigan. At MSU, it had to be 37* before they would let you out so you don't damage the grass. At Kensington Metropark, the course was open as long as there wasn't a full groundcover of snow (patches in the rough were fine) no matter what the temp. I used to play Kensington a good bit in the 30* weather, and used to watch the weather channel until it was 35 and drive over to the college course to be the first out. I always walked those courses, so the cold didn't feel too bad.

Played Dayton Valley near Carson City, Nevada once at 32-40* with frozen fairways and solid water hazards. Suprisingly the greens held relatively well and there were some tremendous drives with fairways like concrete. Not something I would look to do again.

Pick any 2 of these below and I'm fine. If the third one starts, then I am out.

Cold
Precipitation
Wind

I don't mind any temperature above freezing as long as it's not raining. I guess I'd say that I'll pass if the wind is up and it's below 40 as well. I've gone out too many times to count in wintry conditions, as long as you have enough layers it's fine.

A couple years ago we had a 'warm' spell of weather (warm enough to melt the snow anyway) around the new year and an impromptu tournament on January 1 drew over 100 players. Winter will make you stir crazy - I think over the years I've played in every calendar month.

Well, I remember a friend of mine and I teeing it up in the mid teens...needless to say, the greens were as receptive as a sidewalk, and i must have been wearing 7 shirts, 3 pant layers, a face mask, a skull cap, and winter golf gloves with hand warmers in them. However, it turned out to be a fun day, but I don't think any of us shot had our best rounds. BTW i took about 2 clubs extra for every shot, my swing was so restricted...

Mid 50's at Bandon Dunes..... Im a SoCal boy so weather is a nonissue!

Same here

Do any of you guys get a break on greens fees or do you play full price?

I'm in the 35-45 camp depending upon wind and sun. The key is high performance, wicking base layers, stocking cap, thermal socks, wind breaking outer layer with winter golf or high performance gloves such as Black Diamond below 45. Add precip and I'm generally out below 50 unless "talked into it".

Yes, we do get nice greens fee breaks during the winter season...Nov-March typically here in the StL,MO area.

Also, tee boxes are typically moved forward to account for shorter ball flight and there may be a temp green or 2. If your normal club distances are calibrated for 75*, add at least 1 club at 45*.

I learned a lot about my swing by playing cold weather golf yesterday.

My usual cut off point is 10 degrees celsius ( mid 50s F) but yesterday I played golf in bright sunny and very cold ( 6 degrees C ; about mid 40s F) afternoon.

I noticed , right away, on the range that when the golf ball is that cold it gets really hard and , consequently, it goes nowhere as far as normal.

(Yes, I know to keep a golf ball in my pocket on the course to keep it warmer)

what I found really interesting was what I learned about my swing; I had to make a really good turn with a full weight transfer to get the ball to move out there. If I got lazy and essentially feel into an arms-only swing there was no way -- in that cold weather --I was going to compress the ball and consequently it went really short.

Bottom line: I squeezed in a "bonus" and unexpected 9 holes of golf in the off-season and got a valuable and free golf lesson at the same time.

It was 'bout 40* to 42*, but the wind made it feel closer to mid 30's...
I usually see the current weather report. It has to be 40* or higher for me to venture out (and no wind!)... Here in the east coast is getting very close to the end of golf for this year

P.S. - Quick edit... besides no wind, also NO RAIN or SNOW!

If no wind, I will play as long as the greens are not frozen. Under Armour Cold Gear does the trick.

If it's windy, I prefer not to go below 50, maybe 45. If it's really windy and 45, no thanks. I'll stay in my house and drink Scotch, maybe sneak outside for a cigar if the wind dies down, but I'm not playing golf in that weather.

exactly how I feel..but have to add sometimes a bad enough combo of 2 is enough

Like 40* and 40 mph winds.. I"m out

Well, for me, the biggest, number 1 deterrent in playing is Precipitation... I definitely DO NOT like my equipment, nor I to get wet!

Same here. If it's below mid-50s, I'll wait a week and chances are it's warmed up.

yeah rain is the worst.. never have enough towels or hands to carry everything to remain dry. My playing partners love me, I got coleman cup heaters and full cart covers a few years ago and bring them out when the weather gets dicey.

35°F with enough wind to blow my hat off and rain/sleet for the last 11 holes on Pinehurst #2 last March. I was driving by and was there for that day only. There was no way I was going to miss playing #2. My caddy and me were the only ones on the course for most of the round.


When you loose the ball in snow.

As long as there's no snow on the ground I'll go play.

Part of living in the PNW is buying great gear to get you through any conditions. Matter of fact, I just got a great new three-way jacket from Adidas this weekend. Worked great today. Had it all together during a light drizzle at the beginning of the round, then pulled off the sleeves as it stopped, then turned it into a vest as it warmed up.

+1

I will play in anything. usually the colder it is, the less people playing. Play faster and play more holes.

Played Cog Hill once on December 23rd, it was 36 degrees outside but sunny with no snow and very little wind. It was still brutal. I had to wear thicker gloves and basically had to use a 10 finger grip most of the time which did not work out very well. I will never do it again.

Now the lowest I will go is 45 with sunny conditions and very little wind. Anything lower and its just not fun or worth it to me.

Went on a golf trip to Williamsburg VA, this past March, great deal, but weather was horrible. Played three days straight in 45deg or less, last two days it rained all day, played at least 18 each day, thanks for rain suit and rain gloves. Best part of trip, while we were getting hit with freezing rain a bald eagle flew about 20' over our heads as we made our way down the middle of a fairway.

After that no weather is too ugly to play golf!

I will play @35 and above, anything lower and the greens are tooooooo hard. I did on a Sunday last winter, after mass the sun was shinning and a light wind..Walking down the first hole it felt a little chilly, but I had my jones on for some golf. Driving home I'm listening to the weather report and they said it was 17* wind chill...This is really too clod to play.......

Sorry for the slight detour in the thread, but do you all switch to a "softer" ball or play with your usual. Also, has anyone "warmed up their balls" (please spare the comments ;-))by putting one of those hand warmer thingies in your ball pocket?
Thanks!

+1 - One of my favorite times of year to play.Can play 9 holes in 45 minutes or play as many balls as I want to practice. I ride and have found winter or rain gloves and a stocking hat the most important.

I've thought about it, but never tried it. I find that an extra ball or two in the pants pocket stays warm enough.

I'll go out when the general temp is around 45*- I find that most golf courses it is considerably colder than the weatherman says it is at their weather station. Even with the trees, my local courses all feel like big open fields and they tend to get windy.

I'll stick to the middle of the day when it is usually warmest and there's a few other people out there. I hate the feeling of being the only person out there, too lonely. That's fine in the warm weather, but not in the cold.

I recently bought a Zero Restriction rain suit so I'm kinda anxious to try it out! But I really bought it in case I get caught in the rain. I don't plan on starting a round in the rain.

Don't have to worry about playing in the cold here in Scottsdale. We get a few frost delays, but that burns off quickly. Snowbirds stay away. The locals hate you. All you do is take up tee times and jack up our green fees. Stay up north.

Am I classified as a snowbird? I live in the Bay Area.

Without "snowbirds" (is there a gayer term?), there would be no Scottsdale.

People with money dictate how things operate...GET USED TO IT!

You wanna make a bet on that? You say how great it is up there, so why don't you stay up there? We locals are in sweatshirts while you donks run around in your bluehair and tank tops. You're also the only ones with a sunburn in January. We can spot you a mile away. Don't kid yourself, NONE of the locals appreciate your visits to the valley. Northerners mean painful slow golf as you hunt for your balls in the dessert. Wish a diamondback would pay you all a visit on your next visit.

Ok, loser.

Crazy??? it all depends on metabolism, skill and flexibility. I love golf but have no need to play in "frigid" temps, yet I've done it a few times. As much as I struggle with CA and AZ, they are great places to golf year around.

Not real sure what you think you're adding to the topic at hand, but along you're line of thinking; stay the f&*^ out of 'our' topic. NONE of us appreciate your visit here. Get lost

Looking at your post history, may I remind you of something? It is possible to contribute to a discussion without being a complete jerk. You should try it sometime - there's a great group of people on here and this type of commentary - over and over and over - is completely unnecessary.