Wearing a
golf GPS watch on your wrist as you play is as good as having your own personal
caddie—or at least it’s pretty close.

A GPS
watch takes out most of the guesswork, giving you precise yardage that lets you
play your shot with confidence. Those who already use one will already
appreciate just how much they can improve your course management, helping you
to avoid trouble and put together a good score.

However, today’s best golf GPS watches don’t just help you save shots. Many of these watches are packed with additional features, such as shot and performance tracking. In other words, they help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to shape your practice accordingly.

We’ve
selected nine of the best golf GPS watches currently on the market. Some are a
bit pricier than others, which generally means they have more features and/or
additional technology. For some golfers, though, a simple front, middle and
back yardage to the green is all that’s required—others want all the trimmings,
such as health and fitness data, and a lot more detail.

Whatever model you go for, you can be confident that this device will do your golf game the world of good.

The best golf GPS watches

Garmin Approach S62, RRP £479.99

This premium device, which features a 1.3” colour touchscreen display (ceramic bezel), sits towards the top end of the price range, but for good reason—it’s feature packed. One of the most useful features is Virtual Caddie, which takes into account wind conditions and past swings to help you select the best club for each shot.

The S62 also
offers full-colour course mapping with the Pinpointer directional feature,
helping golfers to play smarter. Meanwhile, the PlaysLike distance feature
accounts for uphill and downhill shots, so you can always be confident that you
are given pinpoint yardage.

There are numerous other features, some of which you may decide you don’t need. It offers 24/7 wrist-based heart rate monitoring and a Pulse Ox sensor, which estimates blood oxygen saturation. You can use it for contactless payments, too, and when paired with the Garmin Golf app, you can compete against your friends with weekly leaderboards, create tournaments, and upload scorecards.

GolfBuddy Aim W11, RRP £249.99

The Aim
W11 has its fair share of useful features but can be described as more ‘wallet
friendly’. At the same time, the ceramic bezel creates a premium look, which
makes it a popular model. Features include a full-colour touchscreen display,
plus green undulation and slope-adjusted distance readings (where available) to
give the golfer better, real-life views and more control of their game around
the course. There’s also a zoom-in/out function that helps get a better view of
the green.

Other positives include the lengthy battery life (up to 13 hours in Golf Mode), automatic course and hole recognition, and it comes preloaded with over 40,000 courses worldwide with free wireless course updates via Bluetooth with the smartphone app.

Voice Caddie A2, RRP £239

You get a lot of bang for your buck with this stylish, modern sports watch. It gives yardages to the front, centre, and back, and allows the user to manually select the pin position—plus, you can obtain yardages to hazards and bunkers. It’s also simple to navigate using a combination of the colour screen and four corner buttons. In fitness mode, the Voice Caddie A2 counts steps, distance walked, and calories burned.

Bushnell iON Edge, RRP £169

If you’re
looking for simple functionality along with accurate distances, the iON Edge
from Bushnell may be the golf GPS watch for you. There are perhaps more stylish-looking
designs on the market, but it still ticks many boxes.

The watch displays easy-to-read front, centre, and back of the green distance measurements, with up to six hazards per hole. It also offers Dynamic Green View mapping, with a moveable touchscreen pin giving golfers extra precision. The device automatically locates which golf course you are playing and advances to the next hole. With scorekeeping, basic stats, and a built-in shot distance calculator, the iON Edge has most of the important features covered.

Shot Scope V3, RRP £179.99

The compact V3 from Shot Scope is a stylish and lightweight GPS watch available in four colours—black, grey, red, and teal. Features include green undulation, colour touchscreen, customisable pin placement, and slope. In GPS and Performance Tracking mode, the easy-to-use V3 will automatically detect shot locations using tags placed on the tops of your grips. If you’re into your stats and want to see where you need to improve, this could well be the watch for you.

SkyCaddie LX5, RRP £299

One of the most appealing aspects of this watch, apart from its many features, is the 3.5cm touchscreen. The larger-than-average size screen provides clear aerial views of the hole ahead with a moveable pointer telling you the distance to your chosen spot. Arc lines help improve strategy, while you can zoom in on the green and move the pin position for a more precise distance. Over 35,000 courses, which have been ground-verified on foot, come preloaded. Despite the large screen, this watch is wonderfully lightweight (65g) and exceptionally comfortable to wear.

Voice Caddie T9, RRP £369

The T9 from Voice Caddie comes equipped with shot and putt tracking, which keeps track of your score throughout the round. The full-colour touchscreen provides yardages to the front, centre, and back of the green, and offers advanced features such as Active Green (improves accuracy), V-Algorithm 3.0 (slope calculation), Green Undulation (indicated with heat map and arrows show the break direction), Putt View (shows elevation and distance to the pin), Smart Green (touch pin-placement), and Course Views (yardages to hazards and bunkers).

TecTecTec ULT-G, RRP £129.99

If you’re
on a fairly tight budget and don’t see yourself using many of the features that
you’ll typically find on some of the more expensive GPS devices, then you may
want to check this device out.

It’s a very user-friendly model with simplicity at its core. Golfers should find that it’s easy to pair with a phone and the app, although you don’t have to use the app to use the ULT-G on the golf course. The device, which provides distances to hazards as well as the front, middle and back of the green, offers 38,000 preloaded courses with no subscription or update fees.

Garmin Approach S42, RRP £269.99

The S42
may not boast the same number of features as Garmin’s S62, but it’s still quite
an offering, and there’s still a lot of impressive technology at play,
including AutoShot round analyser that tracks and records shot distances, as
well as yardages to bunkers, hazards and ideal lay-up zones.

In addition, once you’ve paired the watch with the Garmin app, you open a whole database of strokes gained stats, which will provide you with hours of fun after a round and highlight areas of your game where you need to improve. Also included in the S42’s repertoire is the ability to show you steps taken, distance covered, calories burned and even how well you’ve slept.

Specialist golf insurance with Golf Care

Golf GPS watches are pretty neat pieces of kit, but they can also be rather expensive. You may also want to consider purchasing specialist golf insurance as an added layer of protection and security.

With Golf Care, policies include Equipment cover up to £7,500, Public Liability up to £10m and much more. Cover is also underpinned by the ‘Ripe Guarantee’, which guarantees great cover and service to match at an affordable price.

Click on the banner below to learn more about specialist golf insurance with Golf Care.

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Children, kids,
and juniors; they have this incredible ability to get through shoes like nobody
else.

Golf may be a non-contact sport, and there’s obviously less stress on golf shoes on the fairways compared to the playground environment, but it’s still an activity that demands a lot of its footwear. For that reason, many parents prioritise durability above anything else when buying junior golf shoes for their children.

Of course,
kids start taking charge of what they wear when they get to a certain age, so
styling is also very important. Thankfully, just like the golf shoe market for adult
men and women golfers, there are plenty of choices out there for juniors—allowing
them to choose a model that ticks the specific looks that they’re after.

Many top brands produce junior versions of the popular models that sell so well with adult golfers, which makes sense. Other brands tweak certain models to suit younger golfers.

Price, too, is often a significant factor in determining which model to buy. Generally, junior golf shoes tend to cost less. However, that doesn’t mean they come cheap. Given how quickly children can grow and how the foot can change in shape, many parents will be mindful of shelling out big money on a pair that their child may have grown out of in as little as six months’ time, especially if it’s a first-ever pair.

The best junior golf shoes

So, here, we have selected a range of the best junior golf shoes on the market, and we have ticked off several price points. Included are several styles, from classic offerings to more modern, sporty and athletic designs.

The Tour360 line from Adidas is one of the brand’s most successful. These performance shoes feature a durable synthetic upper material that offers water-resistant protection to keep your feet dry. The Bounce midsole, meanwhile, helps soak up shock and reduce fatigue caused by long hours of walking. With a spiked outsole that maintains a positive grip in all conditions and a ThinTech cleat that offers super traction, you’re guaranteed plenty of stability.

Skechers, as you would expect from a brand renowned for its extraordinary comfort levels, has implemented much of the technology you would see on adult models. They feature Skechers H2GO Shield waterproof protection, GOGA Max cushioning, and the replaceable Softspikes, which is very handy, given how frequently children can lose items. This is a super model—well constructed and durable—and will not break the bank.

The
Pro/SL, which is a hugely popular model among adult golfers, is the ideal first
golf shoe—a model that offers young golfers advanced comfort and performance to
help them get started on the right foot (pardon the pun).

These golf shoes feature a full rounded toe character, and standard fit across the forefoot and instep, with a slightly narrow heel. Meanwhile, the waterproof, easy-care synthetic uppers provide a comfortable fit and added durability.

With its distinctive styling, young golfers will surely like the sporty-looking Fuel shoe. It’s designed to offer superior stability with the Stability Bridge and EVA midsole on the spikeless sole providing high levels of traction. The synthetic upper makes it easy to clean, plus, just like the Pro SL, it comes with a one-year waterproof warranty.

The Roshe
design is one of the brand’s most popular lines among the younger generation,
which makes it a popular choice for junior golfers, especially those who like
to don the famous Nike swoosh.

As you might expect from a Nike shoe, you get lots of comfort, mainly due to the injected midsole and lightweight cushioning. They boast plenty of stability, too. With plenty of colour options to choose from, junior golfers can also get creative with the style they want.

The Puma Junior IGNITE PWRADAPT 2.0 shoe utilises a performance microfiber upper, full-length IGNITE Foam and a spiked outsole to provide superb comfort and superior traction on the golf course. This foam helps provide energy return, responsive comfort, stable cushioning, and ample comfort. Meanwhile, strategically placed hexagons provide multidirectional traction, with 24 chevron-shaped lugs increasing traction where it’s needed most. Junior golfers are sure to find the athletic look appealing.

Three-time
Major winner Jordan Spieth has turned out to be quite the ambassador for Under
Armour, and he’ll have inspired many a young golfer to take up the game since
bursting onto the scene roughly a decade ago.

The American has always been heavily involved in the design and testing of the Under Armour shoes, so you can be sure that every aspect of performance has been carefully considered with the Junior shoe. This high-performance shoe has been constructed with a breathable upper and waterproof membrane designed to release perspiration for zero distractions during your golf game. It’s also finished with an integrated lacing system to lock the feet in place, while a 3D moulded quarter panel and tongue lining add comfort.

Callaway
might not be the first brand that comes to mind where golf shoes are concerned—irons
and woods, absolutely—but not necessarily footwear. However, Callaway is
starting to enjoy some success in this market, and its Apex Junior shoe is a
solid performer.

It has a mid-wide fit and is manufactured from performance leather. The Apex Synthetic Spikeless Sole provides impressive traction, and the comfort box is ticked courtesy of an Opti-Vent Mesh Liner.

Specialist golf insurance with Golf Care

Now you’ve got the perfect pair of junior golf shoes, you might also want to consider purchasing specialist golf insurance before heading out for a round of golf with your child.

With Golf Care, policies include Equipment cover up to £7,500, Public Liability up to £10m and much more. Cover is also underpinned by the ‘Ripe Guarantee’, which guarantees great cover and service to match at an affordable price.

Click on the banner below to learn more about specialist golf insurance with Golf Care.

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There’s much to consider before buying a new putter, as it’s arguably the most important club in your bag.

Choosing one that suits your stroke is the key to holing more putts and, ultimately, shooting lower scores. There are hundreds of models out there, and new putters are constantly being added to existing lines.

We look at the best golf putters on the market for 2023, of which many are one of a number in the range.

So, while you may not like a certain head shape, for example, there’s sure to be one in the line-up that suits your eye and putting stroke.

The Axis 1 putter is designed so that it won’t naturally open during the putting stroke.

This feature is made possible by pushing the weight forward with a heel counterweight. The CG is positioned precisely on the centre of the putter face and aligns perfectly with the axis of the shaft.

As a result, users should find their putting performance improves as it helps the stroke remain on line time after time, making it one of the best golf putters for consistency.

The hosel design may be a little unusual, but it’s a beautiful-looking putter and one Justin Rose has enjoyed great success with in the past and numerous other Tour pros.

TaylorMade’s Spider family is a hugely popular line of the best golf putters, and the EX will surely be another hit.

The new True Path system on the top of the head makes it easier to align, with three reflective white dots between the dual rail helping golfers to line up the ball.

As well as alignment assistance, the putter features an aluminium frame and carbon composite head that increases the MOI for a more consistent roll.

Users should find that this offers more forgiveness across the face, which is always welcome when you don’t quite deliver a centred strike.

Related: The 9 best golf push trolleys on the market 

The King Vintage series offers the best golf putters for those golfers who favour a more traditional look.

Cobra engineers worked alongside SIK Golf and Bryson DeChambeau to design a putter face that improves ball roll. It features an aluminium insert with four descending lofts on the face to produce the most consistent roll trajectory for different putting strokes and angles of attack.

The Stingray is an oversize mallet putter, but with multiple shapes, hosels, and an adjustable weighting system, you have various options for different putting strokes. And, of course, with Cobra, you can monitor your performance thanks to the tracking system embedded in the grips.

There are ten models in PING’s 2023 range, comprising mallets, mid-mallets, and blades. All these models have been designed with improved forgiveness in mind. 

Each of the new PING putters has been individually designed rather than featuring a common feature that links them together. The Prime Tyne 4 is designed for players with a strong arc—its shallow-milled face feels firmer on impact and boosts shot consistency, while the twin forks improve accuracy. 

It’s also one of the best golf putters in terms of design, as it comes with a dark, stealth PVD finish which boosts its premium looks. 

Related: The best golf practice mats on the market

White Hot is one of the most iconic putters of all time, with the classic line proving extremely popular on Tour and with golfers of all abilities for the last two decades.

This is largely due to the insert used, providing an exceptional feel. The original White Hot formulation, feel, sound, and performance are all back in one two-part urethane insert.

Odyssey has another beautiful range, combined with a rich silver PVD finish with fine milling on the surfaces. The line-up includes the #1, #1WS, 2Ball, #5, and #7 models and the much-loved Rossie.

Featuring
Odyssey’s famous 2-Ball alignment, it should come as no surprise that the new
2-Ball Ten is still aimed at those players who tend to push or pull their
putts.

It
features a White Hot Microhinge face insert, which promotes immediate forward
roll for improved speed and control – so you should see the ball ‘hugging’ the
ground when you putt; in other words, less ‘skidding’.

In addition, the shaft has been made stiffer and more stable – it’s seven grams lighter than its predecessor – to aid tempo and improve consistency in the putting stroke.

Related: What to look for when buying second-hand golf clubs

Nothing quite turns your head like a new Scotty Cameron putter.
The Newport 2 was first released in 1997, and it’s been a favourite with many of the world’s best putters.

The latest model is a fraction sleeker than the 2018 model, and with input from Tour players, it’s been made thinner to sit a touch flatter on the ground.

Meanwhile, heavier tungsten weights have been added to the heel and toe to aid stability on off-centre strikes. ‘Classic, industrial with elegance’ is how the master putter maker describes them, and it’s hard to disagree.

There are three mid-mallet models in the M.Craft extended line-up, and each has been CNC-milled to create the most precise shape and alignment.

This model is a slant neck-deep square back putter with moderate toe-hang, making it one of the best golf putters for players with a moderate putting arc.

Forged from premium 1025 mild carbon steel and available in three striking finishes, the M.Craft putters are certainly eye-catching.

The head has been designed for stability to promote a fluid, rhythmical putting stroke, while additional weights can be interchanged to allow the user to fine-tune the feel.

Related: How to hit a golf ball further in 7 easy steps

Wilson
Staff’s Infinite putter range offers a range of different head shapes and
styles.

The main
talking point is Counterbalance Technology, which sees additional weight placed
in the grip end of the club and head; this brings the point of balance closer
to the hands, which makes it easier to control the swing and helps the stroke
to be more consistent.

In
addition, the oversized 104-gram Infinite grip works by softening the hand
action and eradicates unwanted wrist movement.

Meanwhile,
the dark anti-glare finish contributes towards a premium look, which isn’t
reflected in the competitive price.

Evnroll putters ooze quality, and it’s no different with the new V Series range. The ER11V is the flagship model, a high-performance mallet offering forgiveness and stability in a clean and compact look.

Evnroll’s Sweet Face Technology is behind the unique mill pattern, which delivers uniform performance across the entire hitting area.

So, the ER11V could be a game-changer for golfers who struggle with consistent roll and pace control.

Related: 5 exercises guaranteed to improve your golf game

Those searching for a new blade putter would be well advised to try this beautifully handcrafted offering from Bettinardi.

Developed with input from some of the world’s best players, the Roll Control Face gives an exceptional feel and optimal audible feedback. At the same time, the asymmetrical design groove profile promotes more topspin at impact and shortens the distance the ball takes to get into a true roll with each putt.

With the Diamond Blast finish, which gives the putter its clean appearance, and a red and black paint scheme, you have one of the most aesthetically pleasing blades on the market.

Once you find the best golf putter, you might want to protect it and the rest of your clubs with specialist equipment cover.

With Golf Care, golf insurance includes Public Liability up to £10 million, Equipment Cover up to £7,500, and much more. The cover is also underpinned by the ‘Ripe Guarantee’, which guarantees great cover and service to match at an affordable price.

Click here to discover more about how we can help, or click the banner below to get an instant online quote. 

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Electric golf trolleys aren’t for everyone. Despite
folding down into a compact size, golf push trolleys are still the preferred
choice for many, as they’re generally lighter and easier to use—plus, they’re
nowhere near as expensive.

Despite being simpler versions of their
electric counterparts, modern push trolleys contain many features that make
them an attractive alternative.

We’ve selected some of the best golf trolleys on the market to help you choose.

The P1’s simple one-step folding mechanism gets a big thumbs up—it’s ready to use in seconds. It’s also one of the most feature-packed push trolleys on the market.

A foot parking brake, friction-free oversize wheels, adjustable handle height, adjustable bag supports, and an accessories compartment are just some of the features you can expect. There are many more features that make the M1 one of the best push golf trolleys around.

Related: The best golf practice mats on the market

The Motocaddy Z1 will suit anyone looking for a
simple, lightweight push trolley. It just about offers the same number of
features as the brand’s P1, although you don’t quite get that same premium
feel.

Even so, with the three handle height settings, friction-free oversize wheels and two-step folding system, it’s highly functional, and it’ll definitely appeal to the more budget-conscious golfer, being one of the best value golf trolleys on our list.

Compact and simple to fold with its two-step
folding system, the Motocaddy CUBE is a lightweight push trolley that does an
excellent job of saving space.

At the same time, it provides golfers with all the handy features they need over the course of a round. It’s packed with storage options, whilst the adjustable handle height and foot parking brake enhance its functionality. 

This sleek-looking push trolley features a
lightweight, robust aluminium frame with a quick fold system that provides a
swift and easy set-up from its compact size to full assembly.

Meanwhile, PowaKaddy’s Key Lock system ensures your bag stays secure so that you won’t experience any annoying slipping throughout the round. It can also be adjusted to fit varying ride height requirements, which is useful.

Related: How to keep warm playing golf

Featuring an ultra-light design, easy fold system and removable rear wheels, this push trolley from Fastfold ticks many boxes. It doesn’t lack features, with the upper bracket and automatic bag clasp amongst the best of them, whilst the storage net, tee and ball holder, mobile phone holder and Velcro glove storage demonstrate that attention to detail golfers crave.

A product that lives up to its name, it’s also
worth pointing out that this is one of the best golf push trolleys thanks to
its sturdy and robust design, and few are quite so easy to use.

Whilst it doesn’t fold down to such a compact size as many others, its superb practicality more than makes up for it. Meanwhile, the deluxe Organiser Panel offers ample space for all your golfing essentials.

With a robust four-wheel construction, the Blade Quattro certainly navigates the fairways with ease—and it comes into its own on especially hilly terrain—yet it’s also simple to assemble and fold down to store away in the boot of a car. The manufacturer describes it well when it says the trolley “opens like a fan” as it shifts from flat to fully open in seconds.

Related: The 5 best golf club sets for beginners

Stylish and functional, the ClicGear 4.0 sits
towards the upper end of the price spectrum—but don’t let that deter you if
you’re in the market for one of the best golf push trolleys.

The aluminium frame has a premium look, and if there were an award for how smoothly a trolley operates around the course, this would be a contender. It doesn’t lack attention to detail, with all the golfers’ needs considered.

Designed from the wheels up to improve the
on-course experience, the Stewart Golf’s R1-S glides along the fairways with
minimum effort thanks to its dual ball bearing, free-rolling wheels.

The bag jaws open wide enough to accommodate the biggest bags, whilst a silicone grip secures it firmly in place. It’s nice to see a few extra colour options, too, which hasn’t always been the case with trolleys.

Specialist golf insurance from Golf Care

Heading out on the course with your new golf gear? You may want to consider golf insurance to protect yourself and your equipment.

With Golf Care, golf insurance includes Public Liability up to £10 million, Equipment cover up to £7,500, and much more. It’s also underpinned by our very own ‘Ripe Guarantee’, which promises great cover and exceptional service at the right price.

Find out more about our cover and get an instant
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Many golfers call it a day when
the sun sets early, and the grass gets a touch of frost. However, little do
they know (perhaps) playing golf in winter can be the most enjoyable of all the
seasons.

The fresh, clear winter mornings,
quieter courses and fabulous deals can really make it feel like you’ve hit the
jackpot.

That aside, if you’re keen on
improving your golf game, giving up completely during winter is not the way to
go about it—you really don’t want to lose your momentum.

To ensure you hit the ground running when the new season starts, check out our 9 top tips for keeping your game up to scratch when playing golf in winter.

Keep playing

Yes, it might sound obvious, but
keeping up the momentum is vital at this time of year. Everything else aside,
you’ll improve your skill by testing yourself when playing conditions are at
their most trying.

You’ll learn to perfect a wide range of shots when you’re braving the elements, whether it’s the low punch into the January wind or the runner that scampers across a frozen fairway to find an icy winter green.  

After all, these shots will stand you in good stead when the milder weather returns. While you’re here, reading Bernard Gallacher’s top tips for playing golf in the rain might also be useful.

Wear the right winter golf clothes

Playing your best golf requires
feeling comfortable in what you’re wearing. Here are some of the most essential
garments to help you brave the adverse weather and keep your winter golf game the
best it can be.

• Wet weather gloves – keeping your hands warm and dry is essential when playing golf in winter. These gloves are a great purchase because the wetter they get, the firmer the grip, making holding your clubs a lot easier
• Efficient base layer – wearing layers upon layers is likely to limit your movement, particularly your swing. But at the same time, you don’t want your body to stiffen up in the cold. That’s why a thin base layer is the way forward
• Thermal socks – wearing more than one pair of socks, or a thick pair of winter socks, is likely to make all the difference to your body temperature

Related: What to wear to golf in cold weather

Have the correct equipment

Playing golf in winter comes with
unpredictability, so having the necessary equipment to tackle a range of
climates—from wind and rain to frost—is essential.

Here are a few things that will
make your golf more enjoyable this winter…

• Purchase some winter wheels – winter wheels pick up less mud, making them easier to move, and they’ll also cause less damage to the ground. However, ditch the golf buggy and carry your bag instead if you can. The course will thank you for it, and you’ll be a lot warmer
• Use a high-vis yellow ball – they’re a lot easier to spot on icy courses
• Add loft to your driver – your ball simply won’t roll as much when the ground is boggy and soft. Adding loft to your driver will add more carry and distance
• Umbrella – come rain, sleet or snow, a good-sized umbrella will ensure you stay dry and protect your bag when you’re taking a shot

Keep your golf balls warm

Sounds daft, right? However, it’s
believed that for every ten degrees the temperature drops, a golf ball will
carry two yards shorter. If this is indeed the case, you’ll want to keep your
golf balls toasty on the course. Keep them in your pocket as much as possible, and
even throw a hand warmer in there for extra measure.

Having said that, the construction of certain balls makes them ideal for cold weather. Check out this article to find out which golf balls hold up best in winter and why.

Make the most of the driving range

We’re all guilty of making
excuses for not going outside much in the cold winter months. It’s definitely
easier to head down to a covered (and sometimes heated) driving range for your
golf, too.

Visit the driving range as often
as possible during winter and work out a practice routine that works for you—don’t
just bludgeon balls wildly without an objective in mind. Pick a flag or other
spot to aim at and work your way through the clubs, hitting different types of
shots.

Related: 7 driving range tips to improve shot consistency

Take lessons

Whether at the driving range,
down at your club’s practice area, or on a deserted winter course (AKA the
dream), a series of lessons throughout the off-season could make all the
difference to your golfing fortunes come spring.

Winter is the perfect time to
make changes to your game—you don’t want to make major alterations when
competitions are just around the corner.

If you’re unsure where to turn, a simple Google search like “golf lessons near me” will do the trick.

Use a golf simulator

Golf simulators are a great way
to help your game if you prefer practising indoors when it’s cold out. Although
indoor simulators aren’t great for putting, they’re fantastic for driving and
iron shots.

Related: The top 7 golf simulators on the market

Buy a net

If you have enough
space, it might also be an option to buy your own golf net so you can practise
in the comfort of your own home.

Some of the best nets on the market include The Net Return Golf Practice Net, which automatically returns the ball to you, and the IZZO Golf Tri-Daddy Golf Hitting Net—check them out!

Read and watch

It’s amazing how
much you can learn about golf without actually swinging a club or hitting a
ball. Winter and the Christmas holidays, in particular, are a perfect time to
swot up, and many instructional books might strike a chord or spark a thought
that could change your game.

Why not add one
to your Christmas list?

If not,
re-watching golf tournaments and YouTube videos are also good ways of picking
up on bits and bobs during the off-season.

Related: 14 books every self-respecting golfer should read

Specialist golf insurance with Golf Care

Not letting the weather put pay to your golf? You might also want to consider protecting yourself with specialist golf insurance before heading out for a spot of winter golf.

With Golf Care, policies include Equipment cover up to £7,500, Public Liability up to £10m and much more. Cover is also underpinned by the ‘Ripe Guarantee’, which guarantees great cover and service to match at an affordable price.

Click on the
banner below to learn more about specialist golf insurance with Golf Care.

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These days,
you don’t have to play 18 holes or head to the range to work on your golf game—you
can practice in the comfort of your own home. There are a whole host of
different training aids out there—one of the most popular of which are mats;
more specifically, practice putting mats.

The benefit of owning one of these is that you can practice at home even when it’s too cold or dark to play, or if your course is shut because of bad weather. Quite simply, if you want your putting stroke to stay finely tuned throughout the whole season, you need one of these.

Many of
the products we’ve featured below don’t just help you to work on your putting stroke,
but they also feature games that add a bit of pressure to your practice.

As well as putting mats, several other mats are available that allow you to work on your full swing. Here’s a selection of the best golf practice mats currently on the market.

The
Perfect Practice Standard Putting Mat is 9ft 6” long and has been designed to
produce genuine 10-14 stimpmeter speeds with no skipping or skidding.

The precise track lines help users to visualise the path of their ball. Should it roll off-course, the feedback allows golfers to adjust their alignment and stroke. The mat, which is trusted by some of the best golfers in the world, also features two hole sizes, which are designed to strengthen precision training.

This putting mat has a lot going on, although it’s not as complicated as it looks. It can be adjusted to run at four different speeds, allowing golfers to practice on greens that represent the closest speed to their home course or wherever they’re about to play. Users can create slopes, too, with a simple adjustment to the mat, and there are plenty of exercises and fun games to play.

Designed with usability in mind, the PuttOUT Medium Putting Mat is easy to assemble and roll up for storage. With its thick rubber backing, it rolls flat straight out of the packaging. It also comes with its own carry bag, so it’s easy to take with you wherever you need to practice. It runs at 10 on the stimpmeter and features alignment lines and a target hole.

For those
unfamiliar with Me and My Game, this is PGA Pro duo Piers Ward and Andy
Proudman. The pair have built a huge following on their social media channels—and
have also created an online shop full of training aids, including this innovative
putting mat.

It comes with three different weight-biased golf balls—slight, medium and heavy braking—allowing you to practice breaking putts at home. If you’re consistently starting the ball on the wrong line, you’re not going to enjoy much joy on the greens—but this mat also features start lines to help your set-up and get you holing out more often. You can choose between 7.5ft (£99.99) and 11ft (RRP £139.99).

Featuring a true-roll surface similar to an actual green and an up-slope to the cup, the Accelerator Pro helps improve every aspect of your putting stroke. It’s a clever piece of kit that features precise alignment guides at 3, 5 and 7 feet that help golfers square the clubface and produce a more consistent stroke. Meanwhile, the ball return allows users to train more efficiently without interruption.

This
hitting mat has been designed to simulate both rough and fairway grass. It’s
perfect for anyone fortunate enough to have an indoor golf studio. For those
golfers who hit a lot of balls into a net in the garden, this mat is also going
to give your grass some relief.

The beauty of the two different types of synthetic grass is that it allows you to work on your strike from various lies. The mat measures 32.5cm wide by 62cm long and comes with three rubber tees (7cm, 5cm and 3cm).

This multi-purpose, portable mat allows you to hit full shots from two different surfaces: clean fairway (0.5” tall) and rough (1.5” tall). It also comes with a 2” tee and a 1” tee, allowing you to hit different shots with different clubs through the bag.

The
CHAMPKEY PRO is available in two sizes: 3ft x 5ft and 4ft x 5ft. It comes with
two alignment sticks—a useful addition that ensures you keep working on your
basics as you hit balls.

What’s more, you receive four rubber golf tees which allow you to work on each club in the bag. The synthetic surface simulates hitting from a real fairway, and whilst there’s no alternative ‘rough’ area to hit from, this is still a very good training aid.

Specialist golf insurance with Golf Care

Practising at home with a new golf practice mat? You may also want to consider golf insurance before heading out on the course for real.

With Golf Care, golf insurance includes Equipment cover up to £7,500, Public Liability up to £10m and much more. It’s also underpinned by the ‘Ripe Guarantee’, meaning you get great cover and service to match at a price you can afford.

Click on the banner below to learn more about how our cover can help you.

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For some
golfers, mid-layers can feel too bulky to swing a club in. Even though modern
golf sweaters and jackets are made from stretchy material so as not to restrict
the golf swing, many would still rather play in a tee shirt all year round if
the weather allowed it.

This is
where a gilet, or vest, becomes a fantastic option. These garments tick many boxes
for those who would rather not play with long sleeves.

Sound like you? You’re in the right place. Here are some of the best golf gilets for ladies on the market.

This windproof, water-repellent gilet is made from durable synthetic material. The comfortable lining is made from a blended cotton fabric with good breathability. The lining keeps you cosy and warm out on the fairways but prevents an unpleasant build-up of heat around the body. The sporty design also features two closable side pockets and an inside pocket, giving the wearer plenty of room to store accessories. Meanwhile, the high collar and the impermeable two-way zip fastener offer additional wind protection.

This stylish full-zip mid-layer, made from PRIMEGREEN recycled materials, has been designed with a combination of textured herringbone and flat-knit panels. The brand’s COLD.RDY technology works by trapping heat against the body, and it’s also brushed on the inside for increased warmth and a soft feel. It has been cut to provide a regular fit and is highlighted with the Adidas badge of sport on the left lower hem.

The stylish Cece is a lightweight vest with stretch properties that offers wind and water resistance, plus it is highly breathable for extra performance. It’s designed with a full-zip opening with front pockets and full zip opening and is reversible for a combination of distinctive styles. It comes in two colours: Navy/Aquatic and Black Multi/Black.

This lightweight style is waterproof and has been prequilted for optimal insulation. A high collar and elasticated hem help provide additional warmth and protection from the cold and wet, while the contrast chevron design creates a flattering silhouette that’ll undoubtedly make this a wardrobe favourite. In fact, this particular gilet has plenty of off-course appeal as well.

Galvin’s Lene vest features INTERFACE-1 technology. These garments are made with materials that offer optimum protection and comfort in windy conditions. The soft materials also offer high levels of breathability as well as windproof and water-repellent properties. It includes front pockets with zippers and is suitable for wear off the course as well on it.

The Puma Cloudspun vest offers lightweight comfort and warmth due to the Primaloft gold insulation in the front and back panels. It features a full zip, zip hand pockets with soft, brushed lining and cloudspun side panels for additional comfort. The quilted detailing is a popular style.

As the name suggests, the Storm Revo vest offers protection from the rain. The brand’s Storm technology repels water without sacrificing breathability. Meanwhile, the stretch-woven outer fabric with soft fleece lining keeps you warm without excess bulk or weight. The reflective details enhance this garment’s style, while the zip hand pockets offer the wearer a good amount of room for accessories. For those who don’t like pink, this gilet is also available in Black/Metallic Silver, which looks particularly smart.

Sunderland’s Tania vest is an ultra-lightweight shell with ripstop fabric for increased weather resistance. Active smart fibre thermoregulates to climatic changes to release excess heat. It also recirculates body heat to maintain body temperature for thermal warmth. Smart and stretchy, it stands up well to rain showers and wind.

The Elgin Hybrid vest has a seamless quilted windproof fabric that is padded at the front and back. The side panels and shoulders are made of stretchable fleece, allowing you to swing the club without feeling restricted. It’s also brushed on the inside and has a square pattern for better air circulation that will keep you nice and warm. Meanwhile, elastic binding at the armhole keeps the wind out. It also features a full front zipper with reflective piping and two front pockets.

Specialist golf insurance with Golf Care

Thinking of treating yourself or a loved one to a new golf gilet? You may also want to consider golf insurance.

With Golf Care, golf insurance includes Equipment cover up to £7,500, Public Liability up to £10m and much more. It’s also underpinned by the ‘Ripe Guarantee’, meaning you get great cover and service to match at a price you can afford.

Click on the banner below to learn more about how our cover can help you.

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Just because the days are shorter and the weather is colder, it shouldn’t stop you from enjoying an autumn golf weekend getaway.

In fact,
for many, autumn is the best time of year to play. With orange and yellow
leaves lining the fairways, less ‘traffic’ on the course, and softer, more
playable conditions, there’s a lot to like about autumn golf.

Whether you’re planning a late break this year or looking ahead to next, here’s a selection of the best golf weekend getaways across the UK and Ireland.