A fun, family-filled weekend kicks off at the 2022 PNC Championship with Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie, capturing most of the headlines. While younger Woods’ swing has taken social media by storm, it is the status and health of the elder one — the one who has taken social media by storm since its inception — that remains on the minds of most.

“I can practice. I just can’t walk,” Woods said, echoing his comments from the Hero World Challenge. “So when you’re dealing with the plantar [fasciitis] like this, it’s one of these things where I need rest, and I haven’t exactly been doing that.”

Developing plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Woods was forced to withdraw from the Hero World Challenge — the event he hosts annually — at the beginning of December. Despite this foot injury accompanying a recovering leg and five prior back surgeries, the 82-time winner competed in The Match 7 with Rory McIlroy against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, and will hit the course again at this week’s PNC Championship. 

“It’s been a lot harder than people probably imagine,” Woods said of his road to recovery. “There’s some of the players who are very close to me know what I’ve kind of gone through, and they’re the ones that keep encouraging me to back off a little bit. But that’s not really in my nature. My nature is trying to get better. And I have. And through work ethic, I was able to, as I said, play and compete in three major championships this year. 

“And this offseason hasn’t really been an off season. I’ve kind of ramped things up. But after this, come Monday, we shut it all down and take care of this foot so that I can ramp up properly. As you’ve seen, I can hit golf balls. I can do all that. I can practice at home. I can hit shots around the green. I can do all that. I just can’t get from point A to point B.”

With plans to get off his feet following the conclusion of the PNC Championship, one can’t help but wonder what Woods’ future playing schedule may look like. Playing only nine competitive rounds during the 2021-22 PGA Tour season — four at The Masters, three at the PGA Championship and two at The Open — the 15-time major champion was rarely seen, an oddity golf fans will have to get used to.

Conventional wisdom suggests Woods potentially teeing it up in February at the Genesis Invitational, and maybe even The Players Championship in early March if the body is up for it. If not, all sights remain on Augusta National for The Masters in April in what would be the first of four major championship appearances in 2023. 

Perhaps that’ll be it for Woods and five tournaments will be the max. Perhaps not. There are other events, including The Memorial, squarely between the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, which make sense but only time will tell as more information about his health, stamina and endurance come to light.

What is for certain is the recently developed plantar fasciitis is doing Woods no favors. Stripping him of an opportunity to play alongside 19 of the best players in the world in The Bahamas, it has also brought a sense of precariousness to his recovery timeline.

“No, not yet,” Woods said of knowing his future schedule. “Because if I didn’t have the plantar feeling like this, then, yes, I could tell you that and I’d have a better idea. But I’m supposed to be resting this thing and stretching and letting it heal. But I’m not doing that at the moment.”

Instead, Woods is playing alongside his son as the two attempt to improve on their runner-up performance from a year ago. With the potential for new injuries or aggravation of old ones lingering, the soon-to-be 47-year-old Woods sees the bigger picture, and if some additional soreness is the price he has to pay for a couple rounds with his son, then so be it.

“I don’t really care about that [a potential setback],” said Woods. “I think being there with and alongside my son is far more important, and get to have a chance to have this experience with him is far better than my foot being a little creaky.”

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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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Shamble, scramble, and best ball are constantly confused by amateur golfers.

Working in the golf industry for more than a dozen years taught me that most amateur golfers have no idea what the difference is between these events, and some just think the word shamble is a mispronunciation of scramble.

Rest assured, the shamble is a real thing.

In fact, it’s kind of a fun format and can be a great team event. Here’s what to expect when you play in a shamble tournament.

What is a Shamble Tournament?

A shamble tournament is where each golfer hits a drive, the best drive is chosen, and then all players play their ball into the hole from there. The shamble is different from a scramble or a best ball event.

When you play in a shamble, you will be using some of your own golf drives as you make your way around the golf course, but it can be beneficial if you run into a bad hole to have another drive that you can play off of.

The shamble tournament is great for those who struggle off the tee box but can play the hole on their own.

Many shambles have different variations, and sometimes one team score is all that is needed; sometimes, there are gross and net scores collected, and other times it is two net scores at the end of the hole. It will be up to your tournament committee to decide which is the case for your event.

Differences Between a Golf Shamble vs. Scramble

There are a few main differences between a scramble and a shamble, and it’s important to understand them. Not only do you want to ensure you are following the rules, but it’s also essential to think about strategy when playing in these events.

Shamble Requires More of Your Own Shots

In a scramble, you will continue to choose the best shot from the golfers in your group the entire time you play the hole. This results in some holes where none of your shots are selected as the best ones.

In a shamble format, you may not be playing from your own drive, but you will undoubtedly be playing your ball into the hole.

The nice thing about this for golfers that play in a shamble is that they can enjoy seeing more of the course and get more of a full round in. The downside, of course, is that it’s much harder for higher handicap golfers.

More Than One Score at The End of a Shamble

Most shambles will have you take at least one best gross and one best net at the end of a hole. However, sometimes it can be the two best net balls of the group.

With a scramble tournament, only one score is recorded as all players keep moving to the best shot throughout the hole. When you play a golf shamble format, you will have a more accurate idea as to what your score would have been if you played your own golf ball.

Number of Drives

Most of the time, with a scramble, each of the team members in the foursome needs to contribute at least two drives. Considering the drive is such a vital part of the shamble, this same rule is typically in place.

Make sure that you are paying close attention to this as you move through to ensure that you have the best chance of winning this golf tournament format.

Two Person Formats

The 2-person shamble is rarer, but it is a format that can work. In addition, you can play a 2 person scramble tournament. However, most of the time, this works best with a group of four.

The pace of play for the shamble on the scramble is comparable. However, I can tell you that the scramble will usually be a bit shorter. It really depends on the golfer’s handicaps in the group to be able to estimate the pace of play.

Can You Handicap a Shamble?

Handicapping for shambles will vary based on what your tournament committee decides is the best fit. For the majority of shambles, the handicap of every player will be reduced by about 20 to 25%.

If you are a 20 handicap, you will get 15 shots that day. Considering you will have the chance to play from the best drive out of four, this is pretty fair.

A golf shamble handicap can sometimes be based on player handicap where the lower player gets less of their handicap, and the higher player gets more of their handicap, but this makes things more complicated.

Some tournament committee that is unsure of anyone’s handicap will just play a gross shamble. This is when only a gross score tournament result is collected.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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Even with
a bit of autumn sunshine, it’s starting to feel cold on the course, especially
early in the morning. However, given the extensive range of winter golf
clothing and accessories on the market, there can be no excuses for feeling the
cold to the extent that you pack the game in for the winter.

In fact,
so effective are some of the modern garments, they’d keep you nice and toasty
if you decided to go trekking in the Arctic.

There are other ways to keep your body warm on the fairways this winter, too. So, as well as topping up your golf wardrobe with a few items of winter golf gear, here’s how to keep warm playing golf.

Wear a base layer

A base layer has to be number one on the list. They provide incredible warmth for such a thin piece of material. Skin-tight base layers don’t restrict your swing like bulkier layers can and help increase blood circulation. On really icy days, you may want to consider a pair of base-layer bottoms, too. Now it doesn’t matter how low the temperature gets.  

Prepare a hot drink

Make sure you top up that flask of yours before you tee off. It’s important to stay hydrated, of course, which is why you should always carry water. However, during the winter, use your flask for a cup of hot tea or coffee—or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a hearty soup. You can’t beat sipping a hot brew on the frosty fairways.

Wear winter mitts

If you don’t own a pair of mitts, put them on your Christmas list. These are up there with the base layers—they’re absolutely essential. Once the hands and fingers go, so does your feel, and you have no chance of playing your best. Winter mitts are easy to slip on and off between shots, and they do a fantastic job of keeping your hands warm, so you can grip your club properly and keep that all-important feel in your fingertips.

Invest in hand warmers

Why stop with a pair of winter mitts? There are lots of hand-warming devices out there that you might not necessarily find in a golf shop. Such products don’t just target golfers but anyone who suffers from cold hands when out and about. Some, you simply charge up at home; then, when you get to the course, turn them on, place them in your pockets, and feel the heat.

Related: The best winter golf hand warmers

Wear thermal socks

Okay, this might be stating the obvious, but plenty of golfers out there don’t own a pair of thermal golf socks—and that’s a crime! We’ve all suffered the painful feeling of numb toes, and no amount of feet stamping can bring them back to life. Again, how can you expect to play your best when you’re suffering from cold feet?

Wear a bobble hat

If you ever see a golfer playing without a bottle hat in the winter, they must be made of pretty strong stuff. So much body heat is lost from our heads, so keeping this part of the body warm is crucial. Cold ears rival cold toes and fingers for pain. Quite frankly, taking to the golf in the winter without a warm hat is madness.

Related: Best golf beanies 2022

Try a snood

Eyebrows were raised when the pros started wearing snoods, but no one would question the look these days—they’re becoming increasingly popular. Snoods are really effective on cold and windy days. They keep your neck warm and prevent drafts from getting down your top. Think of those blustery days on the links, where the icy gusts take your breath away. Another advantage of wearing a snood is that the stretchy material can be pulled right up over your face.

Carry your bag

If you really suffer from the cold in the winter months, try carrying your clubs instead of using a trolley. It’s always nice to get moving after you’ve been standing around in the cold waiting to tee off. You might find that you warm up a lot quicker and stay fairly warm throughout your round when you’re tasked with carrying your clubs on your back.

Invest in decent waterproofs

When the wet starts penetrating through your layers, there’s no coming back. If you’re a golfer who likes to play all-year round, you’ll already know the importance of wearing fully waterproof jackets. Ideally, you need a full suit—so that’s the jacket and trousers. Today’s best waterproof golf suits will keep you dry in even the wettest conditions. 

Switch to waterproof shoes

Many a golfer gets caught out wearing the wrong type of golf shoes when the cold weather comes around. Even if there’s no rain forecast, make sure you wear fully waterproof golf shoes during the winter months. One trip to the long, wet rough in shoes that aren’t waterproof, and you’ll be suffering from cold, wet feet for the rest of your round.

Related: The best waterproof golf shoes

Specialist golf insurance with Golf Care

Great—you know how to keep warm playing golf, so now there’s nothing stopping you getting out on the course this winter. However, you might also want to consider golf insurance to protect yourself further.

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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New Zealander Ryan Fox dedicated his Alfred Dunhill Links Championship victory on the Old Course at St Andrews to his late friend Shane Warne, the cricket legend who died in March at the age of 52.

Fox clinched his third DP World Tour win by finishing one shot ahead of Callum Shinkwin and Alex Noren with an impressive final round of 68, for an overall 15-under-par total of 273.

Warne, the former Australia leg spinner, was Fox’s regular amateur partner in his five previous Alfred Dunhill Links appearances. As a result, the pair became close and, last year, came within a whisker of winning the team championship.

Fox said: “To be honest the only person I can really think of at the moment is Warney. It definitely felt as if he was with me all the way around. It means a lot to win this event, we were great mates, and it’s just a shame he’s not here. I really wanted to try to do something special for Warney and I’m pretty proud to have been able to accomplish that.”

Those still fresh memories were with Fox throughout the tournament and it certainly did seem as if the 35-year-old Kiwi’s victory was meant to be, as overnight leader Richard Mansell, who began the day four strokes clear of his nearest three rivals, a group that included Fox, found a gorse bush on the 2nd hole and fell back into the chasing pack with a double-bogey.

And not even Rory McIlroy, who shot his second 66 of the weekend at the Old Course to finish on 13-under-par, could get past Fox and saw his own challenge drop away after a visit to the notorious Road Hole bunker, a splash out sideways and a bogey five.

In the end, with England’s Mansell fading to a 76 and a share of seventh, only Noren had a chance of catching Fox. The Swedish Ryder Cup player hit a magnificent approach to the 17th, but missed a five-foot birdie putt, while Fox scrambled a bogey five there by two-putting from distance after a mis-hit third shot only just made it on to the front of the green.

That meant Fox required only a par four at the last to stay ahead of Shinkwin, whose 67 had seen him finish a shot ahead of McIlroy at 14-under-par. Noren’s drive looked like going out of bounds until a freakish bounce propelled it back into play and across to the back of the green. But Noren’s long eagle putt came up just short and that left Fox needing only to take two putts from around 15-feet to complete his victory, collect the US$816,000  first prize,

It was a second win of the season for Fox, adding to a victory at the Ras al Khaimah Classic, and he always looked in control during a round which featured seven birdies, four of them on the front nine. He is now predicted to leap up to 25th in the world rankings list, the highest position of his career.

The week as a whole has once again provided a host of memories for professionals and amateurs who paired up in the Team Championship, won this year by Callum Shinkwin and Alex Acquavella, who posted a brilliant final round 63 at the Old Course to post a -37 total and win by four shots.

Shinkwin praised the composure of his amateur partner. “It’s a tough situation to be in for an amateur playing with three pros. I said to Alex on the first tee just to enjoy himself, and he did. I didn’t notice he was nervous at all. At 14, he hit a driver and an 8-iron, two big hits!”

Acquavella added: “We’ve never played together before, but Callum was a real gentleman from the first day we met. He’s been so supportive this week. I was very nervous today. I started to feel it even more on the back nine, but I managed to have three good holes so I was happy, and now I can go home and celebrate with the family.”

Ryan Fox’s WITB
Driver: Srixon ZX5 (9.5°)
Fairway wood: TaylorMade SIM Titanium (14°)
Utility: Srixon Z U85 (20°)
Irons: Srixon ZX7 (4-PW)
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50°, 56°, 60°)
Putter: Fine Tuned Prototype
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV

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There’s no question that the teams at the 2022 Presidents Cup are lopsided. It’s not necessarily accurate that the United States has the 12 best players and the international team has the 12 worst, but you could posit something close to that and not be far off.

There’s also no question that this is a problem hampering interest in this year’s event. Following an outrageously good 2019 Presidents Cup, it was not irrational to believe that future Presidents Cups were going to be a lot closer than those of the past — and perhaps even more competitive than Ryder Cups.

With the defections of international players like Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann and Louis Oosthuizen to LIV Golf, that narrative has changed quite a bit. Nowhere is that more clear than in the individual player rankings. If you’re looking at the rosters as a whole, you can squint and possibly talk yourself into a competitive week. If you look at the player rankings based on current form and past performance at team events, though, there’s absolutely no chance.

2022 Presidents Cup teams, ranked

1. Justin Thomas (U.S.): J.T. gets the narrow nod over Scottie Scheffler because of his incredible play in team events (he’s 10-2-3 in non-singles play at Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups). He knows what’s expected of him, and unlike a lot of talented athletes, he definitely wants the ball when the lights go on.

2. Scottie Scheffler (U.S.): The No. 1 player in the world deservingly received the PGA Tour Player of the Year trophy two weeks ago. Though he hasn’t won since the Masters, his ball-striking numbers have remained similar, and his level of play outside of putting has hardly dropped off at all. He’s probably ready to shoulder a massive load at U.S. team events.

3. Xander Schauffele (U.S.): No matter which way you slice it, Schauffele has been one of the top three players at this event over the last six months. He’s a menace from tee to green, and he has a 6-3-0 career record at U.S. team events, including a 4-0-0 mark in foursomes play alongside Patrick Cantlay (with whom he’ll be paired often this week).

4. Sungjae Im (international): This is maybe a stretch for Im, but I’m trying to find some hope for Trevor Immelman’s side, and Im has been playing fantastic golf. He’s second in this field in ball-striking over his last 20 rounds and nearly won the Tour Championship over Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Nobody on either team scored more than the 3.5 points he posted in 2019 at Royal Melbourne.

5. Tony Finau (U.S.): One of the breakout stars of last year’s Ryder Cup has also been one of the best players in the world over the last six months. Finau ranks behind only Scheffler and Schauffele in ball-striking in the last six months.

6. Patrick Cantlay (U.S.): He’s been good on this course, good in match play at team events and terrific overall in the last two months. There’s a lot to like. Cantlay and Finau are the only players averaging at least 0.3 strokes gained per round across all four categories (driving, approach play, around the green and putting).

7. Max Homa (U.S.): He’s rolling in off his fifth win last week in Napa, California, into his first-ever team event where he should thrive. It helps that he’s won at Quail Hollow before and has been one of the top six players at this event over his last 20 rounds.

8. Cameron Young (U.S.): He’s been the longest player of anyone in this event over the last 12 months, and only Taylor Pendrith is close. According to Data Golf, Young gets the biggest course fit bump of any of the 24 golfers who will tee it up this week. If he’s paired with Tony Finau, it’s going to be an absolute bonanza off the tee.

9. Jordan Spieth (U.S.): He’s been showing real glimpses of his old iron-playing self, but the putter has not been magical of late (to say the least). I’m confident he’s going to play solidly, but I’m not going to scream it from the rooftops like I have at past team events because this last season was statistically the worst season of his PGA Tour career.

10. Sam Burns (U.S.): Burns cooled a bit at the end of last season and has not been a great ball-striker over the last few months. However, he seems perfectly constructed for match play at Quail Hollow (long, great iron player who putts well) and should thrive in his pod alongside Scheffler, Billy Horschel and Kevin Kisner.

11. Hideki Matsuyama (international): The 2021 Masters champion is playing his fifth Presidents Cup. He has the second-best strokes-gained number at Quail Hollow of everyone at this event behind only Thomas and just ahead of Spieth and Billy Horschel.

12. Adam Scott (international): Closed out last season with two top fives in his last four starts. However, his overall match play record at the Presidents Cup is 16-22-6, which is not great considering most of that came in the middle of the prime of his career. He also continues to insist on dressing most like a dad of anyone at this event.

13. Collin Morikawa (U.S.): How scary is it that the U.S. has a two-time major winner this low? The internationals don’t have a single multiple-time major winner on their squad, and the U.S. can roll out somebody who did that last year as their 10th-best player.

14. Corey Conners (international): How is this Conners’ first Presidents Cup?! He’s an immense ball-striker (fifth in the field in his last 20 rounds), but the short game might hold him back from winning many matches and could especially be a problem in alternate shot.

15. Tom Kim (international): Maybe the biggest difference between floor and ceiling of anybody in the field. Kim is an outstanding iron player (best in the field over his last 20 rounds), and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win two or three matches against against players who outmatch him off the tee (which is most of them).

16. Billy Horschel (U.S.): An up and down year for Horschel, who both won Memorial but also didn’t finish in the top 20 on the PGA Tour after that through the Tour Championship. Quail Hollow is not a great fit for him statistically, but I also wouldn’t want to face him in match play at any point.

17. Cameron Davis (international): Consider me intrigued here. He’s one of the four or five longest players in the field and one of the few international players who has the firepower to keep with most of the U.S. guys off the tee. He also ended this most recent PGA Tour season with five top 20s in his last six starts. He’ll likely prove to be a nice captain’s pick by Immelman.

18. Taylor Pendrith (international): Along with Davis, he was clearly picked because of his length, but he’s also been hitting his irons quite well and had six top 15s in his last seven PGA Tour starts last season (T67 at last week’s Fortinet Championship).

19. Si Woo Kim (international): His putting has been scary bad recently, but you know the talent is in there to take on anybody the U.S. can throw at him. Always an unknown at events like this, but who could forget him going full “shhhhh” at the 2017 Presidents Cup with his team down two touchdowns on Sunday. 

20. Mito Pereira (international): The near-PGA Championship winner has had a strong season, but he didn’t have a single top 40 over his last six events and doesn’t bring a lot of ball-striking momentum into Quail Hollow.

21. Kevin Kisner (U.S.): He’s been the worst ball-striker in the field over the last 12 months, and a lot of that is due to the fact that he’s the shortest player off the tee by a fairly healthy margin (although Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Tom Kim are close). Kisner might in fact clean up in match play like he does at the WGC event, but on paper, he’s not a great fit for this golf course.

22. K.H. Lee (international): He posted one top 10 after his win at the AT&T Byron Nelson earlier this year.

23. Sebastian Munoz (international): He posted zero top 10s after his T3 at the AT&T Byron Nelson earlier this year.

24. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (international): He’s one of just two golfers in the event that has a negative strokes-gained ball-striking number over his last 20 rounds (Kisner is the other). That’s not going to go well at Quail Hollow.

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Not all golfers like to practice; in fact, some will dread it.

However, as a young player and even still today, I loved spending time on the range.

Practicing golf on the driving range and chipping green made me feel more prepared for the golf course. When I played my next round, I always felt more confident after a good practice session.

However, there is an art to balancing practice and play that all amateur players should better understand.

How Often Should You Practice Golf?

Golfers should be practicing and hitting balls at least three times per week if they are serious about improving their game. For those that simply want to maintain their current level, once or twice a week could be enough for that.

When deciding how often you should practice golf, you must consider the number of practice sessions, the duration, and the type.

Days Per Week

Three practice sessions per week are ideal.

This goes beyond just hitting golf balls at the range and should include putting green and chipping green. If you are looking for real improvement in your game, ensure that you incorporate drills that help with ball flight, distance, control, and more.

I always liked to try and get some video of my swing technique or even use a launch monitor to measure swing speed and other data parameters. Doing this allowed for a more effective practice session.

Hours Per Practice Session

Now that we have practice frequency determined, it’s important to also consider practice duration.

The great thing about golf practice is that you don’t have to be out on the range for hours to develop muscle memory and make real changes in your golf game. In fact, some players have their best practice sessions when they keep it short.

Warm up for a few minutes and do some stretches, then hit five or ten golf balls and determine what you will work on. If your golf game has been good lately, simply focus on tempo and balance in your swing.

You may hit a bucket of balls and feel like that was all you needed, but other golfers will practice for hours without feeling like they accomplished what they needed. Most practice sessions only need to be about 30 to 45 minutes.

In this time frame, you can include both full swing practice and short game practice.

Type of Practice Session

Sometimes golf practice includes standing on the driving range and hitting one shot after another, but sometimes playing on the golf course can also count as practice.

If you are not playing a tournament round and instead going out on the golf course to practice different holes, it can lead to faster improvement.

Try to mix up the types of practice that you do. Sometimes you may want to just bring your 7 iron to the range and work on hitting it higher, lower, left, and right. Other times it may make sense to work on your long game or to head to the course and practice from 100 yards and in on the course.

To make the most significant changes on the golf course, you must be thinking about transferring your practice to your game. It’s not realistic to hit 15 drivers in a row; this will never happen to you on the golf course.

Instead, vary the shots you are hitting, work on different areas of your golf swing, and be smarter about the practice sessions you have.

How Often Should You Be Playing a Round of Golf?

Many golfers wish that they could play golf every day of the week.

Although this concept may sound great, I can tell you that it is a bit exhausting. Golfers should remember that rest time is essential; any great instructor will be able to tell you that sometimes a break is necessary. Ideally, playing golf 2 to 3 times per week is the sweet spot for most people.

This certainly depends on your skill level as well as your free time.

18 Holes

Try to play 18 holes of golf at least once or twice weekly. If you are not playing this many times at a minimum, it becomes difficult to get anything good going as far as progress in your game.

Progress comes from consistency and dedication, and when you play golf twice per month, with not much practice mixed in, you won’t see that consistency.

9 Holes

9 hole rounds are a great option to add in when you are short on time. Many golf courses even offer a twilight rate on 9 holes. If you thought your days to play golf were just Saturday and Sunday, maybe you can fit in a 9 hole round on a Wednesday afternoon.

It can be hard to get friends and playing partners organized for a midweek 9 hole round. Therefore this is the perfect situation to use for a practice session. Play two golf balls if you are out there by yourself. Try to keep score on both golf balls to see how you do.

While you are out there, focus on the areas of the course that give you trouble and start paying attention to your course management and the golf swing flaws that you may have.

Practice Round

It can be hard to find a place to get a practice round of golf in. Many golf courses are booked with tee times from the start of the day to the end of the night. However, if you can potentially get out as a single to work on your game, it will really pay off.

The best tips I can give you for this practice round are to look for the first or last tee times of the day. Sometimes if you go out really early, there will be no other golfers ready to play and you can head out there and really work on your game.

The last tee time of the day means the golf course will be emptying out, and you may also get a quick practice round in. I know how hard this can be to find an opportunity. I have been known to head out on the golf course in a bit of rain to get this done; most golfers leave but if you have the right gear, playing in the rain is not all that bad.

Should You Focus More on Practice or Playing to Improve Your Game?

When people try to lose weight, they have to find the perfect balance between diet and exercise. Without this proper combination, they may have no success and feel as though the diet is failing them. Golf practice and improvement are exactly the same.

If you want to improve your golf game, you must find the perfect balance of practice and play. For me, this is two rounds of golf per week that are competitive (even if just against friends), one round of golf that is a practice type round where I think more, and then two to three good practice sessions.

Sometimes those practice sessions are before or after a round; other times, they are going to be on my off days. There is certainly no perfect amount of time to spend on the range or the course. Some golfers that have injuries or issues with their back can only practice once per week.

The bottom line is to see what your body can handle and see how your golf game is progressing. Pay close attention to your scores and the way that your practice and playing schedule is impacting your scores.

If you are playing golf four days a week, but your handicap is going up, it may be time to back it down a little, and turn one of those rounds into a practice session.

Can You Practice Golf Too Much?

Golf can be practiced too much. Professional golfers work on their game day in and day out, but they didn’t start this process overnight.

They know what they need to do to get to the level they are expected to play in an event, and this requires time with instructors, feedback sessions on the range, tons of time on putting green, and more.

However, your full-time job is likely not golf, and therefore you can practice to the point that you tire yourself out and even start creating bad habits. Practicing golf too much can lead to an injury and cause problems for players that don’t know how to practice properly.

If you are new to the game, take things slow. Work on practicing at least once or twice per week and then start to increase from there. Remember that practice sessions do not need to be an hour long; they can be 30 minutes but still be extremely effective.

The key is to find a sweet spot that works for your brain and your body. This is where you will see the most effective practice and the results that transfer to the golf course.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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Growing up in a sub-tropical climate, I was exposed to sweltering heat, which caused profuse sweating.

Besides the overall discomfort, this restricted my ability to induce a firm grip, leading to a loss of traction. In this guide, I will teach you what to do if you’ve got sweaty hands while playing golf.

I have provided 15 tips to combat moisture to maintain dry hands while on the golf course. These tips are a mix of methods I use combined with a couple that worked for my peers.

We will look at ideas to implement between shots, the best golf gloves, golf grips, and a few accessories which do the trick.

1. Breathable Glove

My first recommendation is to source a breathable glove that encourages maximum airflow to keep your hands cool and dry on the links. You’ll find that breathable golf gloves feature a perforated mesh lining across the knuckles, where the air enters.

Golf gloves with limited breathability maintain heat internally, generating moist hands in record time. Even if you remove your glove between shots, a minute with these gloves on in warm conditions can onset sweat.

The FootJoy WeatherSof design is my best golf glove recommendation to promote air circulation inside the glove for maximum comfort. It is also reinforced with Cabretta leather on the thumb and palm for a soft texture and solid grip.

2. Take Off Your Glove Between Shots

A simple tip that most golfers employ is removing the glove between shots.

You’ll notice that this practice gives your hand a chance to breathe and soak up the fresh air, reducing heat and exiling moisture from your palms.

In addition, many players remove the glove for short game shots to enhance the feel and feedback around the green. Implementing this tactic on scorching days gives your hand more time out of the glove than inside, which goes a long way to keeping it refreshed.

3. Carry Multiple Gloves

Gloves are an inexpensive purchase as far as golf equipment goes, and there is no reason not to own multiple units. Having at least two gloves in your bag covers you should one is drenched in moisture and no longer offers sufficient traction.

Playing with a wet glove leads a golfer to remove it and swing barehanded. You’ll notice that sweaty hands with no glove further reduce your traction and can lower your clubhead speed and control of the golf club.

4. Use A Rain Glove

Remaining on the glove topic, I had a buddy who used a rain glove year round because he found it enhanced his grip.

The way he described it, the glove helped him induce sufficient grip pressure for maximum control in all weather.

5. Carry Two Towels

Always carry two towels on the golf course in hot weather, besides the towel for your clubheads after each shot.

Keep one towel wet and as cold as you can. Golfers operating a golf cart can even store the towel in an ice box with some water. Use this towel to wipe your hands before and after each shot to cool them down.

The other towel must remain dry to shed the cold water from your hands before and after every shot. This routine keeps your hands cool and dry to ensure the best grip possible in wet weather.

6. A Cool Bottle of Water

A refreshing bottle of water is an alternative measure you can take to remove sweat. Instead of the wet and cold towel, throw some cold water directly on your hands between shots.

Then rub your hands together to shed dirt and debris and chill your hands. Follow it up by whipping out the dry towel and removing the moisture from your palms and fingers.

7. Use Wet Wipes

Yes, I know they are used for babies, but wet towels are a more hygienic method of shedding sweat and keeping your hands dry and clean.

Pull out a wet wipe before each shot and clear your hand of sweat, dirt, and other grime.

8. Dry Your Grips Before and After Each Shot

Another simple tip that is common practice among caddies and players is drying golf grips before shots.

This is an extra step in the process, but it ensures you remove as much sweat and debris generated on your previous shot. This clears the surface for enhanced contact between your hand and the rubber material.

Take a dry cloth and run it up and down the grip until you are satisfied that it is dry and ready for action.

9. Rosin Bag

A rosin bag is an extreme measure, but I have seen it work for several players. The powdery substance helps their hands stick to the club grip like glue.

Admittedly, I find it uncomfortable and annoying to have the substance on my hands for an entire round of golf, but it is effective. You can also use other powders, such as baby powder or chalk if you cannot source a rosin bag.

10. Gripping Solution

Products such as Dry Hands are gripping solutions to help you hold the club better in any condition. The solution eradicates moisture from your hands, keeping you sweat-free during your round.

Plus, you’ll notice that the substance does not stick to your hands and become an annoyance like other products.

11. Use Tacky Or Cord Grips

If you have tried every trick in the book and still struggle for optimal traction with sweaty hands, new golf grips may help. The best golf grip designs for maximum friction are tacky or cord setups.

Corded grips are typically equipped with moisture-wicking technology that sheds sweat and water from the surface for elevated traction in all conditions. Conversely, tacky rubber golf grips possess sticky layers to keep your hands fastened to the golf club.

An excellent tacky option is the Winn Dri-Tac grip construction. Besides maximizing your hold on your golf club, it promotes lighter grip pressure for optimal comfort during your golf swing.

12. Sandpaper Your Grips

This is not my favorite approach, as sandpaper can wreck your grips. However, I am suggesting it because I know golfers who do it with corded grips, and they swear by it.

Sanding down the surface of your grips will smooth them out and enable you to gain firm control of the grip in hot conditions.

13. Blow Dry Your Hands With A Mini Fan

My final suggestion is a pompous approach to drying your hands. However, I have seen multiple lads and ladies employ the method. All you need is a battery-operated compact fan which you can snatch up one for next to nothing and store it in your golf bag.

When walking between shots or waiting for your partner to play, turn the fan on and let it blow onto your skin. A few moments of cool air hitting your skin will help refresh your hands and dispose of moisture.

14. Ice Pack

This is a tip I use on days when I am driving a cart and can store additional accessories. A mini ice box with a frozen pack is a game changer for comfort.

I reach for the ice pack when my hands are burning and chill them with the freezing chunk of goodness. It is not the most hygienic approach to stick your dirty mitts on the same block of ice all day, so I suggest carrying a couple with you.

15. Botox

It sounds extreme, and it is, but one of the members of my club went in for treatment because sweaty palms became a daily struggle. It was not limited to warm conditions on the golf course. Their condition is known as Palmar Hyperhidrosis which prompts profuse sweating of the palms.

The member in question explained that a medical professional administered the botox to significantly reduce sweating. This is an option for golfers who suffer from Palmar Hyperhidrosis and is not recommended solely for added grip on the golf course.

FAQ

What do pros use for sweaty hands?

Golf pros employ a mixture of methods to keep their hands dry and reduce the impact of sweat. Firstly, they wipe their hands with a wet towel and dry them with another. If this is unsuccessful, they employ a gripping solution or powder to enhance their traction on the golf club.

Furthermore, you will find that professional golfers carry a host of gloves and towels to ensure that every base is covered in warm weather.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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There are so many reasons to play golf. It gets you outside, it’s excellent exercise, you can travel the world playing it, meet new people, and make new friends – the benefits are endless! But, did you know there are several mental health benefits of playing golf, too? That’s right! As good as golf is for your body and social life, it’s also great for your brain.

Mental Health Benefits of Playing Golf

1. Reduces stress

A three-footer to save par or a long approach over water can be anything but stress-reducing. So, we understand why you may be asking, “just how does golf relieve stress?” It can be mostly attributed to something called green exercise. Green exercise is essentially any physical activity or sport performed in the great outdoors. The combination of physical output while being in contact with nature reduces stress and mental exhaustion. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that golf courses tend to offer incredibly beautiful and peaceful settings, too.

To get even more scientific, being outside stimulates serotonin production in your body. When sunlight enters your eyes, more serotonin is produced which plays a large role in your mood. So, you’ll find yourself in a generally happier mood when on the golf course – minus the double bogeys of course.

2. Lowers anxiety

The reduction of stress and anxiety go hand in hand when it comes to the mental health benefits of playing golf. As green exercise can reduce stress, it can also lower anxiety. But a long-term reduction of anxiety can have shocking lifelong benefits. Like, a longer life!

A combination of the physical benefits of golf and social interaction can lead to a huge decrease in anxiety. Because of this, studies have found that, on average, golfers live five years longer than non-golfers. So the next time your husband or wife gets upset that you’re playing your fourth round of the week, you have yet another justification to add to your list!

3. Encourages social interaction

At its root, golf is certainly an individual sport. You’re not playing for a team (in most cases) and your own score is the only one that matters to you. But as independent as golf can be, it also offers many opportunities for group play and camaraderie and is one of the best social benefits of golf.

If you’re playing by yourself, more often than not you’ll be paired with another group. Or, you may already have a large group of friends you like to play with! Either way is great, and offers a great opportunity to increase your social interaction. Social interaction has been found to naturally produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with the “reward system” of the brain. Whether it’s a high-five after a great shot or a handshake at the end of a round, physical touch can produce dopamine, too.

4. Decreases effects of depression

The mental benefits of golf also extend to depression. Playing golf won’t eliminate depressive symptoms entirely, but it can drastically decrease their effects. Have you heard of a runner’s high? It stems from the production of endorphins but can be applied to golf, too. Sure it’s not as intense of an activity. But, a few hours of steady athletic activity can reduce the effects of depression.

5. Improves life skills

Life skills… it’s probably a phrase you haven’t heard since elementary school! But, no matter your age, life skills are always important. And golf offers a great opportunity to improve them. Take hitting a bad shot for example. Golf teaches you to accept what has happened, forgive yourself, let it go, and move on with the round.

With situations like these, there are so many parallels between golf and life. Refining and enhancing your abilities to accept the bad and focus on the good is a great way to increase your mental health and mental maturity.

So, are you ready to experience the mental health benefits of playing golf yourself? Great! Make your airport experience easier on your mind and body, too, when you ship your golf clubs and luggage ahead with Ship Sticks. Learn more about shipping ahead or get a free quote today!

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