Are Golf Courses Open in the Winter? (Overview)

Written by Todd in Golf Club Questions

For those of us addicted to the game of golf and the journey to get better, winter time can be difficult.

In many locations throughout the United States and other parts of the world, winter means snow, cold weather and possible course closures.

Depending on the severity of the weather the winter season often impacts your ability to play golf and work on your game.

Are golf courses open in the winter?

It depends.  In areas where snow doesn’t cover the grass all winter long, some courses will open when the temperature is above 32 degrees and the ground is not frozen.  While other courses, specifically the private country clubs, will often close for at least several months depending on the severity of the winter weather.

Golfing in the winter: 15 Tips!

When will courses open in the winter?

I live in the northern part of Ohio, where there is a possibility of snow from November thru March.  However, there is also the possibility that the temperature could be anywhere from 40 to 60 degrees during these months.  Many of the public courses will open as long as there is no snow cover, the ground is not frozen and the golfers aren’t going to do significant damage to the course.

There has been a stretch in this part of Ohio where golfers can place at least one round of golf per month throughout the year.  Even if it snows in early December, the snow will often melt with temperatures in the 40s.  Golfers look for that opportunity when the temperature hits around 45 degrees to get outside and play.

Can you play golf in the winter (3 options)

Golf courses are ugly in the winter, but it feels god to play when you get the chance!

What courses remain closed in the winter?

The more elite level public golf courses and the private country clubs will typically close somewhere around November 1st or December 1st and remain closed through the end of March.  They are slow to open up in the early spring as the ground is often very wet from the snow and the rain that occurs during these months.

The traffic on a wet golf course can often do damage and the grass has not started to grow yet.  Ultimately, these courses value the conditions in the main parts of the season over golfers getting a chance to play during the winter months.

How to practice golf in the winter

Why would courses open in the winter?

The public golf courses that will open during the winter months when the temperature hits 45 or above can make several thousand dollars on a nice winter day.  With the profit margins being small for many public courses, if you can get 3-10 of these days throughout the winter, there is some money to be made to help the thin margins.  Plus it provides an opportunity for their loyal golfers to get out and play and enjoy the opportunity to play a round during the winter months.

7 Suggestions to get better at golf this winter!

Find your local golf simulator location or even better…build your own simulator. See below fro more details!

Alternative to Outdoor Winter Golf

Several years ago, I made the investment in a golf simulator package from Rain or Shine golf and spent around $7000.  My package included the following:

  • SkyTrak Launch Monitor
  • TGC Software
  • Optoma Projector
  • Enclosure and HD Projection Screen
  • Gaming Computer
  • Hitting Mat

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

Rain or Shine golf provides financing deals that can make a golf simulator a reality for the golfer who needs to play or wants to practice during the winter months.

The ability to play Augusta, Pebble Beach, Whistling Straight or St. Andrews on a snowy January day is invigorating and helpful to the game come the early spring rounds when many amateurs struggle.

Get together with your family or friends and enjoy endless amounts of golf, no worry about slow play or what the weather might bring.  

It is rather impressive how realistic the setup with SkyTrak and TGC software can be.  I have compared scores and have been impressed with how close they compare.  Ultimately, I can work on my game, get some stress relief in and have fun with family and friends!

When I head to the course during the winter months or early spring, my game is ready and I don’t have to spend 4-6 weeks trying to get my game back on track.  I have improved my average score from between 76-80 on average to between 70-74 on average.  Game improvement is possible and many hours of fun.

I have now played close to 900 rounds.  When you do the math on the cost per round, I am currently at $7 per round!  Not a bad investment!

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

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