Yes! Of course you can, you should leave the course or seek shelter if there is thunder or lightning, but overall if it is just a steady rain one can still enjoy a round of golf.
If you are serious golfer who plays tournaments, you could even seek days to play when it is rainy to ensure you are prepared in the event it rains during a tournament. Those who prepare for certain conditions are often most prepared when they are faced with those difficult conditions!
In many parts of the world where golf is played, there are many variables that can make golf difficult. For many of us there is always the potential of rain and rain can make things difficult. However, we all want to play as much as possible and some are willing to play in the rain.
One time, there was a group of us on a golf trip to Arizona and we pulled up the first tee and the starter guessed that we weren’t from around there. Of course he was correct and we inquired how he knew. He went on to tell us that those in Arizona do not need to carry the umbrellas on their bag like we do.
Can You Play Golf in the Rain?
Below we will provide 5 tips to help you enjoy the round as much as possible and play to your fullest potential. Here are 5 tips and we dive into more detail below:
- Be Prepared
- Have the Right Mindset
- Adjust to the Course
- The Grip is the Key
- Ball Striking
Tip #1 – Be Prepared
The biggest key to play well in the rain is to be prepared. There are many quality options on the golf market today that can help you play your best even in difficult conditions.
Rain might be one of the most difficult variables that us golfers will encounter. When the rain starts to mess your grip and you have lost confidence in your grip, most golfers are done at this point.
Golf Rain Gloves
As far as golf gloves, a golfer really has two options during the rain. The first option is to have 5-6 gloves in your bag that you can change every 3 or so holes. This will allow you to utilize the golf and keep it dry during these three holes and then rotate through. This is a great thing to do with older golf gloves and also always have 1-2 new gloves ready to go in your bag.
The other option is to purchase rain gloves, which you wear on both hands and they are promoted to actually get better the wetter they get. Having used these in the past, they are a great option if you know the rain isn’t going to let up. Pull these out of your bag, get them wet in some excess water and play golf. You no longer have to worry about your grip.
Golf Umbrella
The next item that is a requirement is a quality umbrella. You want something that will keep the rain off you as much as possible and will also block some wind and not collapse if the wind is strong. We all know that half the battle in the rain is sometimes dealing with the wind as well. The inner supports of an umbrella can be used to hang a smaller towel and a place to put your golf glove when chipping or putt.
Golf Rain Suit
A spectacular option is a quality rain suit. You want to stay dry, especially if it is a bit chilly. Investing in a quality rain suit is a wise decision for those that play competitive golf or live in an area where it frequently rains.
The best rain suits can help you stay very dry and are breathable as well. If you have a quality rain suit, umbrella and some rain gloves you can manage the rain and still play at a decent level.
Here are the three recommendations that we would make for rain gloves, umbrellas and rain suits. Check the current prices below on Amazon.
Tip # 2 – Have the Right Mindset
Let’s face it, golfing in the rain can be difficult. It is even more difficult if you have a negative attitude about the rain. Did you know that Tiger Woods used to intentionally go out and golf when it was raining to be prepared for when he was in tournaments.
If you love golf enough, embrace the challenge and find a way to make the most of the situation. If you are in a competitive tournament, remember that everyone has to golf in the rain as well. How you handle the conditions might mean the difference in winning the tournament or not.
It is part of golf and yes we would all rather playin g 75 degrees and sunny conditions, but part of being a good golf is being able to handle conditions whether that is cold, wind, or rain.
Tip #3 – Adjust to the Course
As it starts the rain the course will change depending on the amount of rain. When it first starts to rain you might find the ball skips more on chip shots or approaching shots into the green.
It can take some of the spin off the ball when it hits the grass surface. Make sure you take the potential adjustments into consideration when planning shots. Once it has rained for a decent amount of time, the course will start to soften up and drives won’t go as far, but you should be able to shoot at more pins as the greens might become more receptive.
The ball also might fly differently off of the club face on iron shots if there is a little bit of mud. All great golfers adjust and adapt to the conditions and the course. Be aware that the greens could also down, especially on the longer putts. Watch as other players hit putts and try to learn from those putts as much as possible. Be a student of the game during the round.
Tip #4 – The Grip is the Key
Whatever it takes to have a good grip on the club is the most important thing you can do. You might consider always carrying an extra towel or two in your bag, especially on days when it appears that it might rain.
These extra towels will come in handy to keep your grips dry. Be aware and have a system for keeping your grips dry and whipping them down before and after every shot.
The golfer who gets into a routine and finds their comfort zone will more than likely play better and adjust to the conditions more quickly. Your first priority in the rain is to ensure you are able to grip the club comfortably.
Tip #5 – Ball Striking
In any poor conditions whether it is cold, wind or rain, the person who is able to strike the ball the best usually comes out on top. Focus on the key and making solid contact with the ball.
Even if this means taking an extra club and giving ait a 3 quarters swing, make sure you are making solid contact. As the course softens up, mud becomes more of a factor in the ball striking. Keep those grips clean and strike the ball solid.
Here is an excellent video on ball striking by Shawn Clement:
Summary – Can You Play Golf in the Rain?
With these tips above you will be prepared to play your best golf. The most important tip is tip #1, make sure you have the right accessories: rain gloves, rain suit and a quality umbrella.
If you do not have these three items, in addition to a nice size towel or multiple towels, you will quickly find yourself in a bad situation as you will not be able to get a quality grip on the club, doubt will creep into your mind and game over.
However, the person that is prepared, can find their comfort zone through a routine and having a system of keeping their grip solid and the rest of their body dry. If you are a serious golfer, you must be ready for all conditions.
One last item that I would recommend is a rain hat. They may look a bit silly, but they work!
Take Action
Make sure you are ready for the conditions. Be like Tiger Woods and look for those less than ideal days to play golf and test your accessories and routine.
Watch how the ball responds to the course and what makes you feel comfortable or uncomfortable. As someone that played competitive golf, I was sure to have rain gloves, an extra towel, a rain suit and the umbrella in every round that I played in.
You never knew when a storm was going to kick up and suddenly change the conditions. Once again here are the products I recommend:
I would also recommend making sure you have a quality pair of golf shoes. Recently, I purchased these Adidas Golf Shoes and not only are they extremely comfortable, but they keep my feet very dry. I play a lot of morning golf where the dew is thick, but my feet stay dry.
As far as your golf game. Can you say yes to any of these statements?
- Are you tired of playing inconsistent golf?
- Are you tired of being the worse one in your group?
- Do you wish you hit the ball further?
- Do you struggle with course strategy?
If you said yes to any of the above 4 questions, check our our recipe to playing better golf today:
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.
Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.