There’s more to golf in the fall than simply wearing more layers of clothing and making sure your footwear is waterproof. The season of autumn brings a whole new dimension to playing 18 holes and there are many elements to it that you may have overlooked.
Take Advantage of Golf Equipment Sales
Before you even step onto the course, pay a visit to your local golf retailer. Beginning around Labor Day, they will usually offer great deals and hold clearance sales on equipment and clothing. If you've ever had a dream driver in mind but the price was just out of reach, autumn is the time to shop and save. Many people will load up on reduced-cost equipment to use as Christmas gifts. And remember, if you get in 10 rounds in the fall, it's likely that new set of irons will be as good as new next year too.
Take Advantage of Fall Golf Rates
Due to the shorter days and cooler temps in the fall, almost every golf course lowers their rates, both in prime time and for twilight. Some of the most expensive courses will lower their rates by 25% at the beginning of the fall, and by often 50% by mid-October. Once again, you can save a lot of money playing your favorite course that's just out of your price range in the summertime. Also, golf in the fall means the courses are less crowded and the pace of play is often quicker.
Walk the Course; Don’t Drive a Cart
During the summer, many players will take a relaxed approach to a round of golf by renting a power cart, complete with several beverage holders. This can enhance the "fun" element of the game, but it really makes you miss out from enhacing something very important: your health. An average course of about 6,000 yards -- when you include the distance between holes and to each of your shots -- can equate to a walk of about five miles. During the fall, when the pace of play is quicker and the beer cart doesn't make its rounds, you can take advantage of a great fitness aspect to golf by burning an extra 600-1000 calories while you're playing (and also improving your cardio function). Not to mention that walking allows you more opportunity to enjoy the wonderful scenery.
Bring Your Digital Camera
This one is simple. Fall colors occur only a couple of months every year. You don't have to be a professional photographer to point and click at amazing fall colors, all within the context of one of your favorite places: the golf course.
Keep Your Golf Clubs Clean
Here's a little secret to improving your score in the fall: keep your clubs clean. A very high percentage of recreational golfers perform maintenance on their golf equipment once a year -- during the winter when they can't play. It's often the case where a player will have played 10-30 rounds by October, so their clubs are likely very dirty. Mud that gets into your grooves will lessen backspin and make the flight of your shots more difficult to control. So take 15 minutes and wash your clubs before playing in the fall. You might be surprised to see a five-shot improvement in your score!
Enjoy the Autumn Fall Golf Experience
Now that you've learned how to optimize a round of golf in the fall, keep in mind one last thing. Cooler temps, increased wind and wet terrain will require you to use your equipment differently. You may have to use 2-3 more clubs for a shot than your usual. For example, if you normally hit a 7-iron about 160 yards from the fairway, you just might have to use a 5-iron (or even a 4-iron) to get on the green. This is not to say you can't do it; just be sure to play intelligently and make necessary adjustments.
And yes, don't forget to wear your warm clothing.
 |
