Golfers - any advice on playing in difficult winter conditions?

Question

1. Playing out of winter bunkers on our poorly maintained municipal course is a nightmare. Whether they are frozen solid, super saturated or compacted, they require a different technique to playing out of the dry soft sand bunkers that the pro's play from. Can anyone offer practical advice on this problem? - please don't suggest improving the bunkers!
2. Also - any advice on how to successfully pitch and chip out of boggy, muddy ground?

Answer 1

1. I've found that depending on the condition of the sand there are different ways to approach the shot. The most common situation during cold/wet months is that the sand will be hard. I like to play this shot as if you are hitting off of concrete - that is - minimize contact of the club to the sand, kind of "bounce" the club head off the sand just prior to contact with the ball. Unlike a regular bunker shot where you don't actually hit the ball - you hit behind the ball and the force of the sand propels the ball out of the trap - You actually want to make contact with the ball to get it out. Don't try digging into the hard sand. Another suggestion in this shot is to use a regular wedge instead of the sand wedge. The bottom of the club typically is thinner than a sand wedge - less drag from the club.
2. The important thing to remember - and I can't seem to remember to do it all the time - is that you want to make sure you follow through on the shot to get the ball in the air. Good luck

Answer 2

Sounds like you are playing at my local muni course in winter...the bunkers are the only place where there is firm ground!!!

1) Rules do allow for you to take a drop without penalty. If you insist on hitting out of this type of bunker, my suggestion is to try to "pick" the ball right offf the surface of the sand, instead of taking a normal sand shot (where you hit down about 2" behind the ball and allow the sand to push the ball...) I do this with a sort of chip like shot, so I dont go taking a full swing!! If you make it a good descending blow, you can usually skip the club right off the surface of the hardpack and still follow through...

2) Man I hate playing in boggy grounds... For chips, remember to keep your weight on your left foot mostly, and use the same steep descending blow on the ball to get it airborne. You'll chunk it a few times, but once you get the hang, its great!

Good luck!

Answer 3

Well my advice is not to play winter golf, i know its hard to say no, depending on where you are, if its the UK, to be honest i would forget it, its not much fun unless you are playing on a championship course which normally are keep in good condition during the winter, but a municipal course forget it, go to the driving range and spend 2-3 hours there hitting balls, get yourself really for the summer, even take a lesson and pratice at the driving range and watch those score's come down when you play at the summer your mates will be amazed.
I done this 2 winters ago, while my mates where out slogging around the course getting no-where with there scores, and just getting wet and cold, while i was praticing my shot's, i took my handicap from 14 to 9 within 1 month of the summer season, my first summer game i hit a 74 while my very last summer game the previous summer i hit 80 which was my best from the season, i took 6 shots of my score, practice make's perfecting and the best time to do this is during the winter season thats my point.

Answer 4

Answer to No. 1 Winter rules say that you can remove the ball from the bunker, but it has to be behind where it landed so normally pick up the ball and walk away from the hole you are playing then take another shot from behind the bunker.

Answer to No. 2 Sorry no great answer to the chip and run except do not do it on boggy ground as it just stops, aim for the hole about the size off a dust bin lid and hope the wet ground stops the ball rolling to far away.

Hope this helps, and enjoy the great game.

Answer 5

1. Around greens employ a pick shot vs. explosion, remember 1/3 air 2/3 roll. 2. Play the ball back in your stance, slightly close clubface, use a flatter (less steep) swing plane.

Answer 6

Not to be a smarty but the answer is easy find a course that doesnt have these problems.

Answer 7

1. Not recommended, you'll screw up your spring\summer swing... not worth it.

2. Call it casual water and take a better lie.

Answer 8

do like everyone else that can...hop on a plane and play courses in warm weather...

Answer 9

My advice would be to wait for spring. You are just gonna screw up your game by having different swings.