View Poll Results: What's the best way to spend the off-season (Nov - March)??

Fairway King · 11-13-2011, 11:05 AM

Is it best to spend November to March:

A) At the range,
B) Freezing on the course,

or

C) Abandoning the game until April??

**DennisM** · 11-13-2011, 12:44 PM

The closest I can come is more like a question of "What do you do on rainy days?" Since I live in Miami and can play golf all year around, when it's raining outside, I turn to my other hobby - guitar.

golfjunk · 11-14-2011, 05:03 PM

I love to play indoor golf in a simulator. Some of the new simulators are very good and realistic.

Rothenfield · 11-15-2011, 12:36 AM

This will be the first winter that I will have to deal with the thoughts of playing golf constantly orbiting around the back of my mind somewhere. After having started from scratch seriously working to develop a consistent swing this past summer; I had built-up a lot of momentum starting with hitting plastic balls in my backyard just about every day, to range sessions nearly every other day, to finally graduating to playing a small 9-hole course about twice a week. I think I had played over 10 9-hole rounds when my bill-paying job got busy and knocked me off my pace. Now, I haven’t swung a club in almost 3 weeks.

Although I live in an area along the West Coast of the US that allows for play during the winter months, that doesn’t mean that it’s all peaches and cream in that our typical weather through winter is still nasty cold rainy and windy. I’m concerned that the progress that I have made might be lost so I will try my best to swing a club as often as possible through the winter months. I'd like to start next spring ready-to-play and possibly break into the 80's next year.

FrogsHair · 11-15-2011, 08:54 AM

If you have enough room indoors, then hitting balls into a net a few times a week can't hurt. Ceiling height is the big issue when hitting indoors. Putting, and chipping can also be practiced indoors. The idea is keep the swing muscles active during the off season. By doing that, the golfer is not playing "catch up" golf when starting the new season. I wouldn't suggest a lot of cold range, or course play, since the golfer is wearing a lot more clothing, which impacts their regular swing. The cold weather golfer would do well to read up on casual water rules, which also pertain to ice. Some course have "winter rules" which can help the golfer. I have golfed in below freezing weather, but the sun was out.

**DennisM** · 11-15-2011, 09:01 AM

I guess in most cases, the garage is the one place with a higher ceiling than anywhere else in the house. Unfortunately, I don't have a garage because it was converted to an interior room as a pre-construction option. (Essentially, it's a 23' wide, 9' deep closet)

I remember as a teenager growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, there were two places with indoor driving ranges and the golf simulators you could hit balls into. When the screen "read" your shot, it would scroll through slides and give you a view of your next shot. Eventually, you got to the green and went to a position on the artificial surface where you put your ball and putted at a designated hole with break and everything. I even used to go there at night during the summer because it was simply so neat. They were always busy, so I never knew why they went out of business. I remember playing Congressional and Belrieve Country Clubs there on the simulator.

With this and a couple other threads we've had lately, I think I'm getting into the mood to buy a net to put in my back yard.

**Cajun** · 11-15-2011, 09:57 AM

I'll be playing all winter. Here in Dallas, there may be a handful of days the course will be closed, but for the most part it's business as usual.

Rothenfield · 11-15-2011, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajun

I'll be playing all winter. Here in Dallas, there may be a handful of days the course will be closed, but for the most part it's business as usual.

Playing year-round ‘may’ not be as fabulous-sounding as it does. When I was grinding it out every day over the summer, I got the impression that when I had a few days away from golf and came back to it, I was more relaxed and felt much more in control of my swing. It makes me wonder if you play regularly through the spring, summer, & fall; if a couple of months break might actually 'help' your body and mind ‘reset’ so that you may return in spring a better golfer. Beware Cajun! You might consider taking a Turkey Day break.

FrogsHair · 11-16-2011, 10:31 AM

You make a good point. I know I would always play better after taking a few days off from the game. When playing regularly, I would often find my self getting tired of the game. A few days away gave new, added, vigor. This is especially true with the mental aspect of the game. Now, I don't know about taking too many weeks, or even months off away from the game. This long of lay off can allow one's swing, timing, tempo, and muscle memory to suffer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rothenfield

Playing year-round ‘may’ not be as fabulous-sounding as it does. When I was grinding it out every day over the summer, I got the impression that when I had a few days away from golf and came back to it, I was more relaxed and felt much more in control of my swing. It makes me wonder if you play regularly through the spring, summer, & fall; if a couple of months break might actually 'help' your body and mind ‘reset’ so that you may return in spring a better golfer. Beware Cajun! You might consider taking a Turkey Day break.

**Cajun** · 11-16-2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rothenfield

Beware Cajun! You might consider taking a Turkey Day break.

Don't worry about me, life doesn't allow me to play the way I use to. I'm lucky to get 3 rounds a month in right now. A couple of years ago, 3 rounds a week was a slow week.

View Poll Results: What's the best way to spend the off-season (Nov - March)??

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