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Is it Ever Too Hot for Golf?

July 24, 2013 | By Greg D'Andrea | 1 Comment

Is the temperature ever too high for golf?
Is the temperature ever too high for golf?

For the last few weeks here in the northeastern part of the United States, it’s been downright disgusting. In the mid-90’s with high humidity, when we did get a recent day in the high 80’s, it felt like autumn was upon us.

I don’t have to tell you this is not ideal golf weather. In places like southern Arizona, summertime is golf’s off-season – where 100+ temperatures force golfers indoors, waiting in anticipation for the winter months (which are typically in mid 60’s). But in places like Connecticut, where golf courses are generally covered in snow a portion of the year, one feels like they can’t waste a perfectly good sunny (albeit hot) day on the links.

It was that mindset that almost did me in a few years back when we decided to play on a scorching-hot day. Around the 16th hole, me and another one of my golf buddies almost bit the dust. We literally had to stop, sit down in the middle of the fairway and put a wet towel over our heads.

About five minutes later, we were back on our feet and ultimately were able to finish our round. But that was a wake-up call for me. As we were driving home that day, we passed a bank that had the time and temp displayed on it’s parking lot sign: 3:35PM, 103 degrees.

103 degrees. That’s nuts. But there we were – out on the course…playing 18-holes no less! Now I’m not saying I would never play golf when the temperature is over 100 again. I’m just saying I’d be more prepared – drinking more water and slowing it down a bit.

And this leads me to today’s poll. At what point is it too hot to play golf? 100 degrees? 90 degrees? Never? So let us know when you’d throw in the towel (if ever).

When is it too hot to play golf?

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Filed Under: Golf Life Tagged With: hot, humid, poll, sweat, too hot for golf

When Is It Too Hot To Play Golf?

July 6, 2010 | By Chris Chirico | 6 Comments

How hot is too hot for golf? (photo by Mr.TinDC / CC BY-ND 2.0)
How hot is too hot for golf? (photo by
Mr.TinDC / CC BY-ND 2.0)

Monday afternoon, stinky golfers Greg, Pete and I were making our way through a round of 18. We’re somewhere on the back nine when Pete, after pushing a putt left of the cup, exhaustively states “It’s too hot to miss.”

Too hot to miss. That statement got a chuckle out of Greg and I. But, after I thought about it for a second, I came to realize that, at the time, truer words had never been spoken.

Here in Connecticut, we are in the midst of a record-breaking heat spell. We’re talking triple digits here. I’m not sure what the “official” temperature was, but I know the thermometer in my car hit 100 around 4:30 that afternoon, and the thermometer outside a local bank read 102 about the same time of day. So what could the temp have been around 1 or 2 o’clock? Bottom line, it’s hot. So, as far as Pete’s comment, is it too hot to miss…maybe it’s simply too hot to golf?

There comes a time every golf season when the mercury drops a bit too far down the ladder for golf. It’s an individual preference, but for me, that point is about 50 degrees. Once the temp drops below that 50 degree mark, golf will not happen that day for me. But I never thought about the other end of the spectrum. At what point is it too hot for golf?

Normally, I don’t take a cart. I like to walk the course. But I’ve made a personal rule; at 90 degrees, I take a cart. At that mark, I’ve decided, it’s too hot to walk. However, I’ve never set a mark where it’s just too hot to golf at all. Though I may have reached that point yesterday.

Riding the course sure does take a load off. But on a 100-degree day it made almost no difference. By the time I was midway through the back nine, I was toast. I stayed hydrated – two 20 oz. Gatorades and three 20 oz. waters – but I would immediately sweat out everything I put in. The only cure would have been an IV. But has anyone ever tried teeing off with a tube in their arm? Me either, but I’d imagine it’s pretty challenging.

So I’m implementing a new personal rule. I now have a 50 degree temperature range within which the sport of golf will occur in my life. I’ll call it “The 50-degree rule.” When the temperature drops below 50 degrees or rises above 100 degrees, I will not golf that day.

Does anyone else get this idea in their head? At what point is it too hot or too cold for your golfing preference? Or, does it not matter to you? Will you play in freezing temps if the opportunity is there? Would you carry a personal air conditioner if you could just to play golf that day?

Let us hear from you. How does the temperature affect your golfing decisions?

Filed Under: Golf Life Tagged With: gatorade, golf cart, golf season, heat spell, hot, too hot for golf

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