What's the coldest temp you've played in?

As I prepare to think about playing this afternoon in a wind chill of 37, I wondered what’s the coldest temp you’ve played in. (Today’s temp/wc is certainly at the max of MY low end.)

1 Like

I remember a round as a teenager in below freezing temps. The ground was frozen and when the ball hit the green it took off like it hit the cart path. Never again!

My cutoff is somewhere in the low 40s (if it’s sunny with minimal wind)

Used to play growing up over the winter unless it was below 40 since HS season started mid march and had to be ready. Told story on another topic about playing a hole in a snowstorm before they decided playing the tournament in the snow (with accumulation) wasn’t a good idea.

It’s been 70s here recently and tomorrow for some reason when I’m playing in the morning it’s not getting over 50. That’s going to be a shock to the system.

@jon what were the numbers on impact of cold on the ball? is it below 60 that you’d start to see some drop off in distance?

Yes there will definitely be some dropoff in distance, but I think the main thing that people don’t account for is swing speed.

If you’re wearing multiple layers, and your body isn’t as loose, you’re going to be losing a decent amount of speed on your swing.

3 Likes

A frosty 0 degs in a early morning round before it warmed up to a lovely sunny day. Coldest I have ever been on a golf course was a day this year where the max was 10 with a freezing cold wind. That was the coldest day this winter.

Our club used to let you walk if there wasn’t snow on the ground. No pins.
In my early teens I think a couple buddies and I went out in the low 20s one time. Played five holes, stopped into a friends house that lived on the sixth tee box and had some hot cocoa, then went out and finished the nine.
Never again.

I’ll play down to 40 if it isn’t windy.

Agreed - I try to wear functional layers to trap heat so not adding too much bulk.

Tights and rain pants typically will do plenty on the legs. Then try to wear one thermal-ish layer and some lighter layers to trap heat up top rather than wearing bigger sweaters/jackets. May have some restriction but try to limit it as much as possible.

I’ve played in the 30’s, yes it gets that cold in Vegas on a regular basis. It’s usually sunny though :sunglasses:

Raining and 42. I don’t recommend it.

Coldest was a long time ago now it would been -2 Celsius which is around 28 Fahrenheit. Would have been on Christmas break when I was 14 and played 9 holes with snow on all the holes. It was a par 3 course.

40 F, as the course I play closes when it’s colder. With drizzle and 20mph winds! Spring and fall in central Wisconsin is fun!

I play all year round. Gets down to 0 (32F). One time the pond in front of the 3rd, par 3 was frozen. There were at least 30 balls on the surface of the ice. I’m sure that same round had the ball bouncing on the first green like a car park

Playing tomorrow and when we tee off it is supposed to be around 31 but at least no rain

Right around freezing - never again. The forecast had it being warmer when I made the tee time.

I played Pinehurst #2 walking up the 18th fairway it started Snowing :cloud_with_snow:.

I have played about half of America’s top 100 rated courses and I think Pinehurst #2 is the Best.

And I No; I don’t think it was because my brain :brain: was frozen by the 18th.

1 Like

35ish.
No wind so it wasn’t that bad, but it felt like we were hitting rocks

18 degrees, earlier this year. Checked in for our tee time and were told we had to wait for the crew to finish “defrosting” the greens, and found out we essentially had the course to ourselves for the morning. Not planning to try that again anytime soon!

Putting in snow is interesting. The ball picks up a layer of snow, gets bigger and bigger and falls over. Playing in frost is “interesting” if you spell “impossible”, “interesting”. I’ve played in below freezing temperatures but not for a long time. I’ve also played in wet and windy 36 degrees and that’s a whole different ballgame from still sunny but 28.