Playing in hot weather
Real-World Examples of Better Playing In Hot Weather
Realistic course situations that show how better choices in hot-weather golf save shots immediately.
Three course moments
On baked-out summer fairways, picture a par 4 where the smart play is not the prettiest one. In hot-weather golf, a conservative target can turn a nervous approach into a routine two-putt. On baked-out summer fairways, another hole might ask you to leave driver in the bag because the miss brings trees, water, or a bad angle into play. In hot-weather golf, later, a simple punch-out may beat a low-percentage gap through branches.
The better answer is usually specific
Make the cooler-headed choice concrete:
- In hot-weather golf, aim at the left-center of the green, not the right pin.
- Take controlled wedges and fairway woods and swing at 80 percent.
- On baked-out summer fairways, play to 90 yards instead of forcing a fairway wood.
- On baked-out summer fairways, choose the bunker-side miss only if you have a clean lie.
Learn from the round
When the temperature climbs, afterward, write down one decision that saved a stroke and one that cost one. In hot-weather golf, over a month, those notes reveal your real pattern. When the temperature climbs, maybe you under-club, maybe you over-aim at flags, maybe you get impatient after one bad break. That is useful knowledge, and it is how hot-weather golf becomes a scoring skill instead of a survival test.