A Practical Guide to Playing In Rain

Start with the shot in front of you

Rain golf changes the question from “What club is this?” to “What shot can I control from here?” Before you pull a club, read the wet conditions, the lie, the safest miss, and the trouble that absolutely cannot come into play. A smart answer might be extra club with a smoother strike, but only if the swing matches the situation.

For example, a wet fairway lie with no roll after landing asks for a different target than a flat fairway lie. When the course is wet, the goal is not to prove you can hit the perfect shot; it is to choose the one that leaves the next shot playable.

Simple adjustments that travel

Start with the wet-weather basics:

• On soaked turf, take enough club when balance or contact is uncertain.
• When the course is wet, aim for the fat side of the green or fairway.
• With rain gloves on, swing at cruising speed, not rescue speed.
• In rain golf, accept a smaller finish if the lie or weather demands it.

Coach’s tip: If your towel is wet, your plan is already worse; protect the grip before you worry about the flag.

What good looks like

A good result in rain golf is often boring: middle of the green, front edge, fairway short of the bunker, or a lay-up wedge number you trust. With rain gloves on, that kind of discipline rarely makes a highlight reel, but it keeps doubles off the card. With rain gloves on, build your round around playable misses and you will look calmer than the conditions around you.