Golf Gone With the Wind When talk turns to the weather and the game of golf, there is no element more challenging than the wind. This is the X factor. Depending on which way – and how strong – these breezes blow changes the difficulty of a course from a walk in the park to a slog. If the winds are in your face, hitting a ball high is not ideal; Mother Nature’s messenger grabs your shot like a firm handshake and does not let go until it determines where it wants your ball to land. This is why, for some, links golf like The Open is so exciting because it demands creativity from players to hit low, bump-and-run shots rather than high-lofted wedges into greens to counteract these tricky conditions. When the wind is behind you, it’s an advantage, especially on drives but, no matter from which direction it blows, these breezes mess with club selection. There is no set formula for determining how much to club up or club down. Most of us overestimate the wind’s speed when making these adjustments. A general rule of thumb is this: for tailwinds, add the rough mph wind speed to how much farther your ball might travel – i.e. 10 mph equals an extra 10 yards; for headwinds, take half the mph wind speed and that is the number of yards to subtract from the planned distance. So, if the winds are blowing at 20 mph, your shot will, on average, travel 10 yards fewer than under calm conditions. Before hitting, take some extra time to look at the treetops and the flag in the distance to get a visual feel for the wind’s strength. Throwing some grass in the air is a simple trick I learned as a junior to get a rough feel for what the wind is doing. Crosswinds are usually the most difficult to judge and to assess your strategy since these swirling winds not only affect distance control, but also aim. I’m sure that, like me, you’ve misjudged many shots into these wild and unpredictable winds thinking that you hit your ball straight at the flag, only to have the wind send it flying sideways and many yards left or right of your intended target. Whether or not you enjoy golfing in windy conditions, hopefully I’ve given you some food for thought, along with some helpful tips regarding how to deal with Mother Nature – on your terms – the next time you play. CSANews | FALL 2024 | 41
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