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The winter season.

So waaaaaay up here, I can play golf from about the middle of May to the middle of October. It may vary a little, but that's a pretty good average. It's also not a very long season. Taking a 7 month break has disasterous effect's on one's scores, as we usually start the year off a good 10-20 strokes above our previous season ending handicaps. By the start of June, things are usually coming somewhat back to normal and we can see the difference in the scores. The start of the year however, can have lingering effects on our handicaps if one can't play 20 rounds in any kind of time. I've also found that as I move north, handicaps are generally a little higher. We do have very good courses and facilities and the greenskeepers do an excellent job of avoiding winter kill and the after-effects of a long winter. So I'm thinking the shortened season has lots do do with the geographical handicap gradient. I think I'm moving to Aruba :) The season there is considerably longer....

How long is your season and what kind of effect does it have on your handicap?

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Comments (21)
	jmartin33 6/8/2010 5:25:38 AM Wisconsin is mid may late october and spring golf adds two club lengths to any shot 100 yds and in. Nothing like flying your drive 245 yds and ending up with a 245 yd plugged down to china second shot!
	markwenholz 6/7/2010 3:35:30 PM Here is North Texas we can play all year long. During the coldest months we are playing in the high 30's with pretty good wind, but with the addition of cart covers and cupholder heaters it is pretty nice. Only difference is course conditions are a little different in the winter as the grass goes dorment. So the only change for me is how to play the course. If i were you I would invest in a good net and set one up in your garage to hit balls all winter. I bet you would see very good results from practicing all winter. Mark
	HIGH_LANDER 6/7/2010 2:17:54 PM WOW! LONG WINTER..that's why i don't grip about our silly winters in Texas.
	JosephLeone 2/8/2010 3:45:00 PM I'm with ya, Dandy- It's a struggle keeping that handicap down with such a short season- Mine's a bit longer than yours but I'm not a very patient hibernator.
	Dandy 1/7/2010 6:03:59 PM It's gonna be +2 on the weekend!! Finally! I'm playing and I don't care about the snow!!!
	mtags 12/15/2009 2:14:34 PM Chicago season april to mid november.Give or take a week or two. We now have a few indoor dome's to hit balls in durning the winter month's, You get to hit shot's around 100 yd's It helps keep your swing in pretty good shape, so my handicap stay's in the same range once the season starts up again. Have a good winter season. Stay warm.
	aumurray 12/15/2009 11:54:05 AM How about ice fishing Dandy? Show 1 Replies
	PISC 12/15/2009 8:12:52 AM I think I am into the Aruba move! Here in Rhode Island my group plays as long as the course is open. Last weekend we played and the greens were frozen and you couldn't get a peg in the ground. So your play for fun and practice different shots! Bump and run is the game now! Putting gets tricky! Post scores, LOL I could to shoot my handicap up but we don't post after Dec 1st until April 1st.
	Sylla 12/15/2009 7:47:32 AM When I started, I wouldn't practice at all in the winter. The result: a disaster! I had to start all over and it would take me almost the entire season to get back into golf. So I decided to practice indoors, and it's helping a lot. My scores are still higher at the beginning of the season, but they get lower more quickly. For sure though I think my handicap would be lower if I could play outside all year long... It would be interesting to do a statistical study of golf handicaps based on location.
	cobraplayer9 12/15/2009 6:15:51 AM i live in bham weather is good most of the year,there is a few times during the year where its cold or really wet.so there is not much change in scores overall.im thinking about tucson for retirement
	jtap 12/14/2009 11:39:27 PM Can play all year round here in Fort Worth but for about 3 weeks when it ices over and shuts down the city!
	ArizonaBlue 12/14/2009 11:15:39 PM Here in Tucson ... year-round. Temps in the upper 40s at a 9:45 AM tee time but it climbs to the low 60s by the end of the round. Still playing my average.
	gj24 12/14/2009 6:57:39 PM In Florida usually Jan.1 to Dec.31....I know, shut up right. Actually, come October November here as well my golf season slows dramatically. Mainly because of the Winter rates make it too expensive to play down here. So I will spend more time on the range or on a putting green working on my short game. Dandy, I lived in Wyoming for 3 years back in the day. One thing I did was bye a net to hit into just to keep swinging during the off season. No you really don't know what your ball flight is doing, but at least it keeps you lose and your mind on golf a little bit. I set one up inside my garage with a mat. You might want to check into it, that way your not too far off when it comes time to tee it up again--Happy Holidays~~
	cogolfer1 12/14/2009 4:29:32 PM In Colorado, it's usually April-October. You can get out in November and March here in there, but through December to feburary it's not too often you get to go out. It doesn't effect my handicap too much since I can practice in my basement and a driving range is always open a mile from my house.
	Billy70 12/14/2009 2:58:54 PM Orlando, year round! I will take some time off over the next month or so due to the rite hikes. This time of year is snow bird time as we call it and the rates basically double at some places. Obviously no real affect on the handicap.

Dandy

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