How to Dress for Winter / Spring Outdoor Activities, Especially Golf

With the changeable weather you'll need changeable clothing to play better in the Spring. Follow these guidelines for layering to keep up with the changes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Thermal underwear
• Turtleneck or mock turtleneck shirts
• Golf pants & shirt
• Vest
• Windshirt
• Rainsuit
• Cart gloves
• Chemical heat packs
• Stocking cap or warm hat

1. Check the weather forecast, and compare it to your starting time. Layering is the key. If the high will be over 50 degrees you may not need the thermal underwear. If under 50, start with the thermals as a base.

2. Follow with your golf pants and turtleneck or mock turtleneck.

3. If you keep your core warmer, and your arms and legs will be warmer as well. Your golf shirt is next, followed a vest, depending on how cold it will be. You now have 2 layers on your arms and legs, but 4 layers on your upper core.

4. Now add a synthetic windshirt as the next layer. Follow this with your rainsuit to block the wind, and finish with the cart gloves and stocking cap or warm hat. You now have 6 layers on your core, but 4 layers on your arms, and 3 on your legs.

5. Drop a couple of chemical hand warmer packs into your cart gloves to keep your hands warm. These are available in most pro shops. In fact, open them early and let them warm your golf shoes on your way to the course.

6. As the weather warms you can start to peel off the layers. Remember that usually the high for the day will be between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., so often you won't reach the high if you tee off before 9:30 or 10:00 a.m.

7. This may sound like a lot of clothes, but just consider how cold it will be. Each layer should be a little more loose than the last layer, with more layers on the core than on the arms and legs. Because your arms and shoulders need to be loose, the underwear and turtleneck should be the more closely-fitted pieces, with the windshirt and rainsuit the more loosely-fitted.

Tips & Warnings

• A hat is a must, since a great deal of heat is lost through your head. Brimmed hats also help keep the sun off your face and ears, and will help even if it is cloudy.
• Don't keep your heat packs in with your golf balls, as that is a violation of the Rules of Golf.
• Cart gloves are big, floppy gloves that are easy to get on and off.
• If you have an early tee time and there is frost there may be a delay, so give a call to the pro shop before you leave.
• If you arrive and there is frost be sure not to walk on the grass or the greens as your steps in the frost will kill the grass.

Resources

• learn about golf clubs here

[CCrock]

on 1/26/2008 Great tips. Also, make sure to check the dress code of the golf course. At some places, if you're a woman, they want your shorts to be knee length. (I learned the hard way, and I wasn't even playing, just riding on the golf cart and watching).