Being able to play a round whenever you want is a luxury for golfers. Some people move to warmer parts of the country to be able to do so. Others make it work wherever they live, even if it gets incredibly cold. While not every course is open throughout the winter, plenty still remain open. You have to have the right winter golf attire and gear to get through those colder rounds.
You won’t be able to hit the ball as well as you want if you’re too cold. If you can stay warm enough, you can play golf all year round. Walking up to your ball and not being able to feel your feet is a sensation no one wants to feel. So you have to be prepared.
The must-have winter golf attire and gear will help you play when the course is potentially more open, allowing you to practice and hone your game. It’s an ideal time of year to keep your game sharp and get you ready for performing during warmer rounds.
What are the best pieces of equipment to have with you on those colder rounds? Read on to find out.
Cold Weather Golf Attire & Gear: Our Top Picks
Winter Golf Pants: Under Armour ColdGear Golf Pants
Winter Golf Hat: Callaway Classic Beanie
Winter Golf Shoes: adidas S2g Recycled Polyester Mid Cut
Winter Golf Gloves: FootJoy WinterSof Golf Gloves
Winter Golf Jacket: Callaway Waffle Knit Fleece Jacket
Golf Cart Heater: Mr. Heater Golf Cart Heater
Cold Weather Golf Balls: TaylorMade Tour Response
Winter Golf Pants
If you’re playing in the cold weather, you should get a pair of winter golf pants. Our pick is great for cool to cold rounds, so you can wear them in the fall or winter. The Under Armour Storm technology helps to repel water while allowing the pants to breathe and move with you.
The ColdGear Infrared lining uses a thermo-conductive inner coating to absorb and retain your body heat. Basically, these pants don’t let you get too cold because your body heat stays where it is.
Under Armour ColdGear is built for winter conditions, and these pants are no exception. They wick away moisture to keep you dry, and the inner liner is thermo-conductive to store body heat.
- Under Armour Storm technology repels water
- Wicks sweat and dries quickly
- ColdGear lining that retains body heat
- Comfortable and stretch waistband
- A bit pricey
The material also wicks away any sweat or moisture that may come across it. If you run hot or it happens to rain a bit during the round, this will keep you from getting cold because of it. The pants also dry quickly.
These pants are made to move, making them great for those who like to walk or push their hand cart during each round. The four-way stretch makes them comfortable to wear and gives you plenty of room to swing.
The stretch-engineered waistband gives you the mobility and comfort you want. While these pants can be difficult to find in stock, when you’re able to, you should snatch them up.
Winter Golf Hat
Plenty of golfers wear hats to help shade their eyes from the sun during hot rounds. But in the winter, a winter golf hat is, first and foremost, meant to keep you warm. This Callaway Classic Beanie does just that.
The fleece inner lining helps lock in warmth and the hat covers your ears and your forehead. It’s made from 100% knitted acrylic yarn.
This comfortable and cozy hat will keep your ears warm during cold rounds. It is a sharp-looking hat that you can wear on and off the course.
- One size fits most
- Inner lining is made from fleece
- Knitted acrylic yarn
- Multiple colors
- Can run small
It comes in multiple colors and patterns, so you can pick the one or ones you like the best. It has a pom on top of it, making it look sharp enough to wear on or off the course.
One size fits most but the hat does tend to run a bit small, so those with larger heads may be out of luck.
Winter Golf Shoes
When you’re playing winter golf, you have to be thinking about how to keep your feet warm. Winter golf shoes should be lined for these purposes. This pair from adidas features a textile lining that protects your feet.
These are designed to be worn in wet weather conditions, as they offer the waterproof coverage of RAIN.RDY to keep your feet dry. That way, you can focus on your swing rather than the water in your shoes.
Built to cover more of your foot, these are perfect to wear at all times of the year. It won’t matter how wet or dry the turf is, as these provide a sustainable grip for comfortable golf shots.
- Designed for wet weather
- Four-spike outsole for maximum wet ground coverage
- Mid-cut design
- Textile lining
- Textile lining can make your feet sweat
The four-spike outsole lets you confidently maintain a grip on the wet ground. These shoes are a wide fit, giving you a little bit of extra room to wear thicker socks in the winter.
These feature a mid-rise design, so more of your foot is covered when you’re wearing them. That will limit the amount of cold air that can reach your foot and ankle.
They are offered in sizes ranging from 7 all the way to 15 for men. While the textile lining can make your feet sweat, these are great shoes for the winter.
Winter Golf Gloves
People may not always wear two gloves while they play golf, but, for a winter round, it’s a smart choice. The FootJoy Men’s WinterSof Golf Gloves are the best winter golf gloves because they provide warmth without compromising grip.
These feature Sure-Grip Autosuede knit palms that deliver a soft feel and consistent fit. Your grip will remain in contact with your club, even if you’re having trouble feeling your hands.
These gloves will keep your hands warm and allow you to get the most out of each swing during a winter round. The extended cuff provides you with more coverage.
- Extended cuff to increase warmth
- Reflective material can be worn on and off course
- Warm without losing feel
- Sold in pairs
- Can take some getting used to
Your hands will be warmer, thanks to the Weather-Shield foam fleece on the back of the glove. Couple that with the waterproof structured nylon and your hands can remain drier while retaining warmth.
Thanks to the Weather-Shield extended cuff, the gloves go farther up your wrist, providing more coverage. The piping is highly reflective, meaning you can wear these while doing other winter outdoor activities.
They are sold in a pair and range in sizes from small to XX-large.
Winter Golf Jacket
You don’t want to wear a bulky jacket that might restrict your ability to swing. But this from Callaway is the best golf jacket for the winter because it moves with you and keeps you warm in the process.
It is made with thermal technology and made from 100% polyester, so it’s warmer than nylon and will lock in your body heat. The thermal layer acts like a barrier between the cold and your body as well.
The mock collar and full zip design allow you to stay bundled during a winter round. The waffle knit design keeps cold air out.
- Made with thermal technology
- Waffle knit fabric
- Full zip
- Mock collar
- Not water-resistant
The fabric is made with waffle knit stitching that prevents cold air from reaching your body. It also is a sharp jacket to look at.
This is a full zip design that can go up as high as you need it to. The mock collar provides you with a classic look with less fabric to deal with around your neck area.
It is offered in a few different colors and goes up to 4XL in size. While it isn’t water-resistant, for dry winter rounds, this is a suitable choice.
Golf Cart Heater
If you want a little extra warmth in your golf cart, Mr. Heater Golf Cart Heater is our pick for the best golf cart heater. It can never hurt to give yourself some added heat and this will run for an entire round, boasting a 5.5-hour runtime.
It delivers 4,000 BTUs and the wind-resistant screen will keep it blowing hot air even when the weather is blustery. There is a cup holder adapter, so it will stay in your cup holder as you ride.
Stay warm for the entire round, as this is built to last for hours. It also includes a cup holder adapter, so it’s easy to store while you’re playing.
- 5.5-hour runtime
- Tip-over switch
- Wind-resistant screen
- Fits in your cup holder
- Can’t adjust the heat level
If it does happen to tip over, the switch will shut it off to prevent any fire hazard. The oxygen depletion system is there for safety reasons and the heater has an ergonomic carrying handle.
All you have to do is push one button to start it.
Cold Weather Golf Balls
When you’re playing winter golf, you need a ball that can handle all kinds of conditions. The TaylorMade Tour Response is the best cold weather golf ball because it can battle harsh temperatures and winds and still let you play your style of golf.
This is great for a wide variety of swing speeds, thanks to the ultra-low 40 compression core. The speedmantle with HFMq surrounds the core to help it take off when you make a solid impact.
- Excellent value for seniors
- Impressive feel
- Good distance
- Easy to launch
- Nice greenside spin
- Help alignment with shots
- Too soft for some players
- Less spin than premium ballsMay feel too soft for some
The new tour dimple flight pattern allows your ball to stay straighter. This is also found in the TP5 and TP5x, but these balls are much more affordable than a few sleeves of those.
The 100% urethane cover gives you great feel around the greens, boosting your short game capabilities. They are durable and will still react even when it’s colder. While you won’t be able to get the backspin that you may like from other premium balls, for the price point, these are worth it. Just make sure you can find them in stock.
What to Wear During a Winter Golf Round
You want to make sure that you’re as warm as possible during a winter golf round. But you also need to be able to swing your club with ease. The clothing can’t be too bulky, which is why a fleece or a thermal-lined shirt is important to have on your top half.
Your golf pants can also be lined with fleece or thermal. A golf beanie is a must. For your feet, some of the best golf socks for the winter are wool but still provide comfort. Your shoes must be lined to add to the warmth.
What to Do During a Winter Golf Round to Stay Warm
You want to be able to continue moving during a round. While that can be tougher when you’re waiting for someone else to hit or the course is backed up, keeping your blood flowing with some extra practice swings can be beneficial. Walking during a colder round can keep your body moving.
How Should I Approach Golfing in the Winter
Because of the conditions, your ball will naturally travel a shorter distance, due to the smaller amount of transfer the compression will generate.
You should consider going up a club for iron shots.
You may also want to adjust your driver to hit a lower shot, as cold and windy rounds can limit your distance as well.
Having a golf ball that can cut through the air with better resistance is a must. On harder grounds, the greens may not break as sharply as they do when they are lusher.
Conclusion
Playing winter golf can be a blast, but it’s made more fun when you’re warmer. Having these winter golf items will help you feel most comfortable out in the colder months and aid in your ability to shoot a lower score.
It’s important to take into consideration the conditions when you’re out there, so use water-resistant items if it’s wetter. Make sure you are dressed for the occasion, and don’t forget the cart heater for that added bit of warmth.