Winter golf often gets a bad rap. Colder temperatures. More rain. Darker nights. Shorter days. Golf courses are not in pristine condition. The motivation and desire to play drifts for many golfers. Some use the winter months to ‘reset’. Some to ‘recharge’. Some to ‘take a break’ from the game.



Over the last few years, and especially the most recent winter, which we are now at the finishing line of, I have viewed ‘winter golf’ as a very different proposition, and painted it in a much different light. I haven’t viewed winter as a time to press ‘pause’, or as some do, press ‘stop’. I have kept going. I’ve learnt to appreciate these months that are so often brushed aside and looked down on by most. This is where you can get your edge. I mean, why would someone want to stop doing something that they loved for half the year? If they do, then I would question their love, passion, and commitment to the game.



Winter should be viewed as an opportunity to build upon the work carried out during the previous ‘summer months’. An opportunity to strengthen momentum. An opportunity to push forward, rather than stand still. An opportunity to carry out any necessary ‘off-season’ change or maintenance. For some, an opportunity to reset and restart. And hopefully, in an ideal world, an opportunity to grow.



For anyone who wants to progress in their golf, it’s impossible to shut down during the winter months. You may be good enough to take a few months off, and then play your way back to the starting level of the previous spring and summer, but you will very rarely reach a higher level of performance, well certainly for any prolonged period of time anyway. You will continue in a cycle of, at best, standing still with your golf. Play for 6 months. Take 6 months off. Rinse and repeat.



This winter, like the last few winters, I have entered the ‘Winter League’ at my home club. I wanted to stay competitively sharp over the winter months. I wanted weekly accountability. I wanted a scorecard in my pocket. I wanted to see scores. I wanted evidence.



Anyone that lives in the UK & Ireland, will know how challenging a winter this has been. The wettest on record. Endless course closures. Obstacles thrown at even the most motivated golfer. I have managed to get out 19 of the 20 allotted ‘winter league weeks’. I’ve played in rain, wind, and tested the durability of my wet gear!

Having put a hell of a lot of work into my golf for nearly the last year, I can look back on my ‘Winter League 2025/26’ campaign with a feeling of content. I’ve played lots of good golf; shot lots of solid scores; transferred my off-course practice onto the course; got tougher playing in challenging conditions; and ultimately, ‘kept going’.



Some can look down on winter scores, as they suggest reasons like shortened courses, preferred lies, winter mats, or temporary greens, make scoring ‘easier’. In my eyes, shooting a low score, regardless of how ‘easy’ a course setup might be, still takes player execution. The player still has to hit the golf shots. So, don’t think anyone is above ‘winter golf’ and it’s too ‘easy’. (If you think golf is easy, please contact me for a conversation!).



I’ve kept all my scoring stats from the past 19 weeks. I like things written down in black and white. I’m very much evidence based in life. And for me, the best evidence any golfer can have, is ‘score’. They provide objective evidence that you can do it. Good scores build confidence. Confidence then generally leads back to good scores.



So, for me, ‘winter golf’ serves a massive purpose in the pursuit of improvement. It’s not a time to stop and enter hibernation. It’s time to keep going and remain focused. To ask questions and find answers. To learn, develop, and grow. To give the winter months the credit and attention that they deserve.

If you really want to improve your golf, and I mean really improve your golf, ‘winter golf’ is where you will often find the answers. Whether this be by playing winter league; working on your golf swing; getting properly coached; getting lessons; going to the driving range; or just teeing it up on a less than ideal winter’s day, where your previous self might have said no.



As I’ve got older, I’ve learnt to respect living in a country with proper seasons. There’s a lot to be said about growing up in testing winters. Not only does this make us appreciate the summer months even more, but it develops grit and perseverance. You have to get a bit tougher and develop the mentality to keep pushing on during the not-so-perfect months. These qualities can only help you in the long run.



Even if you haven’t made the most of this past winter, that’s OK, as all being well, you will have another season of ‘winter golf’ coming up in around 7 months time, to hopefully say yes to. I’d be amazed if you regret it. Your golf game will certainly thank you.