3 Ways to Improve During Golf's Offseason

Jeffrey Kay
Nov 8, 2015
3 min read

It's no secret that Western New York consistently has some of the worst winters in America. While this is great for skiers and snowboarders, it's not ideal for us golfers. We're forced to sit inside while many golfers south of the Mason-Dixon are free to play all year. It just doesn't seem fair.

So how do we combat this injustice?

We find ways to feed our golf appetite, of course! With increasing technology and accessibility, we can basically do anything we want involving golf. Other than actually playing golf outside, that is.

Without further adue, here are three ways to work on your golf game during Western New York's long winter:

1) Watch Golf on TV

While us Western New Yorkers have a long offseason, the golfers on the PGA Tour don't really have one. Regardless of how the players feel about it, it's beneficial to our own golf games. Watching the best players in the world compete in tournaments enables us to observe and take in useful information.

Watching Dustin Johnson drive a par-4 won't suddenly enable us to do the same. However, watching the meticulous thought process that goes into each shot helps us in the long run. The conversations between the players and their caddies are just as important as the shot.

The best golfers in the world are able to analyze a shot from every perspective and use creativity when necessary. If you watch enough golf, you'll quickly learn that it's just as much mental as it is physical.

Notice how much time Tiger spends before even setting up to the ball. He recognizes the importance of committing to the shot.

Remember, the great Bobby Jones once said "Golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course...the space between your ears." The more golf you watch, the more you pick up on this.

2) Go to a Golf Simulator

Before golf simulators, it took a lot of imagination to "simulate" playing golf. Now you can practically play any golf course you want without leaving your snowy town.

Golf simulator companies like Opitgolf allow you to play an entire round of golf on a single screen. Bring your golf clubs and some playing companions, and it'll almost feel like real golf. Just without the walking, the fresh air, and--well nobody said it was perfect!

From a golf improvement standpoint, this technology allows you to get full-contact swings in, which is difficult to do inside your house. There's nothing quite like the feeling of hitting a golf ball and these simulators not only allow you to do that, but they also make it possible to see where the ball is going.

Not too shabby.

3) Play Golf Somewhere Warm(er)!

If you have the money, this is obviously your best option. However, this doesn't mean that you have to plan a trip centered around golf. Even playing golf just once or twice during a work trip or vacation can go a long way towards being golf-ready.

Last Thanksgiving, I had a family reunion in Ireland. I know what you're thinking--it doesn't seem like an exotic destination for golf in late November. While it was a bit chilly, it was more than playable, which is all you can ask for as a Western New York native.

The most important thing, however, in regards to my golf game, was being able to play a full round of golf outside. It's impossible to recreate that sensation and the 18 hole process was more than enough to appease my urge to play golf.