How I Beat The Winter Golfin’ Blues

Can you remember a worse winter? Record snowfalls and freezing temperatures have kept golfers off the course across the country, even in typically sunny spots like Florida and Arizona. The number of rounds played in January 2010 was down sharply, with some southern states posting as much as a 30% drop-off from 2009.

So what’s a golfer to do while he waits for Spring? Plenty! Even if you haven’t seen any grass since Thanksgiving, turns out there are lots of ways to get ready for the 2010 golf season. Here are a few of my suggestions, be sure to add yours as a comment below!

• Indoor Driving Range – If you’re lucky enough to have a “golf dome” nearby, you should have no trouble keepin’ your swing in mid-season form. Sure, you’re stuck hitting off a mat but it beats not hitting anything at all!
• Golf Simulators – These electronic solutions have been around for a while, but it seems like they just keep getting better. Basically a digital golf course is projected on a screen and sensors measures the force and direction of your shots. Most major cities have at least one or two that offer hourly rentals, but the cost can be prohibitive for regular use. However the in-home market continues to grow, but this Caveman can’t recommend any particular products just yet.
• Golf Fitness – This may be the least like golfin’ but if you stick with it, you’ll definitely notice a difference on the course! It’s a good idea to exercise regularly anyway, but adding a few golf-specific exercises to your routine can really pay off. Not only will strength and flexibility training improve your performance, you can also stave off injuries and lose a few pounds, too! Check out this article from About.com for more Golf Fitness info!
• Golf Video Games – If you’re a golfer and a gamer, you can pick up a copy of EA Sports Tiger Woods and become immersed in the lush graphics and ambient sounds of a PGA Tour event. It ain’t much when compared to a real round at the local muni, but it beats shovelin’ snow!

~Scratch

PS: OK Rock Heads, help me fill out the list by adding your favorite off-season ways to stay ready for your first round. And remember, the first day of spring is only 30 days away!