Beating gale force winds

This week I will be travelling to Scotland to attend my first British Open. It is one of my favourite Majors as it gives you the ability to watch the world’s best play on some of the oldest courses in the world, with some of the most challenging conditions you will ever see.

With this in mind, I thought it would be appropriate to make this week’s tip about how to play in gale force winds!

* Check the weather report, particularly for wind conditions, before heading to the course. Now that you have this valuable information, the first thing to remember is, do not get intimidated by the high winds. This will cause you anxiety and tension which will result in substandard golf shots. The greatest visualisation is to imagine that there is no wind and your only concern is your target. Focus on where you want the ball to go, not how it’s going to get there.

* Warm up first. As always, I cannot express enough the importance of warming up at the practice tee prior to your starting time. This will give you an opportunity to experiment with your club selection. Are you hitting down wind? Are you hitting into the wind? Is it a cross wind? Use your favourite club to experiment. For example, if your favourite club is a 6 iron and you hit it 165 to 175 yards, take a normal golf swing with that club and observe how far the shot travels. If you are hitting into a 60mph wind you may only hit the ball 100 yards swinging the club as if there was no wind. If you are hitting down wind, the ball may travel 200 to 210 yards with the same effortless swing.

* Adjust your alignment for the wind on the practice tee. Next, watch the direction the golf ball is traveling in. Aim at your target as if there was no wind. Hit your golf shot at the target and see where the ball ends up. If the wind is blowing from left to right and you hit a good shot at your target, the ball will more than likely end up left of your target by as much as 20 to 25 yards in that 60mph wind – not a good thing if you haven‘t allowed for that. Therefore, you must adjust your alignment accordingly. There was one hole I played where I actually had to line up 20 yards out of bounds and let the wind bring the ball back into play. Mentally, this is extremely difficult to accomplish, but trusting in your golf swing and the wind is the key.

* Choose the proper club. A good rule of thumb is for every 10mph of wind you should go up or down one club depending upon whether you are hitting with or against the wind. Thus, if the wind is blowing 60mph, it may be necessary to adjust as much as six clubs. For instance, a 17-degree fairway wood that normally goes 220-230 yards will be used for a shot into the wind from 160-170 yards. Conversely, hitting down wind you will want to adjust to a shorter club.

* Adjust your set-up. The final piece to bring all of this together deals with the setup. Widen your stance just enough to give you a better base to stabilise your body through the swing. This is crucial as you are swinging and trying to keep your balance at the same time. I can assure you that in a 60mph gust you will be knocked off balance. Build a solid foundation and you will be able to stand your ground.

Practice this and have fun with these guidelines for playing in a gale force wind. Remember that each golfer is a little different so figure out your needed adjustments on the practice tee to save strokes on the course. Find the yardages that work for you and you will always be confident in your shot selection in the wind.