Winter tips and tricks
Well, the time has come here in the Midwest. We had a wonderful Indian Summer, and until last week we had temps in the high sixties. Those days are over, and winter has descended upon us. For some, this is the time they put away their discs and hibernate. But for many others, myself included, it just means Winter Disc Golf Season has arrived. I may be in the minority here, but I like winter disc golf more than summer golf. There are many reasons why, but I won’t go into that right now. Instead, I wanted to share with you some tips and tricks for playing golf during the winter months.
Ribbons and Chalk
This trick is well known amongst the winter warriors, but I’ll share it again. When there is snow on the ground, the best way to keep track of your discs is with ribbon. You’ll want at least three feet of ribbon, taped to the bottom center of your disc. Duct tape works well, but clear packing tape is also effective. The secret here is to apply the tape and ribbon when your discs are room temperature and dry. The tape will adhere better and survive the snow. Now you don’t have to search endlessly when your disc slips under a snow drift, and that’s a definite pro. A con would be that you do lose some power and distance because of the ribbon’s drag, but I like to say that it's better to lose twenty feet than lose twenty bucks.
If you don’t want to sacrifice your distance, another great tip is to use colored powder chalk. The brighter the better. Keep the chalk powder in a quart sized zip lock bag and dip your disc in before each throw. When the disc lands, it will leave behind making it easy to track it on the snow. It is important that you put enough chalk on your disc to leave a clear mark on the snow. The downside of using this technique is that it can get messy, so try to keep your chalk bag in one location.
Keeping snow off your discs
This tip I learned a few years ago from Terry Miller. Often when playing in the snow, especially newer snowfall, my discs would get covered in snow, and I would have to spend far too much time trying to remove the sticky stuff. It was tedious, and I hated it. The best way to combat this is to keep your discs at the same temperature outside. I like to keep my bag in the garage the night before playing. This would get my discs to the correct temperature and now the snow doesn’t stick. It’s like magic, and definitely the best hack to improve my winter disc golf experience.
Dress in layers
If you have spent any time in the Midwest, you know you can experience all four seasons in one day. And in the winter, the weather can change quickly. Therefore, it is best to dress in layers so you can adjust to these changes. I like to keep my layers as this as possible to avoid getting too bulky, thus affecting my game. Ideally, I like to wear long underwear, then a short sleeve shirt, a long sleeve shirt, a hoodie, and finally a vest. Fleeced lined pants are a must have during the winter. I also like to wear a neck gator and head band under my hats. And of course, gloves, or at least one dedicated glove to your non-throwing hand. Which leads me to my next tip…
Electric Hand Warmers
This is the subject of much debate. Some say the chemical ‘shake and heat’ disposable bags are a better option, but I think the rechargeable units are better. They are reusable, they work great, and they don’t create as much waste. But make sure you get the right charger; you want the battery to be at least 10k Mah. This is important because you’ll want the warmer to last the entire round. If you keep it on the lower settings, you’ll have a warm throwing hand all day long. Trust me, nothing is better than reaching into your pocket and finding that heat ready to keep your hand from freezing. It’s a game changer, and a must have for any winter disc golf enthusiast
Footloose and fancy free
Lastly, you’re going to want heavy duty, waterproof boots. Dry feet equal happy disc golfers. It doesn’t matter how warm and cozy you are with the rest of your body if your feet are cold. You may lose some mobility on the tee box, but you’ll be much happier in those cold conditions. Is this really a tip or trick? No, but I couldn’t write this blog and not mention what many would think is obvious. Keep your feet dry and warm and the day will be a wonderful time. To all you year round, there-is-no-off-season winter warriors, I salute you, and I’ll see you out on the course!
