From wind-stopping tops to insulated mugs and high-visibility golf balls, see everything you need to keep your golf season going this fall.
Not to be a buzz killer, but on Thursday, September 22, at precisely 9:07 p.m. Eastern time, summer will be over in the United States and autumn will begin. I still have tomatoes ripening in my garden, but the days here in New England are noticeably shorter now and the evenings are getting cooler. I’m looking forward to seeing the leaves turn red, yellow and orange, but I dread the rake blisters that will ensue piling them up in the backyard.
As much as I look forward to the first rounds of golf every spring, fall is my favorite time of year to play. After nearly a full season of playing, my game is as sharp as it’s going to get and walking the course on a crisp 60-degree day beats battling the heat and humidity. Still, autumn go usually means playing in softer conditions, dealing with mud and morning dew, along with cooler temperatures and occasionally, fog. So, here are a few things I make sure to do before I head to the course in October and November.
“This is how a U.S. Open should be,” said Justin Thomas after a 73.
BROOKLINE, Mass. – Summer gave way to fall on Saturday as a front moved in on Beantown and left players in the third round of the U.S. Open at The Country Club scrambling to stay warm and struggling to stay relevant on the leaderboard.
After basking in sunshine and temps in the 70s and 80s most of the first two rounds, the sky turned gray; temps dipped into the low 60s; and winds were steady at 15 mph, gusts at 20 mph and there were occasional blasts exceeding 30 mph.
And come Sunday for the final round? It’s going to be wicked cold.
“This is how a U.S. Open should be,” Justin Thomas said after a 73. “It’s very difficult. Par is great score on a lot of holes. Bogeys aren’t going to kill you. We don’t do this very often, and I think it’s very, very fitting and totally acceptable to have this kind of test and this difficult setup for a U.S. Open, and it’s strictly because of conditions.
“The greens are getting firm. It’s windy, and it should be tough.”
There was a lot of turbulence on the leaderboard, too. When the day broke, 23 players were under par. When the final putt was hit, nine were.
The scoring average was just shy of 73.50; about 0.75 strokes higher that the first round and 1.50 higher than the second round. Some of the game’s best players took a beating, including Collin Morikawa, who went from the overnight lead to a tie for 17th with a 77. U.S. Open champion in 2020, Bryson DeChambeau, shot 76. Two-time U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed each shot 75.
Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the first tee during the third round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. (Photo: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)
“That was brutal,” Will Zalatoris said. And he shot the low round of the day, a 3-under-par 67 to put him atop the leaderboard with Matt Fitzpatrick. “It took a lot of discipline today. We didn’t aim at a single flag even with some wedges just because you really only have a foot or two to deal with on these greens in some situations. Normally guys out here when they have wedges in their hand, they’re firing at pins no matter what the situation was, but it’s just a lot of patience and giving myself as many 15- to 25-footers as I could.”
Zalatoris said there were huge changes from the days before, pointing out that he had 312 yards to the green for his second shot on the par-5 14th in the second round and, because of the wind, had just 258 on Saturday.
“This place is a beast,” he said. “I think the biggest thing for me (Sunday), obviously, there’s a ton of major champions on this leaderboard, and by no means is the job done. Not even close. But just keep doing what I’m doing. Make sure I just get myself on the green as fast as I can or at least minimize the mistakes.”
The world’s best player wasn’t immune from the conditions as Scottie Scheffler went four consecutive holes without making a par or better for the first time since the second round of The Players in March. The Masters champion and winner of three other tournaments this year shot 71 and is two back.
“There’s a lot of trees on this golf course, and it’s gusty, as well. So it’s definitely unpredictable,” Scheffler said of the wind. “I think that’s what happens when you get these kind of foresty golf courses, and then with the gusts, I mean, that little golf ball is just getting thrown around all over the place.”
Fitzpatrick put on sun cream before the round.
“I was thinking, oh, it’s going to get nice and warm, but quite the opposite by the end of the day,” he said after his 68. “The wind was strong. Wind was really strong. It made it tough. You had to be switched on with the way you were hitting it, where you were missing it.
“I think that was why it was a great challenge, and really happy with my score.”
Anybody will be happy with a 68 in the final round. The high is forecast to be in the high 50s, winds will be steady and gusting with strength (making it seem colder) and sunshine is not in the forecast.
“You can’t play defensive on this golf course. You almost have to play aggressively defensive,” Zalatoris said. “You’ve got to be hitting a lot of shots towards the middle of the greens. Still no cakewalks. 9-, 8-, 7-irons into this place, you can make a mess real fast.
While there will be plenty of rays to soak in, Mother Nature will be downright mean this weekend at the 86th Masters, with those playing inside the gallery ropes suffering the most.
The forecast calls for a mixture of high-octane winds that will whistle through the Georgia Pines, frosty temperatures that will demand extra layers and perhaps ski caps, and a slight chance of a shower or two for rounds three and four.
Not exactly ideal.
But the natural elements aren’t the only obstacle the players will tangle with. The beauty of Augusta National will become a beast as the course will continue to firm up, the greens will continue to harden. And with that, players won’t be thinking birdie as much as they will thinking pars, and they will need to know where to miss to give them the best possible chance to not drop a shot.
The golf ball won’t fly as far either, so players will be trying to hit their numbers with clubs they usually don’t use to hit those numbers. Expect a lot of three-quarter swings, punch shots and an assortment of fades and draws to find the proper trajectory and distance.
The small quadrants that need to be hit to have a makeable birdie putt instead of a 40-foot chip will be tougher to find. Well-struck tee shots will roll into the pine straw or the pearly white bunkers. The five-footers with two feet of break will become harsher if affected by gusts.
All in all, the biting temps and intense wind will combine with an already exacting test to cut into concentration, fade focus and cause a lot of back-and-forth between player and caddie. In other words, it will be two days full of numerous headaches.
“At least there’s no rain,” Webb Simpson said. “But it’s going to be a challenge.”
It will start on Moving Day – where every player will be moving to stay warm. The high is not expected to reach the 60s on Saturday, and with steady winds in the 15 mph range and gusts reaching 30 mph, expect announcers to often summon three words – wind chill factor. CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz might even say, “Stay warm, friends.”
Sunday, the low is expected to fall to 36 and a frost delay is possible. Warmer temperatures (it will reach the 70s) and plenty of sunshine will settle in shortly before noon – a couple hours before the leaders tee off and start dealing with the sweltering intensity of Sunday Masters pressure.
Cameron Smith looks for his ball in the trees beside no. 13 fairway during the second round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Davis Tucker-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports
Players who made the cut this year got a taste of what’s to come. In Friday’s second round they were bruised by high winds. The field average was above 74.
“I shot 74. I feel like I shot 86,” 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia said. “I don’t know. It just felt like I just came out of 10 rounds with Canelo (Alvarez). So, it was hard. It’s difficult for me to get it going here other than one year.”
“It’s hard to commit to a number and say, OK, it’s 170. It’s really playing 200 or whatever it is and just committing to it because the wind’s so much up and down,” McIlroy said. “So just trying to take the ball out of the air as much as possible. But the greens are getting firm as well, so then it makes it hard to stop it on the green.
“So it’s a tough challenge. Being OK with hitting to 30 feet and taking two putts and making pars, that’s sort of the name of the game out there today.”
It sure looks like that will be the game the next two days. If so, there will be far fewer roars humming through the pines – a welcomed staple at the Masters. With the greens on the unyielding side, players will think twice about going for the green in two on the back-nine par-5s, with danger lurking in front and behind the putting surface at 13 in the form of Rae’s Creek and deep bunkers, and at 15 with ponds guarding both the front and back of the putting surface.
There are plenty of slopes for players to use to get the golf ball close to the hole, but again, if you miss your target, in some cases by only a foot, you could be looking at an impossible chip instead of a sensible birdie putt.
But there is hope. The strongest of the winds dissipated late in the second round, allowing the remaining players on the course to have more of a fighting chance. The fire of the approaching front and all its frigid, windy features could fizzle. The players aren’t expecting that, however, but along with the patrons, they are sure hoping for it. A warm Masters weekend, after all, one that would lead to birdies and eagles and create noise, would be much better than one where the sound is muzzled by ears muffs.
Here’s to fingers crossed.
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Want to extend your golf season a little longer? Here are a few new things to consider if you live where it’s cold.
With autumn leaves falling fast in New England and bomb cyclones pummeling the Pacific Coast with wind and rain, staying warm and dry on the course is getting tricky for golfers in many parts of the country.
Cold weather does a few things that can diminish your performance on the course. First, according to Titleist, a shot hit on a 50-degree day will fly three percent less far than it will at 70 degrees because colder air is thicker. So, your 200-yard shot will only fly 194. The bigger factor, however, is that adding sweaters, jackets and other insulating layers designed to keep you warm usually restricts your range of motion, so you swing slower. That will take even more yards off your shots.
Smart golfers are always on the lookout for apparel and accessories that can keep you warm and dry without hindering your swing. Here are a few new things to consider if you live where it’s cold and want to extend your season a little longer.
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Zerofit is a Japanese performance apparel brand that makes high quality baselayers and accessories to help keep you warm on the course.
Zerofit is a Japanese performance apparel brand that is expanding to the U.S. this winter. Zerofit prides itself in making high-quality base layers and accessories for a variety of outdoor sports and activities. This year will be the first year that Zerofit is available in North America just in time for the fall and winter seasons.
The golf swing can easily change in different climates. When it is warmer, the body has an easier time moving and going through the motions and mechanics of the golf swing. When temperatures decrease, the body can tense up and it can be difficult to complete your usual swing.
Some choose to not wear base layers because they can become tight and restricting. Zerofit’s Ultimate line allows for total mobility throughout your round with added heat for the upper and lower body. In addition to upper body garments, Zerofit also has its Ultimate Leggings.
Zerofit Heatrub Ultimate available in mock or crew neck style- $90. (Zerofit)
The Boken Institute in Osaka, Japan, tested the heat retention of the Zerofit Ultimate Baselayer and it was proven to be five times warmer than leading competitors. The technology in the threads is activated by movement, or brushing up against skin to generate heat instantly.
If you need a garment to complement cooler, but not freezing, temperatures the Move baselayer features a 45% polypropylene construction on the inside of the base layer and a polyester shell to help control body temperature so that you do not overheat in your practice or round.
Zerofit Heatrub Move Baselayer in Titanium- $76. (Zerofit)
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Sun Mountain Sports has just released the Colter Jacket and Vest which features new breakthrough insulation technology.
Sun Mountain Sports has released a new line of apparel just in time for those chilly fall days on the course.
The company has developed outerwear with new breakthrough insulation technology. Sun Mountain has introduced the Colter Jacket and Vest. This isn’t your typical 80 percent cotton, 20 percent polyester blend jacket.
The Colter design features insulated panels for core warmth and side panels with four-way stretch for easy range of motion. The insulated panels use the breakthrough 37.5® insulation which is known for its ability to actively regulate body temperature and resist moisture. The clean and sleek design keeps you looking and playing your best.
The 37.5 insulation is a synthetic fiber designed to absorb body heat and help keep moisture out. The design keeps the body warm without overheating and allows you to wear this design throughout the entirety of your round in a variety of climates. The insulation also helps control odors.
The Colter Jacket is a full-zip, hooded jacket. The jacket features two hand warmer pockets, internal and external chest pockets and a zip-through collar with chin-guard. The Colter Jacket is available in four different colors with a retail price of $149.99.
Colter Vest is a packable and ultra-lightweight insulated vest. It is also designed with two hand warmer pockets, internal and external chest pockets (the internal pocket doubles as a stuff sack) and a zip-through collar with chin-guard. Colter Vest is available in four different colors with a retail price of $119.99.
For 30 years, Sun Mountain has been a pioneer in the golf industry, revolutionizing golf bags, golf outerwear and golf carts. Sun Mountain’s “Ahead of Time Design” motto drives the company to continually design and refine golf equipment.
For the Sun Mountain retailer nearest you call 800-227-9224 or visit www.sunmountain.com.
