Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness

For the fair weather golfer, the window of golfing opportunity is beginning to close as the misty mornings set in and the clubs get packed away until the spring.  For the rest of us, though, the autumn can promise some of the best playing opportunities of the year. You might just need an extra layer.

For me, as I’ve said a number of times before in my blog, golf on a links course on a cold, crisp winter’s morning can be fabulous. But before that, October and November seem to get overlooked, and that’s a tremendous waste given the autumnal colours on show at many courses.  These ‘cross-over’ months often provide better conditions underfoot than you’d expect, especially after what’s been a pretty decent summer (for a change!) and finding a deciduous parkland courses where the copper-leaves and flashes of dark red will soon be evident can make for a glorious day’s golf.

Like every other season, though, autumn golf does present its own unique challenges.  In the winter it’s the unthawed ground and the inevitably cold temperatures – the sun might be out but try swinging a club with seven layers of clothing on, it’s not easy. In summer, the hot dry weather (if it arrives) leads to deeper rough, fast and bouncy conditions, and over-crowded courses.  Autumn’s colour comes hand-in-hand with thousands and thousands of leaves blanketing the fringes of the fairway (OK, I’ll grant you, it’s the rough!) and the challenge of finding your ball. There’s nothing more annoying than losing a ball you know is “right here” and being penalised for a shot which on any other day would have been fine….but still, it’s just a game.

The fairways and greens are particularly lush at this time, perfect for spin, control, and those sharply stopping shots that look for all the money in the world destined for that hazard. On the flip-side there are the plugged lies and increased number of ‘mud balls’ but winter rules will be here soon to rescue us.

And how about those wonderfully atmospheric misty mornings, where the lifting fog clears to leave a glistening golf course?  If you’re lucky, you’ll find some early riser had the same putt as you and you can trace their route in the dew or see the error of their ways.  Just keep your fingers crossed that fog does lift and you’re not stuck waiting in the clubhouse until lunch!

Autumn also has us all reminded of the limits of our ability – that bounding 300 yard drive is replaced by the plugging 240-yarder (well, you knew it wouldn’t last).  Still, in compensation, you might see your ball spinning back 25 feet on a green to make you feel very professional.  Just a shame it only ever spins away from the hole, isn’t it?

For the hardy souls that carry their bag, there’s the added weight of jumpers shed and stuffed into pockets, or perhaps in fact a lighter bag, but only because you’re now having to wear your waterproofs.  And there’s that banana you popped in the pocket in June…

One financial bonus of golf in the autumn, besides cheaper green fees which tend to kick in about now, are the savings you make on wooden tees – they don’t snap every time you tee off. What joy!  And then there’s the rather bizarre satisfaction that comes from taking a divot the size of a doormat – provided you made contact with the ball first. These things look good to the untrained eye, just be sure to replace them.

So, all in all, and despite a few minor bugbears, autumn golf can be hard to beat. First and foremost, it’s a treat just to enjoy the variety the different seasons offer. If you want my advice, don’t pack the clubs away yet – embrace the vagaries of autumnal golf and I’m certain you’ll feel rewarded.