Can You Play Golf In The Rain? 10 Essential Tips

Can You Play Golf in the Rain?

Picture this: you’ve been looking forward to your Saturday morning tee time for weeks. You wake up excited, grab your coffee, and check your phone—only to see dark clouds and a 70% chance of rain. Your heart sinks. Do you cancel? Reschedule for the third time this month? Or do you brave the elements?

The answer is simple: Yes, you can absolutely play golf in the rain. However, you must avoid playing during lighting storms and come prepared with proper waterproof gear.

While most fair-weather golfers head home at the first sign of drizzle, prepared players know that rainy conditions can actually provide advantages: emptier courses, cooler temperatures, and an opportunity to develop mental toughness.

Let’s dive into the essential strategies that will transform you from a weather-worried golfer into someone who thrives when the skies open up.

1. Can you Play Golf in the Rain? Well, Check for Lightning First

Before we discuss technique or equipment, let’s address the elephant in the room: when you should never play golf in the rain.
Lightning poses a serious threat to golfers. You’re holding metal clubs while standing in an open field, often as the highest point for hundreds of yards. When thunder rumbles or lightning flashes, it’s time to seek shelter immediately.

Most golf courses have lightning detection systems and will sound sirens when dangerous conditions approach. However, you should also:
Download a weather radar app like Weather Underground or RadarScope

• Follow the 30-30 rule: seek shelter if thunder follows lightning by 30 seconds or less, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming play
• Remember that lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the storm center

Professional tournaments routinely suspend play for lightning, and you should too. No round of golf is worth risking your life.

And if it is thundering/lightning-ing, you should play a round at X-Golf while you wait! We are an indoor simulator, unbothered by rain or storms. Plus, we have plenty of backup generators to ensure consistent training and play.

We have professional-grade metrics, so we are not your amateur-level sim. We cater to all groups, from pros to children first learning how to putt (because, unlike many others, you can putt with us).

Have fun with us while you wait to golf, CLICK HERE to book a tee-time, or hop in!

2. Put Your Rain Hood On Before You Start

This might seem obvious, but timing matters more than you think. Many golfers wait until they feel the first drops before scrambling to protect their equipment—by then, it’s often too late.

The smart approach: Check the hourly forecast before leaving home. If there’s any chance of rain during your round, install your rain hood while you’re still in the clubhouse or your car.

Here’s why this simple step makes such a difference:

• Prevents initial moisture from soaking into club grips
• Keeps towels and gloves dry from the start
• Eliminates the stress of scrambling to cover clubs mid-downpour
• Protects valuable items stored in your bag

A quality rain hood should cover your entire bag opening and include secure straps or clips. Don’t rely on the flimsy covers that come with budget golf bags – invest in a dedicated rain cover that actually works when you need it most.

3. Know the Embedded Ball Rule – Turn Conditions to Your Advantage

Here’s where rainy day golf gets interesting: the rules can actually work in your favor.

Since 2019, golf rules have been more generous with embedded ball relief. If your ball plugs anywhere in the general area (not just the fairway), you get free relief. This is huge during wet conditions when balls stick rather than bounce.

 

How to take proper relief:

• Mark the ball’s position before lifting it
• Clean the ball completely
• Drop within one club-length of the embedded spot, no closer to the hole
• No penalty stroke
• Many recreational golfers don’t know this rule exists, giving you a significant advantage. While they’re trying to hack out of a plugged lie, you’re dropping to a clean position and getting back to scoring.

Remember to actually check if your ball is embedded—don’t assume. The ball must be in its own pitch mark with part of it below ground level.

4. Invest in Proper Rain Gloves

Forget everything you think you know about golf gloves in wet weather. Modern rain gloves are a game-changer, and many actually perform better the wetter they get. Traditional leather gloves become slippery death traps when wet. Rain gloves use synthetic materials with specialized textures that increase grip as moisture builds up.

Most come in pairs (since you’ll want both hands covered) and feature:

• Synthetic palm materials that won’t stretch when soaked
• Textured fingers for enhanced club contact
• Typically black coloring that hides dirt and wear
• Machine-washable construction for easy maintenance
• Pro brands to consider: FootJoy RainGrip, Titleist Players, or Callaway OptiGrip. Yes, they cost more than basic gloves, but they’ll transform your ability to control the club in wet conditions.

Keep multiple pairs in your bag during rainy season—having a backup when your first pair gets completely saturated can save your round.

5. Shorten Your Pre-Shot Routine

Wet weather demands efficiency. Your normal routine of two practice swings, multiple alignment checks, and extended visualization needs to change when rain is falling.

Why speed matters in rain:

• Reduces equipment exposure to moisture
• Prevents body temperature loss from standing still
• Keeps grips drier for longer periods
• Maintains playing pace when conditions slow everything down
• Streamlined wet-weather routine:
• Skip practice swings (trust your muscle memory)
• Make club selection decisions quickly
• Hit with confidence rather than hesitation
• Immediately dry and cover clubs after each shot

The key is preparation. Know your yardages, have a clear target, and commit to your shot. Indecision leads to prolonged exposure, which leads to discomfort and poor performance.

After striking the ball, quickly dry the clubhead under your arm or with a towel before returning it to your bag. This prevents water from running down the shaft and soaking your grips.

6. Adjust Your Yardages for Carry Distances

Wet conditions fundamentally change how golf balls behave, and understanding these changes is crucial for maintaining accuracy and scoring.

What happens to ball flight in rain:

• Significantly reduced roll on landing
• Heavier air resistance affecting carry distance
• Balls tend to “stick” where they land
• Approach shots stop more abruptly on greens
• This means your 150-yard 7-iron might carry 148 yards but only roll 2 yards instead of the usual 8-10. Knowing your precise carry distances becomes essential.

Strategic adjustments:

• Take one extra club for approach shots
• Aim directly at pin positions (balls won’t roll past)
• Be more aggressive with pin-seeking shots
• Plan for less rollout on drives
• Many golfers make the mistake of trying to “muscle up” their normal clubs instead of simply taking more club. This leads to poor contact and inconsistent results. Trust your carry distances and club up accordingly.

7. Choose Spikes Over Spikeless Shoes

This is where many modern golfers get into trouble. Spikeless shoes are comfortable for casual rounds and look great in the clubhouse, but they’re genuinely dangerous in wet conditions.

Why spikes matter in rain:

• Superior traction prevents slipping during the swing
• Better stability through impact
• Increased confidence in your footing
• Reduced wear on shoe soles in harsh conditions
• Spikeless shoes rely on rubber nubs and tread patterns that become ineffective when wet grass is involved. You’ll find yourself sliding during your backswing, losing power through impact, and potentially injuring yourself on slippery slopes.
• Spike maintenance for wet conditions:
• Check spike tightness before rainy rounds
• Replace worn spikes before they become completely smooth
• Clean spikes between holes to remove grass buildup
• Consider metal spikes for extremely wet conditions (where permitted)
• Your most durable, well-spiked shoes should be your go-to choice for wet weather. Save the stylish spikeless pairs for perfect weather days.

8. Learn When to Use an Umbrella

An umbrella can be useful, but it depends on two things: wind conditions and rain intensity.

If it’s very windy, an umbrella becomes more hassle than help – you’ll spend more time wrestling with it than staying dry. In heavy downpours, you’re going to get soaked regardless, so focus on keeping your equipment functional rather than yourself completely dry.

Umbrellas work well for:

• Light to moderate rain without much wind
• Protecting your bag during cart rides
• Creating a dry zone for cleaning clubs between shots

Skip the umbrella when:

• Wind turns it into a sail that fights you
• Heavy rain makes it pointless
• You’re navigating tight spaces around greens
• Handy trick: Clip a dry towel to the inside of your umbrella. This gives you a protected drying station that follows you around the course. Need to clean your hands or dry a grip? It’s right there waiting.
• A golf umbrella with a 60+ inch canopy will cover you and your equipment better than standard umbrellas. Just remember—sometimes the best umbrella strategy is leaving it in your bag.

9. Keep Gloves Dry with a Rotation System

Even with quality rain gloves, maintaining dry hands throughout 18 holes requires planning and strategy.

The rotation approach:

• Start with rain gloves on both hands
• Keep 2-3 backup pairs in waterproof storage
• Store one dry pair inside your umbrella with a towel
• Rotate gloves every 4-6 holes or when they become saturated

Storage solutions:

• Ziplock bags for emergency backup gloves
• Waterproof pouches attached to your bag
• Inside jacket pockets with moisture-wicking materials
• Umbrella clips for mid-round drying
• Traditional leather glove users should bring at least four pairs for a full round in steady rain. While this seems excessive, having dry hands for crucial shots can be the difference between a good round and a disaster.
• Temperature consideration: In cold, wet conditions, consider thin liner gloves under your rain gloves for warmth without sacrificing grip

Wow, we have made it to tip ten! Well, if this list is sounding pretty long for all that you have to do when you go golfing… Skip the hassle and join us for a round and a beer before you head out into the rain to get a cold. Click HERE to book a Tee-time!

10. Consider Your Transportation Method Carefully

How you navigate the course dramatically affects your comfort and performance in wet conditions. Each method has distinct advantages and drawbacks.

Carrying your bag works best when:

• Conditions are very wet and windy (simplifies movement)
• You want maximum flexibility in positioning
• The course has good cart path drainage
• You prefer to stay warm through continuous movement

Push/pull trolleys excel when:

• You have a quality umbrella holder attachment
• Cart paths are well-maintained
• You want to keep one hand free for umbrella management
• Weight of wet gear becomes burdensome

Golf carts provide advantages if:

• You can stay mostly dry between shots
• The course allows cart use in wet conditions
• You’re playing with rain-averse partners
• Temperature is very cold (reduced movement means less warmth)
• Weather-specific considerations: Many courses implement “cart path only” rules during wet conditions. This can actually slow you down and increase exposure time. In these situations, walking or using a push cart often proves more efficient.

The key is matching your transportation choice to the specific conditions you’re facing rather than defaulting to your normal preference.

And, in case you are ready to play golf, but just without weather worries, visit X-Golf Rockwall today and see how indoor golf simulation delivers the perfect round, rain or shine, or even just to learn more about us!

The Smart Alternative for when you are asking, “Can you play golf in the rain?”

Playing golf in the rain requires significant equipment investment, performance compromises, and safety considerations. While it’s certainly possible, many golfers find the experience more frustrating than enjoyable.

X-Golf Rockwall offers the perfect solution for rainy day golf. Our state-of-the-art indoor golf simulators provide:

• Year-round perfect conditions: No weather delays or equipment concerns
• Accurate course simulation: Play famous courses worldwide without leaving Rockwall
• Consistent performance: Your clubs and balls behave exactly as expected
• Comfortable environment: Climate-controlled facility with food and beverage service
• Social atmosphere: Enjoy golf with friends regardless of weather

Instead of investing hundreds in rain gear and enduring uncomfortable, compromised rounds, experience golf the way it was meant to be played. Book your simulator session at X-Golf Rockwall and discover why indoor golf is the smart choice for serious players.

Wow, you made it to the end of the blog! Congrats! Well, if you want to read another… here is another good golfing source that we think you would enjoy! Feel free to check out “Reasons to try Indoor Golf.” See you here with a community of golf enthusiasts!