This week on Sticks Together, we dig into the gritty reality of winter golf—why we keep playing, how we stay warm, and the mental and physical challenges that come with cold-weather rounds. Time is still a huge factor, especially in winter. Golf just takes longer than most other sports, and for many women balancing family and life demands, that can be a serious barrier. But for those of us who keep showing up, there's a kind of shared grit and humor that comes with every frosty tee time.
We kick things off asking, “Where’s your line in the snow?” Slade and Stacey both admit their thresholds for cold have shifted. What used to be unthinkable—teeing off in sub-40s—has become normal. But we agree: it's not just about the temperature. The presence of wind and sun can make or break a winter round. For Stacey, the magic number is 45 degrees and sunny. For Slade, the wind is the dealbreaker.
We get into the reality of playing in these conditions—distance control is off, the ball doesn’t compress, and swings are tighter. We talk club selection adjustments, like routinely clubbing up by one or even two clubs, and how the ground, greens, and even our bodies respond differently in the cold. There's no denying it: winter golf demands a reset in expectations and a good sense of humor.
Then we share practical tips to stay warm. Stacey has been using Thermacare heat wraps—leftovers from a back injury—and they’ve been a game changer. Slade’s propane cart heater helps, though he admits it only really benefits one person. We also talk about layering strategies, heated vests, and yes, even putting blankets in the cart. And while warming your golf balls in your pocket sounds clever, we clarify it’s technically illegal in tournament play.
Rules-wise, winter golf gets a little fuzzier. We’ve established local rules for winter rounds—like lift, clean, and drop in the rough—and we stress how important it is to teach rules to beginners kindly. We share stories about muddy balls, embedded lies, and the unintended comedy of casual rule-bending.
Later in the episode, we take a nostalgic detour into the recent discovery of historical documents from our Ladies Golf Association, dating back to the early ’90s. Photos, records, and minutes show a vibrant past that we’re now working to preserve. It sparks a bigger conversation about the ongoing challenge of keeping women in the game through life’s many seasons. We reflect on how often women step away from golf due to family and work—and how that hasn’t changed much in 30 years.
Finally, we wrap with a good-natured debate about whether golf really is more demanding than other leisure activities. Spoiler: it is. It just takes longer. But that’s also why we love it—and why we keep showing up, in every season.