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Winter Golf

spinnin' discs

Bogey Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
67
So its getting to be that time of year....
What do you guys do for winter golf? How do you keep track of discs? What do you wear? What do you carry in your bags? (Not just discs) Any tips? Tricks?
 
Sometimes I switch out my very durable translucent discs for gummier low end ones. Often will change the colors some, the greens and blues come back in while the Reds and oranges get some shelf time.

I've never played in the snow(not many chances here) but I probably will this year and for the most part will just be throwing the cheapest encarnation of my bag becuase I'm sure to lose some.
 
Lots of towels, also it helps to get your bag/discs acclimated to the weather before you play, so you're not dealing with wet discs right away.
 
Ribbons. I've been using 1/8th inch fabric ribbon about 5' long taped on with frost king weather seal tape. It's possible to play without ribbon, and many people do successfully, either way10 rules to keep in mind.

1. Keep an eye on your disc. This may seem like a no brainer, but seriously, eagle eyes - mark exactly where it landed visually and talk through it in your mind ie. about 3 feet left of that oak tree, just short of that funky shadow in the snow that kind of looks like a finger.

2. No white discs.

3. Learn to identify what a disc slice looks like - it's fairly unique, it doesn't look like a squirrel track, it doesn't look like a foot print, it doesn't look like a branch that fell off a tree. Before you start digging in the snow under a mark that it could be, carefully study that mark, you will learn exactly what disc slices look like. This only works in fresh snow, the more marked up the fairway gets, the more important ribbons become.

4. Throw "floatier" discs, a zephyr will nearly always be easy to find, A cobra does pretty well, A roc isn't bad, A boss... well I hope you are good at identifying that entry mark.

5. Walk like cattle. Single file line, down the middle of the fairway, walk the same path every time you play the hole, only deviate from the path in a 90* line to reach your disc, avoid marking up the fresh snow as much a possible.

6. Do not kick snow randomly. Follow the steps above^ and go through them again if you have to, do not make a mess of the fresh snow if at all possible, nothing worse than a huge tracked up circle in the fairway.

7. Do not play on snow covered tees. Especially if it's wet snow, the tracks will freeze and the person that comes later on to shovel will hate your guts. Ideally, bring a shovel and clear them off, you, everyone you're playing with, and everybody that comes after you will appreciate it. It's a thankless chore and can get old as the long snowy months wear on, but it's worth it. If not, play off to the side and don't mess up the tees for the person that will shovel.

8. Play in the dark, use LED's. It's 1000 times easier to find the glowing orb in the snow than it is to find the minute slice in the snow, and there's so many more dark hours during the day, learn to enjoy them and you will have much more discable time in the winter.

9. Use Spotters. I probably should have put this up the list farther, it's important - on every hole if possible and absolutely necessary on blind holes.

10. Have fun and don't complain! seriously, I realize it's cold, I realize that the snow is sticking to your discs and you can't feel your toes and your nose is getting slightly frostbitten, I am kind of cold too but you don't hear me complaining about it, I'm out here enjoying myself and making the best of it, I do not want to hear your whining.
 
The other comment I was going to make on ribbon, besides 1/8" fabric ribbon (50' at Michaels for 50 cents), Cassette tapes make pretty good ribbon (25 cents at a thrift store for I dunno, 100 yards) not quite as durable and doesn't stand out against brown grassy reeds and twigs as well, but works quite well.
 
I just put away the white discs and broke out the GStars. Last year was the first year I committed to ribbon because in previous years I could not get them to stick throughout a whole round. Last year I taped them up different - multiple strips, looping through slits in the tape, and applying it indoors when it is warm. It might be this Friday before I can get out and play, so I might spend some time on Wednesday or so ribboning up my stockpile.
 
Ok, so I play in Texas. Have never played in snow even though I play all winter. Forgive me for my stupidity but, what are the ribbons for?

For the OP, when it gets cold enough, I add long sleeves, pants and fingerless gloves. That's about it. I might wear something on my ears too, but usually that comes off halfway through the round because I'm getting too hot.
 
Another note about taping (Led's and ribbon) - smarkquart mentioned taping while warm, I'll add and clean - use rubbing alcohol to wipe off any oils and dirt. The tape will work much better, avoid taping hastily while cold. If you put the time into taping right, the tape job will last. Tape lights and ribbon separately, so if you lose one you don't lose the other. Tape ribbons directly in the middle on top. Lights can be offset, on important discs I will put 2 lights on, just in case one stops working or falls off.
 
Ok, so I play in Texas. Have never played in snow even though I play all winter. Forgive me for my stupidity but, what are the ribbons for?

For the OP, when it gets cold enough, I add long sleeves, pants and fingerless gloves. That's about it. I might wear something on my ears too, but usually that comes off halfway through the round because I'm getting too hot.

Thanks for asking, I was gonna ask myself, being from TX too, if we get any snow at all up here it's only MAYBE 4-5 inches, and that's still a long shot. We mostly just get ice and slush crap. :thmbdown:
 
Thanks for asking, I was gonna ask myself, being from TX too, if we get any snow at all up here it's only MAYBE 4-5 inches, and that's still a long shot. We mostly just get ice and slush crap. :thmbdown:

The good thing about the ice is your disc goes further and you don't lose it under the snow. I didn't get to play in last year's ice storm, but one of my friends said he added about 50' to his throws by it skipping on the ice.
 
I prefer winter golf in the NW. The courses are emptier and there's no wait time behind that annoying college kid who's making his girlfriend caddy his two DX discs in a Safeway bag. Out here we only get snow once or twice a year, so you mostly just need Gore Tex, rain gear, and lots of towels.
 
Thanks for asking, I was gonna ask myself, being from TX too, if we get any snow at all up here it's only MAYBE 4-5 inches, and that's still a long shot. We mostly just get ice and slush crap. :thmbdown:

because up here the snow goes up to your nuts. and you wouldn't be able to find those either if you stayed in the snow long enough.
 
We use present ribbon. 2' long. Stay away from dollar store ribbon and tape. Make sure the disc is warm when putting on tape. I used this setup a couple years now. The swivel keep the ribbon from fluttering, and pulling the ribbon under.
 

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