A Practical Guide to Playing In Wind

Start with the shot in front of you

Wind golf changes the question from “What club is this?” to “What shot can I control from here?” Before you pull a club, read the wind direction, the lie, the safest miss, and the trouble that absolutely cannot come into play. A smart answer might be a flighted 6-iron or knockdown wedge, but only if the swing matches the situation.

For example, a crosswind par-3 where the flag is tucked on the exposed side asks for a different target than a flat fairway lie. On exposed holes, the goal is not to prove you can hit the perfect shot; it is to choose the one that leaves the next shot playable.

Simple adjustments that travel

Start with the wind checklist:

• Into or across the wind, take enough club when balance or contact is uncertain.
• On exposed holes, aim for the fat side of the green or fairway.
• When the breeze is up, swing at cruising speed, not rescue speed.
• In wind golf, accept a smaller finish if the lie or weather demands it.

Coach’s tip: If the wind makes the practice swing feel rushed, add club before you add speed.

What good looks like

A good result in wind golf is often boring: middle of the green, front edge, fairway short of the bunker, or a lay-up wedge number you trust. When the breeze is up, that kind of discipline rarely makes a highlight reel, but it keeps doubles off the card. When the breeze is up, build your round around playable misses and you will look calmer than the conditions around you.