Golfers Stay In The Swing Of The Sport With Cold Weather Options
Opportunities To Improve Are Available Even When Courses Are Not
By Tony DeFazio

It was a typical Pittsburgh day in late December, more than 15 years ago, as Greensburg's Rocco Mediate stood on the California University of Pennsylvania football field with a bucket of golf balls, a few woods, and a pile of broken tees. Mediate, then a student at Cal, was standing on the frozen field, driving balls into the bleachers when the snow started to fall.

"That was when I realized it was time to head south if I was to become serious about reaching the PGA," the successful pro said of his decision to transfer to Florida Southern. For Mediate, the rest became history.

But what about the rest of us? Mediate went to Florida and eventually joined the PGA Tour. The rest of us go to Florida in December (if we're lucky) and return home to the same weather a week later. What can golfers in western Pennsylvania do to stay sharp during the winter?

One option is to wait for breaks in the weather, run out to the course, and try to squeeze in as many holes as possible between the snowflakes. If you've ever driven past a local course in the winter, and there is no snow on the ground, chances are you've seen more than a few golfers dressed like Admiral Byrd, trying to work on their games. And you've probably dismissed them as crazy.

"There's nothing at all wrong with getting out on the course in the winter," said PGA pro Matt Gotto, of Pleasant Valley Country Club in Fayette County. "As long as the ground's not frozen, if the temperature is at least in the 40s, there's no reason to not go out. As long as you can stand the weather, go ahead."

Courses themselves, however, obviously are not in the best condition between November and March. Keeping the fairways and greens in playing condition over the winter months is a challenge that affects every course in this area.

"The argument every year is whether we should just close down during the winter," Gotto said. "It's a hot debate every fall. The ground freezes to a certain depth, and obviously the top few inches will thaw first. What you end up with is a soft surface on top of a hard surface, and that can be extremely difficult to repair when it gets played on."

Knowing that totally closing courses to avid golfers quite possibly could cause an uprising, most local courses try other methods to maintain playing conditions. Many courses use top dressing on the greens and other sections of the course during the winter in an effort to minimize damage caused over the winter. Typically, a sandy soil will be applied to protect the playing surface. Other courses, especially those in areas with more harsh winters, apply chemicals to maintain the greens and fairways, and many actually plow the greens when they become heavily covered by snow.

Playing through the snow isn't the only winter option for area golfers. The winter months actually can be the best time of the year to work on your swing, or improve little facets of your game. Many local facilities offer covered and heated practice tees, and a few indoor golf "simulators" have opened up in the area.

At Corsi's Indoor Golf in Greensburg, players "tee off" from mats, hitting into a screen that simulates famous courses from across the country. Several cameras record the player's swing and gauge what type of shot - distance, accuracy, etc. - the golfer would hit on the particular course. It's not actually golf, but it's a great way to work on your swing or try that driver you were hesitant to use on the course.

"You're not so much working on your game in the winter as you are working on your swing," said Don Strassner, golf instructor at the Family Golf Center at Coal Springs in Bethel Park. Strassner and the other instructors at Family Golf Centers stress the benefit of taking lessons in the winter as opposed to the summer.

"Once your swing gets better, your game will get better," Strassner said. "It can be difficult to work on your swing when you're playing a lot - you're often distracted by your scores. And when you are changing your swing, even a little bit, scores tend to go up a little before they come down, as you try to work out the kinks. If you work on that [during the winter], you can focus on what you need to do. Then you'll be ready for April."

Another trend among more serious golfers has been weight training. PGA players like Tiger Woods and David Duval, in particular, have shown the value of working out for golfers.

"Flexibility is the main thing you'd want to work on if you're going to work," Strassner said. "You'd want to get stronger and more flexible, not more bulky. You don't need huge arms to be a good golfer or a long hitter. You want strength through range of motion. The back and hips are the most important things for golf. Keeping your back strong and healthy is probably number one."

As the weather gets warmer, Strassner and Gotto agree that it is important to get out on the course and try out that new swing or new club.

"Playing golf in Pittsburgh in the winter is almost like a batter in the on deck circle swinging with a weight on the bat," Strassner said. "It conditions you. Once you see and play in the worst, it makes it a whole lot easier when the conditions improve."

The serious and casual golfers have more options than ever before as they attempt to stay sharp and perhaps even improve their games over the winter. If Florida isn't in your plans, perhaps the gym, an indoor facility or some lessons might be. And, of course, for the old-school traditionalists, you can always put the layers on, break out the tossle-cap, and hit the frozen links.