I watch the Western sky
The sun is sinking
The geese are flying South
It sets me thinking
Another winter comes
His icy fingers creep
Into these bones of mine
These memories never sleep
Sting sang that about a girl (I think – you sometimes can not tell what the bard is singing about and if you’ve heard his new album then you know exactly what I mean). But, the same words could just as easily apply to one’s golf game.
Aside from a few stalwarts (read crazed lunatics), once the ground freezes and snow starts falling, winter golf in the Midwest and Northeast usually involves 1) Shutting ones game down for four or five months until everything thaws or 2) Dome golf.
White Pines Golf Dome in Bensenville, IL
Fortunately, in my local area we have an excellent facility called the White Pines Golf Dome, which provides a generous hitting area for full shots and a practice green for putting . Usually my best friend and I go there every other week to shake the rust off our games.
For me, I’m not convinced it helps my ball striking. Hitting off mats always lulls me into a false sense of security and I get lazy at times. When that happens, the transition back to grass in the spring is usually a tough ordeal and it often makes me wonder if I would have been better off not picking up a club during the off-season.
So, why do I go? For me, it’s more about being able to spend some quality time with my golf obsessed friends than it is about game improvement. That is what makes the trip out to the dome worthwhile.
What do you think? Does hitting balls in a dome help your game? Provide some feedback and let us know.
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I think you overlook the ability of keep the “feel” of the golf swing and at least maintain some degree of repeatability of the swing. If you were to look at other golfers at your level who do nothing over the winter, you will find you get up to speed far more rapidly come golf season.
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I think it might be helpful when you are simply practicing your stroke technique. Plus any practice is better than no practice when the weather is not accommodating to playing outdoors. But in terms of getting you used to the kind of challenging lies you will one day face on a real golf course, only playing on the real thing counts.
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