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Winter Golf Clothing: What to Wear From November to March, and What the Rules Allow

Winter golf clothing has one job that summer kit does not: keep you warm and dry for four hours without stopping you turning your shoulders. Bulk is the enemy. A heavy coat that feels fine on the walk to the first tee will shorten your backswing by the third hole and be tied round your waist by the sixth. The answer is thin layers you can add and remove, a waterproof cut for a golf swing, and proper attention to hands, head and feet. This page covers each piece, what to carry in the bag, and the one cold-weather habit that can get you disqualified.

Why layers beat one warm coat

A round of golf swings between two states: standing still on the tee and walking briskly up a fairway. You can be cold on one and sweating on the next. Several thin layers let you take one off at the turn and put it back on when the wind picks up, and thin fabric folds and stretches through a swing in a way a padded jacket never will. If you finish a winter round with your coat in the bag and a damp shirt, you were wearing too much at the start.

The three layers

Base layer

A close-fitting long-sleeved top in a synthetic or merino fabric that moves sweat away from the skin. Cotton is the one to avoid: it holds moisture, and a damp cotton T-shirt under a jacket is what makes you cold on the back nine. Thermal leggings under trousers are worth it on frosty mornings and barely noticeable when you swing.

Mid layer

A thin fleece, a merino jumper or a lightweight quilted gilet. A gilet is popular with golfers for a reason: it keeps the core warm while leaving the arms free. Pick something you would be happy to strip off and stuff into a bag pocket.

Outer layer

On a dry, cold day a windproof top is enough, and it is quieter and more flexible than a full waterproof. On a wet day you need a proper waterproof jacket and trousers. Golf waterproofs differ from walking jackets in the cut: stretch panels across the back and shoulders, a shorter hem that does not catch on the bag, and quiet fabric that does not rustle at the top of your backswing.

Waterproofs: what to look for

• Taped seams. Water gets in through stitching, so fully taped seams are what make a jacket waterproof rather than showerproof.
• Breathability. A jacket that does not breathe leaves you wet from the inside after a few holes of walking.
• Trousers with ankle zips. You want to pull them on over golf shoes when the rain arrives, not sit on a bench unlacing.
• Fit with a mid layer under it. Try a jacket on over a fleece and make a full practice swing in the shop. If it rides up or pulls across the shoulders, it is the wrong size or cut.
• A waterproof hat or bucket hat to keep rain off the back of the neck and out of your eyes.

Hands: the part of winter golf most people get wrong

Cold hands cost more shots than any other part of the body, because you lose feel in the grip. Three things help.

Winter mitts between shots. Large padded mitts you slip on over your glove as you walk and take off at the ball. They are the single best piece of winter golf kit for the money.

Rain gloves when it is wet. Ordinary leather gloves turn slippery when wet. Rain gloves are made to grip better as they get damp, and are usually sold in pairs, one for each hand. Keep them in a waterproof pocket so they start the round dry.

Hand warmers in your pocket. Disposable or rechargeable hand warmers are fine for warming your hands. Just keep them away from your golf balls (see the rule below).

Head and feet

A beanie or a fleece-lined cap stops a lot of heat loss on an exposed course, and a snood or neck warmer that you can pull up in a cold wind is less bulky than a scarf. For feet, a waterproof golf shoe or boot and a pair of warm, thicker socks make more difference than any jacket; our golf shoes guide covers spikeless and spiked options. Winter ground is soft and often wet, and a shoe that lets water in will spoil a round by the fourth hole.

The rule on warm golf balls

A golf ball flies a little shorter in cold weather, and some golfers try to warm one up. Under Rule 4.2a of the Rules of Golf, you must not make a stroke at a ball whose performance characteristics have been deliberately changed, and heating is one of the examples the rule gives. The penalty for making a stroke at such a ball is disqualification. Body heat is not treated as deliberate heating, so keeping a spare ball in your trouser pocket is fine; putting it in a pocket next to a hand warmer, or using a powered ball warmer during the round, is what the rule is aimed at. Warming balls before the round starts is not a breach.

What to keep in the bag in winter

• A spare dry glove, or a pair of rain gloves, in a sealed pocket.
• Mitts and a hat, even if it looks fine at the car park.
• Waterproof trousers and jacket, folded small.
• A small towel clipped under the umbrella, and a second one inside the bag.
• A hot drink in a flask and something to eat: a winter round burns more energy than you expect.
• An umbrella that fits the bag's umbrella holder.

Dress code in winter

Winter kit is still golf kit. Most clubs that ban denim and tracksuit bottoms in summer still ban them in January, so thermal leggings go under golf trousers rather than instead of them. Lullingstone Park is a public pay and play course with a relaxed dress code; our dress code page sets out what is and is not accepted. For what to expect from the course itself through the winter months, see course conditions and winter golf and our explanation of winter rules and preferred lies. The Lullingstone Park home page has tee booking and green fee details.

Sources

• The R&A, Rules of Golf, Rule 4: the player's equipment: randa.org

Checked on 1 October 2026.