Three Tips for Winterizing Your Upstate South Carolina Golf Game

The good news: Cherokee Valley Course and Club is a year-round golf destination, and with more than 220 sunny days, annually, even the chilly days are down right bearable.

Sure, there are chilly days, as daytime highs in January and February average in the low to mid 50s. But as a wise golfer once said, “there’s no such thing as cold weather, just bad clothing.” Or something along those lines.

So with the first Eastern Redbud blooms just a couple months away, here are three tips for winterizing your golf game.

Select Appropriate Apparel

The old adage goes, “you can experience all four seasons in a single day in South Carolina.” Well, most golfers will experience at least a season or two during a four-hour round of golf in January and February.

As such, strategic layering is key to an enjoyable experience.

The new golf shop (The Shop) on the first floor of our soon-to-open casual dining restaurant, Core 450, will feature expanded lines from local apparel purveyors like Southern Tide and Kentwool. And we’ll also carry exciting men’s and women’s brands like Kate Lord, LINKSOUL, Straight Down and Sun Mountain as of this spring.

Performance-based compression fabrics have exploded in popularity in recent years and are easy to layer under golf shirts and quarter-zip pullovers. But traditional materials, like cotton and (especially) wool, provide the most on-course warmth.

We have plenty of plenty of golf-wear options in the existing golf shop in the Event Center, so fee free to stop in and see us, or call (864) 689-3585 to check on inventory.

Warm-Up with a Purpose

How often have you dashed to the practice range to hit a few balls just minutes before your tee time? Not only does this increase your heart rate, but it also triggers your body’s “fight or flight” response, sending a shot of adrenaline into your bloodstream.

This is “no bueno” when it comes to making a smooth and relaxed swing on your opening tee shot. What’s more, it can lead to a completely avoidable golf injury that will keep you out of the game this winter.

Instead, arrive at the course early and develop a regular warm-up routine that includes dynamic stretches, static stretches and then (and only then) approximately 25 to 50 swings.

With one of the Upstate’s largest and more comprehensive practice facilities, golfers can easily and effectively ready for a round of winter golf at Cherokee Valley. We have spacious driving stations, a short game area and large putting green for honing every facet of your game.

There are literally thousands of golf warm-up routines online, but if you’re interested in committing to a more holistic golf fitness regimen, former PGA Tour player Justin Leonard has teamed with Dr. Jeremy James in launching the digital fitness program Golf Forever.

Walk Your Way Warm 

Walking’s benefits have been well documented. And with the advent of fitness trackers, it’s safe to say we’ve become a “steps-obsessed” society. Walking 18 or even nine holes not only burns hundreds of calories, it has the added benefit of keeping you toasty on the course.

At Cherokee Valley, members can walk the golf course anytime, and many of them opt to do so with pushcarts in order to ease the burden on their backs, ligaments and tendons.

Currently holes one through 12 are very walkable, with a handful of spots that call for above average fitness levels (the walk up to the eighth tee, or up to the green complex on No. 5, for example).

Holes 13 through 18 are walkable in theory, but we recommend that members start off by hoofing the first 11 holes to get used to the hilly terrain and overall rigor.

Members can also have a cart placed on any hole during their walking round, should they want to ride the balance of the course.