I spent last winter in a golf dome. I figure I hit about 5,000 balls and it's really paying off big time so far. I'm at least 5 strokes better this year than last. I didn't notice any issues going from mats to grass. I'm further north than you - Winnipeg.

I'm farther north than you and I actually got a few rounds in on the par 3 course from december-march and some rounds on my local course starting in February

I've stopped golfing most years by labor day, even though in reality I have 2 months left in the golf season here in southern Iowa. Last year I was going to play through September, but the birth of my kid timed it out pretty well to just stop playing after labor day. This year I'm playing until at least September 15-16, which is the THP outing in Des Moines.

During the off season, I completely let go of golf. No drills, no practice, the clubs go in the closet and they don't come out until late February.

~Rock

I'm up here in Grand Forks, ND. I play in simulator leagues during the winter and hunt. I sure miss Texas. I use to play year round and my game was good, but when your not able to play your game gets rusty.

I grew up just across the border from Urbana in Indiana. You should be able to get in at least 10-months of play down there. Late fall & Early spring can be inconsistent weather wise but assuming some flexability in your schedule and a willingness to play in a little wind there are more than enough decent days to get out and play. Except for the old retired diehards and their skins games the courses are often wide open that time of year too.

Here in Ottawa I putt in the living room while watching hockey, and during intermissions I hang a yoga mat in a doorway and put a bunch of pieces of tape on it. Then I practice with my 3 wedges and work on hitting different marks.

Up North Golfers off Season tips?
 

Anyone else from Northern Minnesota, or any other place where you can really only golf mid-April through First of October if you're lucky? I mean I have no problem smacking balls around for a few rounds in 30 degree weather early and late season but the 7 month off season I can't practice the first almost month of the golf season is more of a catch-up than anything. Any tips or indoor drills you do in the winter to keep the swing going?

Putt and chip in the living room. I am lucky that I have a year round heated range so I can smack balls into the snow.

Move :)

Heated ranges and simulators should help you remember what a swing feels like at least. I feel your pain, but not quite to that extreme.

I'm not as north as you, but I to have a shortish season. I use the off season as a time to relax and step back from playing the game. The winter is a great time to work on your fitness and flexibility. I may put on some indoor carpet or hitt off of a chipping mat, but otherwise I just use that time to step back.

Haha Looking at moving to Southern Illinois in a year for graduate school, not that far south, but I'm sure 9 hours south will make some difference. There isn't any heated ranges around where I'm at. the best I can do is throw a heater in the garage and hit balls into a tarp hanging from the wall And oh yah, you betcha I play hockey of course for the fitness

Southern IL is actually pretty mild during the winter from what I've heard. Not a bad choice!

Beauty! Where I'm at it's not uncommon to have a week straight of -40F with the wind mid January-Feb, Those are good for the indoor putting and chipping into laundry baskets haha I have a few dozen birdieballs i like to hit indoors. as far as Southern IL having mild winters, looking at Urbana-Champagne to move to and I'm sure anything will be a treat to me.

Were in Northern MN are you? I am in Bemidji and understand your pain. I got a putting green so I could work on my putting and I will likely pick up an Orange whip or something similar this year to try and stay in "golf shape". As you know there are basically no indoor range options or heated ranges in these parts but it would be nice.

Yea, that's about 2 hours from me. It's still in the cold zone, but it won't be polar bear cold like you get up there. There is a great heated range in Normal, which is about 30 minutes from Champaign. Heated bays, indoor simulators, and a huge amount of demo equipment.

I'm in Grand Rapids, This will be my last year at University of North Dakota in Grand Forks tho which isn't quite as cold but the winds are awful. I read reviews on the orange whip on here and will probably get one if I can find the right deal on it. A heated range in Normal would most deff. be a weekly drive for me if Urbana is where I decide to go. there is an indoor simulator in one of the bars around here but it's terribly inaccurate, every ball you hit is dead straight and distances are very skew

As far as sims go, there are good and bad, but it is nice to just get some swings in.

I used to fish Cass Lake with my dad. Huge perch and nice walleyes. Man, that was some good eatin'.

Kevin

I have the same problem living in New England. I'm jealous of those who play golf year round, but at least the winter gives me a break for snowmobile season.

Very good fishing lakes in about every direction which is nice, I'm not a snowmobiler; most the time is on the hill snowboarding or playing hockey, I'd like to find some better sims but the closet "good" one is at Scheels in Fargo which isn't that bad of a drive, but still.