Oh, this fickle weather. At a time when we should all be thinking of dumping our raingear - or, at least, keeping it in the boot of our cars - for the summer months, the truth is that waterproofs must remain stowed away in the golf bag, if not actually in use.
We may be just over a week away from the official start of summer, but the dark clouds of winter are still very much with us . .. . and, so, the weatherproofs remain an integral part of our golfing equipment whether we like it or not. Indeed, the golf professional shops report that there is a steady demand for suits at this time of year and Michael McGuirk, of McGuirk's Golf in Blanchardstown, made the point that customers are far more discerning than in the past.
"About 14 years ago, the dearest wet suit we had for sale was about £75, and that was top of the range back then, a Sunderland rubber suit. Now, we have suits up to £275 which, say, in the case of the Titeliest Footjoy, would be exactly the same as a professional on tour wears. And there is a demand for them."
In recent years, the range of raingear has expanded to include waterproof sweaters and weatherbeaters as well as the traditional jacket and trousers. Indeed, when Today's Golfer magazine carried out a survey last year, it discovered that more than 100 different types of waterproofs were available to high street customers. Nowadays, men, women and children are all catered for and it is obviously a highly competitive market.
So, what should a customer look for when choosing waterproofs? Accepting that price will be a factor in some cases, the bottom line, however, is that the player wants to be kept as dry as possible - even during the heaviest shower of rain.
Before making the purchase, though, the customer should attempt to go for a high performance fabric that will take care of the elements. After all, you want the garment to be both waterproof and windproof, but which will also allow the body to breathe easily.
It is also a good idea to go for trousers which are adjustable. The benefit fo draw-string trousers is that you can get an exact fit no matter how many layers of clothing you are wearing at the time. However, some players prefer an elasticated waist.
It is also important to opt for rainwear which has storm flaps or a sealable fold to keep valuables and scorecards dry, while it is also a good idea to go for sleeves with elasticated cuffs.
Indeed, it's a sign of the advance in waterproofing techniques over the years that one of the market leaders, Gore-Tex, actually give advice to players on how to cope with wet conditions so confident are they that anyone wearing their garments will remain dry underneath. Tips include ensuring you keep a towel in the ribs of your umbrella so that you can dry the grips before making a shot. Another is to grip down on the club an inch or so and grip it tighter. They also suggest that, with rainwater likely to rest in the grooves and cause the ball to fly further with less backspin, it can be beneficial to use one club less, say a seven iron instead of a six.
Recent designs have tended to be more fashionable and the recently launched Proquip Ambassador, for example, comes in a variety of colours and, according to the marketing blurb, has the sort of "comfort and style" for use on and off the course. More importantly, from a golfer's viewpoint, it is completely waterproof and has breathable Gore-Tex sport-light lining. It also has a microfibre outer and is teflon treated to prevent staining and repel water. It is at the top end of the market, in quality and price, but that seems to be what more and more customers want these days.
With the weather, unfortunately, showing no signs of abating just yet, the bottom line is that waterproofs could be just as important as your putter in deciding whether or not you forge out a score in the monthly medal. So look after them well.
