Is Your Equipment Up To The Weather?
Has the weather got you down? If so, you’re not alone. I don’t have any data to actually support my intuition, but my feeling is that this has been miserable a summer — weatherwise — as I can remember in 27 years in Michigan. Every time I plan a round at a new course, it seems as thought it is either uncomfortably hot, or threatening thunderstorms. It could be either a bit of observational selection or negativity bias, or it could be that it has objectively been an awful summer.
In any case, I am reminded of an old Boy Scout maxim: There is no such thing as bad weather. There are only bad clothing choices. For my part, I have played golf — in Michigan — in each month of the last three years. I’ll play when it is hot. I will play when it is cold. I draw the line, however, at playing in the cold and rain. There’s no need to unnecessarily risk a case of hypothermia. Waterproof shoes, layers of gore tex clothing. There’s lots of stuff out there.
Just as clothing needs to be up to snuff, so too does your equipment. You’ll need a good umbrella at the least. My push cart has an attachment that keeps
A good waterproof bag is also on the menu. Recently, BigMax, the trolley and golf bag manufacturer, sent a story about how the weather is changing, and golf gear must change with it. I found it interesting enough to run it here.
IS YOUR GEAR READY WHATEVER THE WEATHER?
With record temperatures and record rainfall, is your gear ready whatever the elements throw at it?
Whether you’ve been sweating through the hottest July on record in California1, swimming in the wettest July on record in Pennsylvania2, or combining the two in Arizona which has had both above average temperatures and rainfall1&2, one thing is for sure, the weather in 2018 has been far from normal.
And it’s not just this year. Since 2015 every state in the U.S. has experienced above average annual temperatures3, with a large proportion coupling that with above average rainfall4. It seems the only thing we can predict at the moment is that the weather will be unpredictable!
But golf goes on. And while the changeable weather might put off a few, the rest of us are out there on all but the hottest or wettest days doing our best to enjoy the game.
So what does the changing weather mean for golfers? And how can choosing the right gear help them get the best out of their game?
“The unpredictability of the weather isn’t just a challenge for golfers,” comments Ralf Niesing, head designer for golf bag specialists BIG MAX USA. “As golfers are faced with changing conditions we need to make sure that our equipment will function at its best whatever the weather.”
“Over the past five years our focus has been on developing the best water-proof and water-resistant bags on the market but that can’t be at the expense of practicality when the sun comes out. Very few golfers have the luxury of having a wet weather set up so as designers we need to make sure that whatever conditions a golfer wakes up to, their equipment is ready to perform.”
But with so many variations in the weather the ‘Goldilocks’ combination of equipment that is ‘Just Right’ whatever the weather is a puzzle that is very hard to solve.
“You have to start with the golfer and their needs, but those needs will differ depending on their location and certainly more often these days, on the way the weather is behaving. So a manufacturer’s target has to be to provide the best solutions for any variations. Take for instance our two bag lines – Dri Lite and Aqua. Aqua is 100% waterproof with sealed seams and waterproof zippers. It has a hydrostatic rating of 10,000 meaning 10,000mm of rain can fall on it in 24 hours and it will stay dry inside. Dri Lite has all of those features without the seam sealing, so it carries a rating of 2000. In most situations our Dri Lite bags will keep out average rainfall, but if you are likely to be playing courses in areas prone to downpours, like Bandon Dunes, I’d suggest the Aqua every time. If you are in an area where you get occasional rain or if you want to be protected just in case, then Dri-Lite is the line for you.”
Niesing continues, “So we have two lines that lead the field in waterproof technology, but we don’t want to be the ‘waterproof bag’ company. To make sure of that, we have to think about practicality in hot weather that doesn’t compromise our wet weather performance. So we take care to pick materials which can resist extreme temperatures and remain durable under the stress of the heat. This goes for our colours too. Our bright European styling is one of our most recognisable design points so we have to work out ways that minimise fading in direct sunlight. Out of these different needs we developed our unique waterproof material that is incredibly lightweight, durable in rain and sunshine, washable if it gets muddy or dusty and keeps its colour whatever the weather.“
“They say that necessity is the mother of invention and I do truly believe that we as manufacturers will have to accomodate climate fluctuations more and more in our designs over the coming years. The trends are there to see, so if we want to continue in our aim of making a golfers life on the course easier and more enjoyable we have to be increasingly creative in our solutions to the problems that they face. So far I think we have done a great job at BIG MAX but rest assured, we’re already working on the next generation of products that are led by golfers‘ needs and among the leading manufacturers I don’t think we’ll be alone in thinking that climate will be an important part of those next steps.“
For more information on BIG MAX wether proof innovations visit https://us.bigmaxgolf.com
*All data taken from National Centers for Environmental Information www.ncdc.noaa.gov/
F: facebook.com/bigmaxgolf
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Media Enquiries: [email protected] +44 (0)7740 684568
About BIG MAX
BIG MAX has been Europe’s #1 push cart brand for over 15 years following the unprecedented success of the world’s first 3 wheel push cart the Ti1000. Available in virtually every country that plays golf, BIG MAX is a name that has become associated with quality and innovation. It’s most recent advancement, Fold Flat technology, has seen BIG MAX pioneer push carts that fold down completely flat, in some cases to less than 5” deep. BIG MAX has furthered its reputation for innovation with its AQUA and DRI LITE technology that in the last quarter of 2017 matched BIG MAX push carts by becoming #1 golf bag and travel cover brand in Germany, a traditional marker for # 1 in in continental Europe.
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