How Different Parts of the World, Weather, Temperature, Humidity, and Elevation Affect Golf Ball Flight and Distance
By: Patrick Stephenson
One of the many things that draws me into golf is how it can be so drastically different each and every time you go out to play. Unlike other sports, where the field of play is relatively consistent no matter where you travel, golf courses and conditions can vary dramatically—even within the same city from month to month. The weather, the altitude, and the surroundings all contribute to a unique experience. But when you start playing in different parts of the world, those differences are magnified even more.
As travel has become increasingly popular, particularly among millennials and Gen Z over the past decade, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself playing a round in a completely unfamiliar climate at some point. Whether it’s the cooler temperatures of northern Europe, the dry desert heat of the American Southwest, or the high-altitude challenges of mountain courses, these unfamiliar environments can impact your game in ways you might not expect. Knowing how to adapt to these nuances—like how temperature and humidity affect ball flight, or how elevation alters your club selection—can make a huge difference in your performance and enjoyment on the course.
On top of that, weather conditions can shift drastically from season to season in certain areas of the U.S. A course you play in the spring could feel completely different come fall, with temperature, wind, and moisture levels impacting your strategy. Having a deeper understanding of these environmental factors, whether at home or abroad, can help you navigate different conditions and maximize your potential in any situation. In this article, we’ll explore how temperature, humidity, elevation, and planning all play a role in shaping your approach to the game, and how being mindful of these factors can lead to smarter decisions and more fun on the course.
Temperature and Humidity
When considering environmental factors that can impact your game, whether you’re playing your home course during different times of the year or traveling overseas to tackle a Scottish links, temperature and humidity are the first things to pay attention to. These factors can vary not only from region to region but also throughout the course of a single day, drastically affecting how far your clubs travel.
Phil Mickelson, known for his strategic thinking, once demonstrated the importance of understanding temperature during a WGC Match Play event held in the Arizona desert. The dry, desert environment sees dramatic temperature drops as the sun sets due to the lack of humidity. On the 18th hole, Phil found himself tied in his match and waiting in the fairway with what had been, all day, the perfect yardage for a seven iron. As he waited for the green to clear, the temperature dropped by 15-20 degrees as the sun began to set. Recognizing the change, Phil opted to switch from his seven iron to a softer six iron, knowing the ball would travel 5-6 yards less in the cooler air. He hit the perfect shot, made birdie, and won the match—something that wouldn’t have been possible had he not been aware of how temperature influences club selection.
As a general rule of thumb, for every 10-degree difference in temperature, you can expect the ball to fly about 2 yards shorter or longer. However, this can vary depending on the club—longer clubs tend to lose more distance in cooler temperatures, while shorter clubs are less affected. For instance, if your baseline yardage is based on 90-degree weather, a driver in 50-degree conditions may go 8-10 yards shorter, while a wedge shot might only lose 4-5 yards. These small changes can add up, especially with mid-irons, where a difference of one full club could be the deciding factor in landing on the green or falling short.
Humidity also plays a role in how temperature affects your game. In areas with high humidity, temperatures tend to remain stable throughout the round, so you can generally expect consistent ball baseline yardages. But in low-humidity regions, temperatures can shift dramatically, causing noticeable fluctuations in how far your shots travel—even within the same round. Understanding these nuances will help you make better club choices and improve your performance in varying conditions.
Elevation
When traveling to new and exciting golf destinations, another factor that can significantly impact your game is the elevation change. Whether you’re walking lush fairways high in the mountains or along coastal cliffs, altitude plays a crucial role in determining how far your shots will travel. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner, allowing the ball to fly farther, while at lower altitudes or near sea level, the denser air can shorten your shots.
This difference is something to always consider when planning a golf trip.
For example, if you’re playing at a high-altitude location like Reno, Nevada, which sits at about 5,280 feet (a mile above sea level), you’ll notice a significant increase in your shot distances. According to Titleist, you can calculate the distance gain by multiplying the elevation in feet by 0.00116.
So, at 5,280 feet, your ball will fly about 6% (0.00116*5,280 = 6.12) farther than it would at sea level. If your typical drive is 250 yards, in Reno, that drive could stretch to around 265 yards. This elevation effect applies across all clubs, but it’s especially noticeable with longer shots, where even small percentage gains can add up.
Elevation doesn’t just impact distance, though. At higher altitudes, the air is less dense, meaning side spin and wind that would normally cause the ball to draw or fade has less effect. As a result, your shots will tend to fly straighter than they would at lower elevations. This can make controlling your ball flight easier, but it can also change how you approach shaping shots, as your normal amount of curve may not show up as much.
Understanding how altitude and elevation impact your ball flight is essential for managing distance control and shot shape when playing in unfamiliar environments, ensuring you can make the necessary adjustments to optimize your performance.
Planning for Success: Know the Weather
Now that you understand the nuances of weather, it’s important not to overlook a crucial aspect of playing golf in an unfamiliar environment: planning for typical weather conditions. If you’re from an area where conditions can change rapidly, you’re probably already good at this. But if you’re used to playing in a region where the weather is fairly consistent throughout the day, this section is especially for you.
There’s nothing worse than being on a golf trip in a stunning location, only to be caught unprepared by bad weather. Sure, checking the forecast is key, but you should also do some research into whether stray storms or sudden weather changes are common in that region. For example, if you’re playing in Scotland, you need to be ready for wind and rain, no matter how nice the day starts out. On the other hand, if you’re heading to the Arizona desert, you can conserve energy by leaving the rain gear at home and just focus on staying hydrated.
Additionally, I want you to play your best wherever you travel, which means preparing for the specific conditions you’re likely to face. If the destination is known for wind, spend some time practicing low, controlled shots before your trip. If you’re headed to a dry area where the greens might be firm and fast, work on hitting higher approach shots to better hold the ball on those surfaces. And if rain is likely, focus on your short game, because hitting greens becomes much harder when you’re playing in wet conditions.
Knowing the typical weather ahead of time will not only help you pack and prepare but will also set your expectations so that you’re mentally and physically ready for whatever conditions you’ll face on the course. Being well-prepared means you can spend more time enjoying the experience and less time worrying about the weather.
Key Takeaways
- Environmental conditions significantly impact your game – From temperature and humidity to elevation, understanding these factors is crucial to adapting your play and making smarter club choices.
- Temperature fluctuations can alter distance control – For every 10-degree difference, expect the ball to fly about 2 yards shorter or longer, with the effect magnified for longer clubs.
- Elevation affects distance and ball flight – At higher altitudes, expect the ball to fly farther and straighter due to thinner air, while at lower elevations, the ball may fly shorter and with more curves.
- Planning for typical weather is essential for a successful round – Research the weather patterns of your destination and prepare for common conditions like wind, rain, or dry heat to avoid surprises and improve your performance.
- Practice for the conditions you’ll face – If you know you’ll encounter wind, practice low shots; if rain or firm greens are likely, work on short game or higher trajectory shots to maximize your chances for success.
