Posted in: Gear, Style | Opening Weekend 2026
If you’ve ever tried to convince yourself that 44 degrees and overcast is “actually perfect golf weather,” congratulations — you might be a Maine golfer.
This weekend, Falmouth Country Club opens for the season, and I will absolutely be out there. Windbreaker on, hand warmers in my bag, no regrets. My friend and I have been texting about this round since February, and nothing — not a gray sky, not a damp fairway, not the fact that I’ve only played simulator golf since October (it counts, I’ve decided) — is going to stop us.
But here’s the thing about early-season golf in Maine: you have to dress for it. Show up unprepared and you’ll spend the back nine miserable, stiff-fingered, and thinking about soup. Show up right and it’s genuinely one of the best rounds of the year — the course is quiet, the air smells amazing, and there’s something about being one of the first people out there that feels a little triumphant.
So if you’re heading out for opening weekend anywhere in New England, here’s exactly what I’m bringing.
The cold-weather golf kit I actually trust
1. A thermal base layer that moves with you
This is non-negotiable. A regular long-sleeve cotton shirt under your polo is a recipe for being damp and miserable by hole 4. You want something thin, warm, and stretchy enough that it doesn’t restrict your backswing. I’ve been using a mock-neck thermal base layer for two seasons now and it’s the single best addition I’ve made to my cold-weather game.
What to look for: moisture-wicking fabric, form-fitting (not bulky), and ideally UPF protection for those surprise sunny patches.
Shop thermal base layers on Amazon →
2. A water-resistant golf jacket you can actually swing in
Not a rain jacket. Not a puffer. A golf-specific water-resistant jacket — there’s a difference. Golf jackets are cut longer in the back, have articulated sleeves, and don’t bunch up when you rotate. Maine spring means you’ll probably encounter at least a light drizzle, so water resistance matters.
My current favorite has a full zip, a fleece-lined collar, and packs into its own pocket. It’s been through more damp rounds than I can count.
Shop the fit-space waterproof golf jacket on Amazon →
3. Warm golf gloves — and rain gloves too
In normal weather I wear one glove. In early-season Maine weather I wear two. Cold hands lose feel fast, and once your grip tightens up from the chill, your whole swing follows.
I actually carry two pairs right now: FootJoy WinterSof gloves for cold dry mornings — they’re lined and cozy — and FootJoy RainGrip gloves for when it gets wet. The RainGrips actually grip better when they’re damp, which feels like a superpower on a dewy Maine morning.
Shop FootJoy WinterSof gloves on Amazon →
Shop FootJoy RainGrip gloves on Amazon →
4. Waterproof golf shoes
Morning rounds on a Maine course in late April mean one thing: wet grass. If your golf shoes aren’t waterproof, your socks will be soaked by hole 2 and you’ll be miserable the rest of the round. I learned this the hard way. Twice.
These ECCO Lt1 Hybrid waterproof shoes are what I’ll be wearing this weekend — comfortable enough to walk 18, and they’ve held up beautifully through genuinely gross conditions.
Shop ECCO waterproof golf shoes on Amazon →
5. HotHands hand warmers for your bag
This sounds silly until you’re on the 11th tee and can’t feel your fingers. I keep a pack of HotHands disposable hand warmers in my bag from October through May. They’re cheap, they last hours, and they have saved more than a few rounds. Tuck them in your pockets between shots and thank me later.
Shop HotHands hand warmers on Amazon →
6. A fleece-lined beanie or thermal headband
You lose a surprising amount of heat through your head, and the wind on an exposed Maine fairway in April is no joke. A thin fleece beanie fits under most visors and keeps your ears from going numb. If you can’t stand the hat-hair, a thermal headband that covers just your ears works just as well.
One thing that surprises people about cold-weather golf
Your distances change. Cold air is denser, and cold muscles don’t generate the same power. On a 45-degree morning you can expect to lose anywhere from 5 to 15 yards on your longer clubs. So if you’re debating between a 7-iron and a 6-iron — go with the 6. Club up, swing easy, enjoy the round.
It also means your expectations should shift a little. Opening weekend isn’t about scoring. It’s about shaking off the rust, breathing some fresh air, and remembering why you love this game. At least, that’s what I’ll be telling myself on the back nine.
See you out there
If you’re an FCC member or just a fellow Maine golfer braving opening weekend somewhere, I’d genuinely love to hear how your round went. Drop a comment below or find me on Instagram — I’ll be the one in the green jacket, definitely not checking the weather app every 20 minutes.
Here’s to the first round of the season. May your drives be straight, your putts be short, and your coffee stay hot.
— Michelle
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I’d actually use — and in this case, things I’m literally packing this weekend.
Moms Who Golf 
Leave a comment