There are essentially three main aspects of the weather that determine if I will play golf or not on a given day. These include temperature, precipitation and wind speed. 

Temperature

     The first thing I like to check is the temperature. Basically any weather app will tell you what the forecasted temperature is for the day (and next few days) but I like to use the government of Canada's weather servicesLinks to an external site. as they tend to be the most accurate in my experience. Everybody's tolerance for temperature is quite different so while golfing in 5 degree weather might be fine for some, others wouldn't even consider it. Most importantly, dress appropriately for the conditions. 

     Temperature also plays a role in the performance of your golf game. Cold air is much more dense than warm air so the golf ball tends to feel more resistance travelling through the air. You will find you can hit the ball further distances when the air is relatively warmer. Also, if it is cold, the grass is firmer so the ball will bounce and roll more on the greens. Temperature is extremely important to take into consideration if you golf at a competitive level. 

Precipitation

     Typically, the main concern for golfers is if there will be rain that day. Checking weather radars like this oneLinks to an external site., is an excellent source for accurate info on precipitation. By analyzing the track of the weather patterns you can get a good idea of what to expect within the next few hours. 

     Rain can soak the course and cause the grass to become very soggy and soft. This makes playing quite unenjoyable. Visibility is also reduced so it can be difficult to see where your ball has landed. 

     The most serious concern however, is the potential for lightning near the golf course. Lightning is particularly dangerous for golfers as the golfer is holding a metal rod and is the tallest standing thing in a large open area. Golf courses are required to close down if there is lightning occuring. Fortunately, lightning storms are not particularly common in B.C. but they are a major concern in places like Florida. 

http://www.golfpunkhq.com/news/article/english-golfer-dies-from-lightning-strike- (March 18, 2018)

Wind Speed

      A high wind speed can certainly be enough to cancel your day on the course. Most weather forecast apps will give you forecasted wind speeds throughout the day but I prefer checking the live radar here.Links to an external site. If you turn on the pressure contours near the bottom right of the page you can easily see where the low pressure systems and high wind speeds are or likely to be. 

      Wind can have a big effect on your golf game as you will have to adjust every shot to account for the wind. Sometimes you will have to shoot harder or softer or even change clubs, depending on if the wind is at your back or in your face. Unsheltered courses near the ocean are notorious for having strong winds, although they are beautiful to play.