There are four types of wind to be concerned about: tailwinds, headwinds, crosswinds and quarter winds. Each will influence your shot in a different fashion. 

A tailwind comes from behind you and blows in the general direction of your target. Spin on the ball will have less effect and it will be difficult to shape your shots by fading or drawing them. A tailwind also generally causes your shot to carry farther, especially if you get extra loft on it.

A headwind blows directly towards yiu from your target and will amplify the effects of spin. A draw or a fade will curve more than would otherwise be the case, and shots will often balloon, reducing carry. Consider using a less lofted club or playing the ball on a lower trajuectory. Don’t let a strong headwind intimidate you into overswinging.

A crosswind cuts across your line in a perpendicular fashion and will cause the ball to move to the right or left. Gauge the wind’s intensity and decide how far right or left to start the shot so the wind will push it to the target area.

A quartering wind blows toward you and cuts acriss your shot line at an angle. You will have to make both headwind and crosswinf adjustments.

When you are playing in windy conditions, you should think about your next move, Ascertain how the wind will affect the way you play the shot following the one you are about to hit. When you are putting you should carefully observe wind conditions because a strong wind can substantially affect a putt’s path to the hole. Experience and your sensitivity to this type of situatiin will enable you to develop putting touch in windy conditions. 

Wind can play havoc with your game. When you are playing in difficukt wind conditions everyone’s score will go up, Remember the advice “when it’s breezy, swing easy”.

So, how do course architects factor in the wind when designing a course? 

Wind is like an invisible hazard on the golf course. When the architect designs the course wind conditions play a material part in how the course is laid out. Prevailing, seasonal and even storm wind patterns are taken into account. They will influence the route of the holes and the configuration of features of the course. 

If the prevailing wind blows from east to west, the way that the fairways slope will minimise the prevailing wind’s effect. Greens might be tipped from west to east to counteract the east-west prevailing wind. A long par 4 wouldn’t be laid out in the position where it plays into a prevailing wind as it would play too long.

Sometimes seasonal and storm winds that blow in different directions other than the prevailing wind presenting a formidable playing challenge. Take extra care to determine if the wind is coming from an unusual direction and factor this in to your playing strategy. If you’re playing away from your home course taking the advice of the club professionals before your round is 10 minutes time well spent so that you know the wind direction on each hole.