“It never rains on a golf course”
“It never rains on a/the golf course” is an old golfers’ saying. meaning that it’s always a fine day to play golf. The saying has been cited in print since at least 1943 and is of unknown authorship.
21 June 1943, Tipton (IN) Daily Tribune, “Golf Notes,” pg. 3, col. 6:
Peg Compton claims that it never rains on the golf course.
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The Fortnightly Review of the Chicago Dental Society
Volumes 7-8
1944
Pg. 145:
Bob won a rain jacket which will be of doubtful value to him since he is an exponent of Harry Combs’ philosophy that it never rains on a golf course.
24 April 1946, Harrisburg (IL) Daily Register, pg. 3, col. 7 ad:
Of course it never rains on golf course or lake; so come in and buy these balls or fishing supplies.
(The Athletic House—ed.)
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17 November 1954, Vancouver Sun, “Rains Come To All But City Golfers,” pg. 28, col. 6:
The old myth that it never rains on a golf course seems to have some truth.
4 December 1955, Augusta (GA) Chronicle, “Fairway Lies: Golf and bad weather,” pg. B11, col. 4:
It is said that a golfer contends it never rains on a golf course. This thought is in keeping with the many jokes made about the golfer, who battles rain, sleet and snow or heat for a round of the ancient and royal game.
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7 June 1962, Pittsburgh (PA) Press, ‘Sylvia on a ‘Shopping Tour,’” pg. 28, col. 1:
“It never rains on the golf course” is a favorite saying with ardent golfers. But they say it with crossed fingers and a wary glance at the sky.
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15 August 1966, Middlesboro (KY) Daily News, “Pit’s Sports Slants” by Julian Pitzer, pg. 7, col. 4:
There’s an old saying that it “never rains on a golf course.”
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The Golf Superintendent
Volume 34
1966
Pg. 72:
We are set up to catch rain water, but the trouble is that the clouds pass north of tts and cross the south side of D. C, but it never rains on the golf course.
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The Handbook of Golf
By Alex Hay
Salem, NH: Salem House
1985
Pg. 179:
There is a popular joke that it never rains on a golf course. Unfortunately this is not true; rain can bring a golf tournament to a halt if it floods the putting greens.
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How I Play Golf
By Tiger Woods
New York, NY: Warner Books
2001
Pg. 221:
Whoever said it never rains on the golf course never played tournament golf.
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Teed Off!:
The modern guide to golf
By Tom Carey
Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Hysteria
2006
Pg. 49:
When faced with a fast-moving incoming storm, my Dad used to say, “Hell, son, you know it never rains on a golf course! Let’s keep playing!”
Morning Journal (Lisbon, OH)
The old adage is: It never rains on a golf course, only on golfers. Does that apply to snow, too?
February 18, 2011
Morning Journal News