Prepare for the worst says weather expert

Chicago-based meteorologist says it could be very wet in two weeks’ time

ProQuip, the preferred supplier to the 2012 European Ryder Cup team, has heeded the warnings of a Chicago-based meteorologist who has advised to “prepare for the worst.”

The Ryder Cup takes place at Medinah Country Club, Chicago, Illinois, September 25-28, the first time the Windy City has hosted the global sporting event. And while Illinois’ weather is usually benign in September, leading rainwear brand ProQuip has left nothing to chance, supplying an exclusively developed, high-performance rain suit to European captain José María Olazábal and his team to enable them to play their best whatever the weather.

Two years ago at Celtic Manor, the Europeans were well-equipped to deal with the deluge of rain, which led the event to run over four days. In total, 2.04 inches of rain fell between Thursday afternoon and Sunday morning, more than half the area’s average monthly rainfall in just three days. Backroom staff for the United States team, however, were scene in the merchandise tent looking over ProQuip’s range of rainsuits to take out to the US team should the wet weather continue as their supplied outerwear was not holding up to the rather British conditions.

Speaking to www.proquipgolf.com Mike Janssen, a Meteorologist from the Chicago Weather Centre, said: “The players had better hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

“While September is usually one of our driest months, in the stretch from September 25-30 last year it was cloudy, cool and wet. The Chicago area saw rain each day with a six-day total of 2.52 inches of rain.”

Russell Brooks, ProQuip General Manager, said: “At Celtic Manor, our suits played a well publicised part in proceedings and arguably gave the European Team an edge in the extreme conditions.

“Looking forward to Medinah, at this stage the best the experts can do is make educated guesses regarding the weather. But we are leaving nothing to chance and have produced a suit featuring an exclusively developed, highly technical, lightweight fabric that is super-quiet and easy to swing in, enabling the players to perform their best and stay dry and comfortable in all weathers.”

A limited number of replica team suits are available from the Official Ryder Cup online store for fans to emulate their favourite Team Europe players. Golfers are also able to wear their own version of the European Ryder Cup weatherwear following the launch of ProQuip’s new Trophy Suit, featuring the same high-performance fabric worn by Team Europe.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered