It was just recently when I found myself with a spare afternoon in the middle of the week. Every golfer on the planet knows that this only ever means one thing - golf will be played today. However, it wasn’t quite played in the fashion of which I had dreamed about the previous night.
A quick and unassuming scan of the weather, looking out the window and seeing a touch of a breeze and clouds scarce in the sky, it seemed perfect golf weather. And it was perfect golf weather, if you had prepared for it.
For many of us, it has been a blisteringly hot and dry summer, which has transformed golf courses, and just a few holes in I could feel the warning signs, my water rations were lower than anticipated and I could feel my lack of sun cream biting me already. Please, please, please make sure you apply that regularly.
Ultimately, the round didn’t make it past the 14th hole, and there’s only one person at fault for this - myself.
Here’s a guide to help make sure you don’t end up like me, the next time the summer sun decides to show its face.
Stay Hydrated
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Remembering to take a water bottle to the course is a victory in its own for me. I’m normally offering out found balls in exchange for a mere sip of my playing partner's water. On this occasion I did take water, just not half as much as was required.
Something so simple, so easy, was a real big factor in the early ending of this round. Don’t be like me. Stock up on water and take more than you need. Much easier said if you have a trolley to help you with the additional load!
There’s tons of research out there stating to "hydrate before you're thirsty." I’m not nearly qualified enough to try and unpack the scientific evidence for you, but it sounds right to me.
During the round it’s important to consider drinking smaller sips, more regularly, instead of large amounts in-between every other hole. Also consider electrolytes or a sports drink, such as Lucozade Sport. Keeping hydrated and energised is the most important thing here if you want to play your best golf!
Get a Trolley
Following on from my previous statement, sometimes I’m not thankful enough for my trolley that’s been a long standing stalwart servant of my golf setup for quite some time now. One of my good friends and playing partner on the day, still relatively new to golf, is yet to purchase a trolley of his own. I think this particular experience could have an impact on his birthday in the coming weeks.
I was incredibly grateful for my trolley to ease me around the course under the blazing sun, and my playing partner expressed his envy on multiple occasions. No one wants to be carrying a bag for 18 holes in pure heat, do yourself a favour and make things easier for your body!
Consider What You Wear Carefully
I often put little thought into what I wear to the course. I have just enough collared shirts to rotate when I’m playing regularly, same with shorts and trousers, I am a fan of golf fashion, but I’m not putting in the same thought a runway model might.
On this day in question, I opted for a black shirt - rookie error. It attracted the heat like moths to a flame. Maybe the easiest thing to get right, gotten wrong. Perhaps only I could be the one to make this error, but a heads up from me to you, always have a quick think about what you're wearing before you leave the front door.
Hats Are Essential
I got this one right, to be fair to myself. My sleek white adidas cap was much help to me on the day. I can’t imagine how this round would have looked without it - even shorter, probably!
I’ve toyed with the idea of playing golf in sunglasses, but my dodgy eyesight and losing my prescription glasses would bring in a whole new challenge the second I leave the first tee box, so unfortunately I’m no help there. But if you can, do. We’ve all blasted a tee shot, looked up to track the flight of the ball, only to be met by the piercing gaze of the punishing sun. It’s a pain all golfers must face regularly, unfortunately. I would absolutely recommend sunglasses where possible!
Carry a Towel
In classic amateur fashion, as soon as the rain subsided, the towel on my bag became a much looser accessory. On this day, it was nowhere to be found. Very quickly my hands became sweaty and my grips became not so grippy in my hands. If only I had a towel to help! What could have been, I suppose, but please make sure you don’t make the same error I did, a golf towel is much more versatile than one might think.
When playing in extreme heat, your score will be determined and heavily affected by how well you can manage the conditions - it’s no different to conditions in the winter months! Get the basics right and you will be absolutely fine. Get them wrong, and you’ll find yourself trudging off the course earlier than expected!
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