Golf Course Cooling Techniques
There are many ways to stay cool out on the course, ranging from simple techniques to expensive products. How much golf course cooling you need depends on how hot the course gets where you play. However, regardless of where you play, you must protect yourself from the sun and the heat if you want to play well and enjoy your round. There isn't anything enjoyable about overheating. These golf course cooling tips will keep you healthy, happy and playing your best during your round.
Dress to Impress: If you really want to make your golfing buddies envious, dress for the heat. While they're all turning red and boiling in the heat, you'll be cool and comfortable if you dress in lightweight and light-colored clothes (American Red Cross). Also, wearing a hat, especially a wide brim hat, or using an umbrella will keep you cool on the golf course. If you want some high-tech cooling apparel, check out the clothing offered by golfing companies. Several offer special golf shirts with improved ventilation and increased sweat wicking abilities. You can be both cool looking and cool feeling out on the course.
Water is Your Friend, Unless You hit Your Ball Into it: You must drink lots of water, juice or other hydrating drinks while you are out playing. If you don't feel thirsty, drink anyways. You can become dehydrated without feeling the urge to drink (American Red Cross). Also, avoid any alcohol or drinks with caffeine. They will dehydrate your body, making you even more likely to become sick. Yes, that means no cocktail at the clubhouse between the ninth and tenth holes. You can give it up at least a few times for the good of your health.
Eat Less, More Often: Believe it or not, digesting food takes a lot of work. To keep your body from overtaxing itself in the heat, try to eat smaller portions at more frequent intervals (American Red Cross). That way, you can get the energy you need but avoid straining your body by putting too much food in it at one time. Also, you should avoid high-protein foods because they will increase your metabolic heat level, making you even hotter out on the golf course (American Red Cross).
Take it Easy: To maximize golf course cooling, try to use as little energy as possible. Avoid all strenuous activity (American Red Cross). Use a golf cart instead of walking, play at a leisurely pace, don't get all worked up over missed shots and don't exert yourself by trying to throw you clubs into a water hazard over a bad round. Relax, enjoy yourself, take it easy and you will stay cool on the course.
Take a Break Now and Then: Ideally, you shouldn't even be playing golf when the weather is dangerously hot, but heat has never stopped stop an avid golfer. So, at least make sure to take breaks during the round, and seek out air conditioning when possible (American Red Cross). An extended break between the ninth and tenth holes is a good idea, and if you start feeling bad during a round, head to the clubhouse or a shady, cool place to recuperate. Don't think you're tougher than the heat.
Air Conditioned Golf Carts are a Plus: If you have the option, get a golf cart that has a personal air conditioning unit. More and more golf courses are getting personal air conditioning units to attract summer business. They can really help on those hot days. If you own your own cart, they are a great option for added comfort. The prices range from $200 to over $500 for each unit, but the price may be worth it if the air conditioning allows you to comfortably play more rounds during the summer heat.
When Golf Course Cooling Doesn't Work
Even if you are doing all that you can to avoid the heat on a golf course, you can still experience heat-related illness if it's really hot out. If you start experiencing any signs or symptoms of heat-related illnesses you need to take action to prevent further problems. Below is a list of heat-related illness that you can experience if golf course cooling techniques aren't enough.
Thirst and Cramps: By the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated, and you should rest and drink water, juice or a sports drink to replenish your body (Arizona Department of Health Services). If you don't replenish your body, you may also experience mild or severe heat cramps in your muscles due to dehydration and a loss of salt from sweating. If you experience cramping, you should gently stretch and massage the cramped muscle, rest in a cool area and drink fluids to rehydrate your body. Avoid alcohol and caffeine because they will only make the situation worse. Once the cramping has subsided and if there are no other signs of a heat-related illness, you can continue playing (Arizona Department of Health Services).
Heat Exhaustion: If you or one of your golfing buddy's skin becomes cold, overly hot, moist, pale or overly red, it is a bad sign. Other symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, exhaustion and nausea. If you observe any of those symptoms, you must stop what you are doing and seek a cool place, preferably with air conditioning (Arizona Department of Health Services). Proper care for heat exhaustion includes slowly drinking half a glass of cool liquids - no alcohol or caffeine - every 15 minutes, loosening tight clothes, and applying cool, wet cloths to ankles, wrists, neck and armpits (Arizona Department of Health Services). If the person can't or won't drink the water, throws up or passes out, you must call for emergency care.
Heat Stroke: If someone experiences a lack of sweating, skin that is red, hot and dry, vomiting, confusion, a throbbing headache, decreased alertness, loss of consciousness, a high body temperature, a rapid but weak pulse, rapid and shallow breathing or seizures, you must get immediate medical assistance (Arizona Department of Health Services). While you are waiting for help to arrive, move the person to a cool place, near a fan or air conditioning. Then, try to cool the person in any way possible, including covering them in ice, cool water and wet cloths. In particular, cool wrists, ankles, armpits and the neck. You can also wrap the person in a wet sheet (Arizona Department of Health Services). Keep the person lying down and monitor his or her breathing. Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation and shouldn't be taken lightly.
Hopefully golf course cooling techniques will prevent any heat-related illnesses for yourself and your golfing buddies. Even beyond the health benefits, golf course cooling will allow you to be more comfortable out on the course, which will ultimately allow you to play better. If you follow the golf course cooling guidelines in this article, you will play better, enjoy your round even more and stay healthy regardless of the heat.
