Hints And Tips For Cool Golfing This Summer.

Now that summer is in full swing it is important to make sure you take care of your skin whilst out on the golf course. When out on the course you can spend several hours walking about in the sun during the middle of the day when it is at its brightest. This is even more true when on golfing holidays and it is equally important to make sure you protect your skin at home and abroad. Here are some tips to help you keep cool on the course next time you are out in the heat.

Make sure the clothing you ware is loose and preferably made from breathable material. The body naturally cools itself by sweating and if you clothing doesn’t let the air through then the sweat can’t evaporate and cool your skin. Modern shirts are made of lightweight polyester fabrics which often have special mesh areas where you tend to sweat most, allowing the skin to breathe. The fabric allows sweat to be wicked away from your skin so helping to cool it. There is a large range of under garments from pants and vests, to full length shirts, which are designed to sit very close to your skin and move moisture away from your skin. These are also very good for protecting your arms from harmful UV rays from the sun. Shorts are always a good way to keep the air flowing round you and make sure you stay cool.

Wearing a visor is great to keep the sun off your face however you must make sure that you wear sunscreen on the top of your head to prevent you from getting burnt. A wide brimmed hat will help keep the sun from your face and your neck but may look a little strange. Regular caps are good in that they will keep the sun off your head and also your face. Material in the caps can be similar to modern shirts in that they can be made of material designed to keep moisture away from your head so also helping to cool your head.

If you can afford to be playing golf Turkey then you wouldn’t be too worried about rain, but in our climate you have to make sure you are prepared for the odd sharp shower. One minute you might be strolling down the fairway in the baking sunshine, the next you might be running for cover from the rain. An umbrella is useful to carry with you as it will not only protect from these showers but you can also use it to shade yourself from the sun. The extra humidity that happens after rain showers have passed can make it hard for your body to cool itself as sweat won’t evaporate as well in humid conditions. It is therefore important to make sure that any rain jackets are lightweight and made of a good quality breathable material like your shirts to allow moisture to be moved away from your skin and keep you as cool as possible.

Always wear plenty of sunscreen preferably of factor 30 or higher. You will be out for long periods in the sun so it is important to have high protection to filter out as much of the harmful rays as possible. Also re-apply the sunscreen two or three times during the round to make sure that your sweat has not washed away any of its protective value.

A good idea to keep you cool is to soak a towel the night before and place it in the freezer overnight. You can then take the frozen towel out with you to dampen your face and arms to keep you extra cool. Soak your hat as well to keep your head cool during the hottest periods. Perhaps try freezing a half full bottle of water overnight and topping this up before your round to have an ice cold drink to keep you cool.

Studies have shown that minor loss of fluids can affect concentration and performance levels so make sure to keep drinking plenty of water during your round. Make use of any water fountains or course marshals selling water to top up regularly. If you can manage it then take out a couple of litres of water to sip on your way round and perhaps even pack an isotonic drink to help replace salts and minerals that you will lose as you sweat. Avoid alcohol as this is a diuretic that will actually make you go to the toilet more and so loose more fluids. Also try to avoid fizzy, sugary drinks as these to will cause fluid loss.

If you are lucky enough to be golfing in foreign hotter climes, then try to arrange tee times that avoid the hottest part of the day between twelve and two. Resorts often offer the use of buggies which can help to reduce the amount you are carrying and how far you walk so helping to keep you cool. They can also be good in that you can use them for shade from the sun but otherwise try to find the shade when you can, perhaps take advantage of that wild slice by visiting the trees for some deserved rest in the shade!

If possible try and cover up as much as possible to keep the harmful UV rays off your skin. There is a wide range of under garments that can be used to keep moisture away from your skin allowing you to sweat and keep cool, but also protecting your arms from the sun. If you don’t want to wear these then look for loose clothing that can allow cooling breezes to get inside and keep your temperature down. The modern day fabrics that are used in golf shirts allows for moisture to be transported away from your body using your own in-built cooling mechanism, sweating, to be as effective as possible. You body naturally sweats, which then evaporates taking heat away from your skin in the process, so having clothing that allows this to happen will make sure you are cool.

Wearing a visor is great to keep the sun off your face however you must make sure that you wear sunscreen on the top of your head to prevent you from getting burnt. A wide brimmed hat will help keep the sun from your face and your neck but may look a little strange. Regular caps are good in that they will keep the sun off your head and also your face. Material in the caps can be similar to modern shirts in that they can be made of material designed to keep moisture away from your head so also helping to cool your head.

With our typical summers it is often possible for the blazing sunshine to quickly turn into huge rain storms that can soak your clothing right through. You could try golf Turkey but for those who are staying here, try to carry an umbrella and lightweight jacket to keep you dry. A lightweight jacket will be easier to carry and will be cooler than your heavy winter jacket. This extra humidity has its own problems after the rain has passed as your body cannot get rid of the sweat in high humidity so again make sure that all your clothing is loose and can breathe so moisture is taken away from your body.

Always wear plenty of sunscreen preferably of factor 30 or higher. You will be out for long periods in the sun so it is important to have high protection to filter out as much of the harmful rays as possible. Also re-apply the sunscreen two or three times during the round to make sure that your sweat has not washed away any of its protective value.

If you can, soak a towel in water and place it in the freezer overnight before your round. You will then have a nice cold place to wipe you hot head and neck to help cool you down even more during your round. Wetting your hat will allow it to evaporate in the heat giving you an extra amount of cooling during your round. Half filling a bottle with water and freezing it overnight will give you something cool to drink all day as the ice slowly melts as you walk round.

Studies have shown that minor loss of fluids can affect concentration and performance levels so make sure to keep drinking plenty of water during your round. Make use of any water fountains or course marshals selling water to top up regularly. If you can manage it then take out a couple of litres of water to sip on your way round and perhaps even pack an isotonic drink to help replace salts and minerals that you will lose as you sweat. Avoid alcohol as this is a diuretic that will actually make you go to the toilet more and so loose more fluids. Also try to avoid fizzy, sugary drinks as these to will cause fluid loss.

If you are golfing abroad then try to book tee times that will avoid the midday sun between 12 and 2 as this is when the sun is strongest. Try and take breaks in the shade, perhaps you could hit into the trees on purpose this time to get a few minutes in the shade to cool off. Many foreign golf resorts offer buggies and trolley hire which can help to reduce the amount you have to walk and carry so reducing how hot you get during the round, if playing then take these options to help you out.

Find out more about golf holidays in Spain or Algarve golf at Your Golf Travel.