When out on the golf course it is very important to try and stay cool in more ways than one. It is important that you protect yourself from the hot midday sun whether it is a round at your local course or when away abroad for your golfing holiday. It is important to remember that you can spend four or more hours walking round during the hottest part of the day so it is crucial that you protect yourself from the sun. Below are a few hints and ideas to keep cooler when out on the golf course.
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.
Hats are great to keep the sun off your head but can become a little bit hot underneath them. Try wearing a visor which will allow some heat to escape while keeping the sun off your face, however make sure to use plenty of sunscreen on the top of your head. Alternatively wear a wide brimmed hat that will keep the sun off your neck as well as your face. Again pick material that will allow heat and sweat to escape from your head to help keep you cool.
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.
Sunscreen is a must during any round. Take care to use a high factor all day as the sun can burn you at anytime not just during the peak of the suns warmth. Since you will be out for several hours, it is important to re-apply you sun block as sweat and movement of clothes can rub its protective value away.
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.
It is very important to keep your fluid levels up all the way round. Drops in your hydration levels can severely affect your concentration and prevent you from playing at your best. Make sure to drink plenty of water on your round and make sure that you avoid sugary, fizzy and alcoholic drinks as these can dehydrate you even more. Isotonic drinks are good to replace any salts or minerals your will also loose during sweating. If you can carry it, take a couple of litres of water out with you and take regular sips to keep you fluid levels up. If there are course marshals about selling water then take advantage and stock up on more water where possible. Also use the water fountains round the course to help improve your hydration levels.
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!
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.
Hats are great to keep the sun off your head but can become a little bit hot underneath them. Try wearing a visor which will allow some heat to escape while keeping the sun off your face, however make sure to use plenty of sunscreen on the top of your head. Alternatively wear a wide brimmed hat that will keep the sun off your neck as well as your face. Again pick material that will allow heat and sweat to escape from your head to help keep you cool.
The weather can be very unpredictable, one minute you will be out in scorching sunshine, the next it will be pouring down with rain. Unless you plan on being away playing golf in Turkey, it is important to be prepared for weather like this. An umbrella is useful as not only can it protect from the rain but it can also help shade you from the sun. If you can take a lightweight jacket out with you in case of showers but make sure it will keep you cooler than a heavy jacket. The extra humidity created by any showers will also make it harder for your sweat to evaporate and cool you so try and get jackets made of similar materials to your shirt that will help transfer moisture away from you.
Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen before your round and re-apply at regular intervals, as sweat will wash the cream off your skin making it less protective. Using factor 30 or higher will ensure that you are protected from the sun's harmful rays during the whole of your round.
One good tip is to place a damp towel and a half filled bottle of water in the freezer the night before your round. If you then fill the bottle completely before you play you will have a cold drink to sip all day long as the ice slowly melts. The damp towel will also stay cool for a while meaning you have something to wipe your head and neck to try and keep extra cool. If you wet your hat this will also evaporate and help keep you head cool as well.
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!
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.
Hats are great to keep the sun off your head but can become a little bit hot underneath them. Try wearing a visor which will allow some heat to escape while keeping the sun off your face, however make sure to use plenty of sunscreen on the top of your head. Alternatively wear a wide brimmed hat that will keep the sun off your neck as well as your face. Again pick material that will allow heat and sweat to escape from your head to help keep you cool.
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.
Sunscreen is a must during any round. Take care to use a high factor all day as the sun can burn you at anytime not just during the peak of the suns warmth. Since you will be out for several hours, it is important to re-apply you sun block as sweat and movement of clothes can rub its protective value away.
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.
It is very important to keep your fluid levels up all the way round. Drops in your hydration levels can severely affect your concentration and prevent you from playing at your best. Make sure to drink plenty of water on your round and make sure that you avoid sugary, fizzy and alcoholic drinks as these can dehydrate you even more. Isotonic drinks are good to replace any salts or minerals your will also loose during sweating. If you can carry it, take a couple of litres of water out with you and take regular sips to keep you fluid levels up. If there are course marshals about selling water then take advantage and stock up on more water where possible. Also use the water fountains round the course to help improve your hydration levels.
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!
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.
Hats are great to keep the sun off your head but can become a little bit hot underneath them. Try wearing a visor which will allow some heat to escape while keeping the sun off your face, however make sure to use plenty of sunscreen on the top of your head. Alternatively wear a wide brimmed hat that will keep the sun off your neck as well as your face. Again pick material that will allow heat and sweat to escape from your head to help keep you cool.
The weather can be very unpredictable, one minute you will be out in scorching sunshine, the next it will be pouring down with rain. Unless you plan on being away playing golf in Turkey, it is important to be prepared for weather like this. An umbrella is useful as not only can it protect from the rain but it can also help shade you from the sun. If you can take a lightweight jacket out with you in case of showers but make sure it will keep you cooler than a heavy jacket. The extra humidity created by any showers will also make it harder for your sweat to evaporate and cool you so try and get jackets made of similar materials to your shirt that will help transfer moisture away from you.
Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen before your round and re-apply at regular intervals, as sweat will wash the cream off your skin making it less protective. Using factor 30 or higher will ensure that you are protected from the sun's harmful rays during the whole of your round.
One good tip is to place a damp towel and a half filled bottle of water in the freezer the night before your round. If you then fill the bottle completely before you play you will have a cold drink to sip all day long as the ice slowly melts. The damp towel will also stay cool for a while meaning you have something to wipe your head and neck to try and keep extra cool. If you wet your hat this will also evaporate and help keep you head cool as well.
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!
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