10 Ways to Stay Cool on a Summer Golf Trip
Posted on Thu, Jul 12, 2012
By GolfTripper
1) Mr. Obvious says: “Wear a hat”. Even if you have SPF 50 all over your face and neck, your head is exposed to heat bombardment for hours. Have lots of hair? Well, lucky you, but your scalp is still getting a big solar dose.
2) Wear a performance fabric golf shirt. They seem to work pretty well, and at a minimum don’t highlight the flop sweat all over your upper torso. Remember Craig Stadler’s drenched shirts? Don’t be Craig Stadler.
3) Have 3 or 4 golf gloves in the bag. When one gets sweat-soaked, switch to a dry one and attach the wet one to the outside of your bag. The sun will bake it dry.
4) Wear shorts. Even if your legs look like OB stakes. Some guys like long pants in any weather ‘cause they like to look like a golf professional. Unless you actually are a golf professional, forget the trousers and get comfortable.
5) Drink water all the time. Not beer, water. If it’s over 90 degrees and you are not feeling the call of nature every 4 or 5 holes, you’re not drinking enough. (Heard that one from a doctor for an NFL team.)
6) Get a clean towel to wipe your face and neck. Don’t use the bag towel that you use to wipe off your clubs and grips, there’s likely to be some nasty stuff on that museum piece. Soak part of the towel when you get a chance, and put it on your head for a minute or two.
7) Stand in the shade while your buddies are lining up their putts from four different angles. It can literally be 5 degrees cooler under a tree. Why stand out there on the green cooking like a fried egg?
8) Play early. In Kentucky last week, we teed off one day at 6:45 a.m. It was 76 when we walked off the first tee and 89 when we finished. At 2 p.m., it was 106. Any questions?
9) Play late. This time of year, you can be out there until 8:30 or 9:00 in many parts of the US (or until midnight in the Scottish highlands). A beautiful twilight round with the shadows dancing around the course can make you forget the worst of the hot afternoon.
10) If you must put a cooler in the cart, fill with ice and light beer. Sip liberally for the next 4+ hours. Even if you are playing at the Alice Springs Golf Course in the Northern Territories of Australia (with summer temperatures around 122°F) you probably won’t feel too much pain.
Make a full turn, keep your grip light and stay cool!
Did I miss something? Comment below with how you stay cool on the golf course!
