One player who took golf lessons from me likes to tell about the time she played at Furnace Creek Golf Course in Death Valley, the hottest place in North America, which once set a record of 134 degrees. She started at 11:00 am and played through the afternoon, all 18 holes. It reached 108 degrees, she said, but the wind-heat factor made it feel like 120 degrees. That’s probably why they named the course Furnace Creek.
Most golfers love playing in warm weather, judging by those taking my golf lessons. The heat makes them perspire just enough. It does their stretching for them. And it reverses age-related yardage loss. It makes their joints feel like they once did, enabling them to make a more complete shoulder turn just as my golf tips advise. But playing in blistering heat, whether on a golf course in the Southwest or a really hot day near your home, can be dangerous. It can threaten your health and your life. Below are some great tips for playing golf in hot weather.
Dehydration and Hyponatremia
Dehydration and hyponatremia (water intoxication) are two physical conditions to guard against when it’s hot. Dehydration occurs when golfers fail to “rehydrate” themselves (drink water). Early symptoms of dehydration are low urination and loss of thirst. These symptoms can quickly progress to extreme fatigue and nausea. To prevent dehydration, make certain you rehydrate yourself with water-based beverages at every tee. Drink some before teeing off. Make it part of your pre-shot routine, so you won’t forget to do it on every hole.
Hyponatremia is another physical condition to guard against when playing in hot weather. Hyponatremia is not as common as dehydration, but it can happen anywhere and at anytime. The key symptom is excessive urination. Although you’re drinking plenty of water, it “goes right through you” and you have to urinate excessively. Water intoxication is caused by loss of electrolytes due to drinking too much fluid without taking in any salts. To replenish your body’s electrolytes, make certain you either eat salty foods as you play or you drink “sports drinks” (for example, Gatorade) that contain salt and other electrolytes.
Hypothermia and Heat Stroke
Hypothermia and heat stroke, the most severe forms of heat illness, are other conditions to guard against. Heat stroke is life threatening. It comes from extreme exposure to the sun and occurs when a person doesn’t sweat enough to lower his or her body temperature. When this natural “cooling system” fails, heat builds up to a dangerous level. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, sluggishness, high body temperature, rapid heartbeat, and hallucination.
If you suspect someone is suffering from heat stroke, get him or her to the hospital as quickly as possible. Severe heat illness is nothing to fool around with. If you suspect someone is suffering more from hypothermia and/or dehydration than anything else, sit the golfer down in a cool spot, make him or her drink water, and swab the player with wet towels, refreshed as often as possible. Often, you can even use a shower to cool players off.
Golf Tips on Combating the Heat
Drinking water is the best way of combating dehydration and heat illnesses. Take some in liquid form and frozen. Most clubs won’t let you take alcoholic drinks on the course, but they will allow you to take your own water. Keep in mind that I said water is the best way of combating dehydration and heat illnesses, not beer or Bloody Marys, both of which have alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates you, and that’s the last thing you want to do when on the course.
Also, wear a hat, loose fitting clothing, and sunglasses. Take periodic drink breaks, bring a wet towel, and try to avoid the mid-day sun. Use a cart with a roof on hot days. Soak wristbands in cold water before wearing them. And use sunscreen. If you have a cell phone, bring it in case of an emergency. To dry golf gloves, Velcro them to your cart. The summer adds hours to the day in the morning and the evening. Both are good times to play. On really hot days, be careful whatever time you play.
Playing in the warm weather on a well-kept course is great, especially if there is a cool breeze blowing. But you can’t always play on these days. So if you decide to play on an extremely hot day, follow the golf tips I’ve mentioned above. Take all necessary precautions. Trying to lower your golf handicap at the expense of your health isn’t worth it.
