Getting ready for a Summer of golf

Summer is here, and now is the perfect time to get outside and play golf. Though the sunshine can be sporadic, that makes catching those rare days of sunny skies all the more important.

Before setting out for a long day of golf make sure you prepare for the day ahead of you properly. Golfers can often spend between 8 and 10 hours in direct sunlight, so it is vital to make sure you protect yourself.

Being responsive to strong weather is something that PGA Tour golfer Andres Gonzales takes very seriously. During a competition at The Players Championship in Florida, Gonzales outlined the risk to golfers, saying: “We’re in the sun all the time, so taking care of our skin is a really big deal.”

Skin cancer was such a threat that the MD Anderson Cancer Center started a partnership with the PGA Tour last year, and has since worked with the organisation to provide free cancer screenings at a number of events. Dr Tom Buchholz, executive vice president and physician-in-chief at MD Anderson, said that since the start of their partnership they had been involved in “screening 216 players and caddies thus far.”

Though things can be hotter across the pond, it is still vitally important that UK golfers also take care of themselves when playing a game this Summer. Take steps to stay hydrated, use lots of sun protection cream and try to avoid playing in the hottest hours of the day where possible. All of these can be really important in staying sun safe.

It can also be a good idea to wear a visor. This allows the heat to escape out of the top of your head, but will also allow you to protect your face and keep the sun out your eyes whilst you play. We stock a range of these on our website at the moment so it is well worth having a look and making sure you are protected when you play.

Whether you are playing a weekend game or watching one of this Summer's biggest competitions, make sure you look after yourself and have a great Summer!

Photo by bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock.com