Be careful playing in the heat

I went out on Tuesday afternoon and got heat exhaustion. I felt dizzy and confused after about 3-4 holes. I continued to play like that for 9 but it was not a good idea. I have felt terrible with a brain fog the last few days and finally feel better today. It was 90 degrees out but I didnt think anything of it as I am 36 and workout all the time. Anyway, just a warning to everyone as summer is approaching - drink water and watch the heat index.

I play here in southwest GA where is can get very hot.  I normally go out in the late morning and walk 27 holes so I end up on the course through the hottest part of the day.  I make it a point to go slowly (I let folks play through if I'm holding them up) and I drink lots and lots of water and always have some type of snack with me to keep my energy up as well.

Yep. It can even sneak up on those of us who play a LOT in a LOT of heat. Keep hydrated, wear a hat and sunscreen (even if it's overcast), and keep in the shade as much as you can. Thanks for a good reminder @logo ! :beer:

Yep

Pretty much this. If you are @cipher you need to watch out for 70 degree weather. ;)

Use a small cold/wet towel around the back of the neck while walking or riding.

I'll place it on the top of my head for a moment, then wrap it around my neck.

I'll also make it a point to stand off to the side of the green until it's my turn to play.

Green's are like saunas and humid.

I also like playing with three or less players when temps get over 100.

That way you spend less time on the tees & greens.

Club Rat

and make sure you eat as well...   sometimes it's hard to eat when it's hot, but you have to force yourself...

I lived in Galveston, Texas for a few years and would regularly play out in the high 90 degree/100% humidity weather.  Lots of water, a big, wide brimmed hat, and stay in the shade as much as possible.

[quote name="iacas" url="/t/82015/be-careful-playing-in-the-heat#post_1142633"]Paging @cipher … :) [/quote] No clue what you guys are talking about.

thanks for the heads up - I'm not golfing anymore, but do play several hours of tennis and run and need to remember to prevent this - I do drink a lot, but it is important to hydrate BEFORE going out there (days before) and maintain a positive fluid balance - as well as eating properly.

We play all through the summer in Arizona.  Usually we'll tee off early in the morning (when the temperature is cooler, maybe 98 degrees or so, lol), but we do occasionally go out in the heat of the day too.  We played in an afternoon summer league last year - it was usually somewhere in the 105F - 115F range at our 4:00 pm tee time.  Once we get into July, we don't see 90 degrees - even as our low temperature in the middle of the night - until about mid-September!  You definitely do need to stay hydrated in the heat and you feel drained by the end of the round - but the nice thing is that most of the courses are virtually deserted except for the few locals who are fanatic enough to deal with the heat.

I saw you guys teasing Cipher, then I saw where he lived and it reminded me of a day last spring that gave me a laugh.  We're inundated by snowbirds (winter visitors from the colder states and Canada) from November until about May out here.  I was working at our local golf course and a foursome of them were going out one nice spring day when it was about 85 degrees.  I told them to enjoy their round and commented that it was a great day to be out playing golf and maybe enjoy a couple beers.  One of them looked at me dead seriously and said "Oh, no beer on a day like this - you could get heat stroke!".  I had to laugh out loud, as 85 degrees is barely even considered "warm weather" here!

I remember being in winterhaven right by Yuma in February and it's barely 60's and these canadiens are walking around no shirts on (just the men). It can reach low 100's where I live also and we always are careful to drink plenty of beer. (kidding) water.

Playing year round here in Phx, Az I have to respect the heat, even though I do play in 110+ sometimes ... drink water and poweraid like a fish, stay away from beer (till I am done). will even soak my entire shirt at a water fountain. As other have said, keep a wet towel close by, because in the desert your sweat immediately evaporates. And always wear a hat and sun protection regardless of the temperature!!!! Skin cancer is not fun!

I'm not at all opposed to a couple of beers on the course - but during the hotter months, we drink lots of water and save the beer for the clubhouse afterwards.  It may sound contradictory, but sometimes it's so damn hot that beer doesn't even taste good!

The heat cost me a round in Myrtle Beach a couple of years ago. It was late May but temps in the 90's with humidity about the same and sunshine. Played on Monday and it wasn't too bad. Plenty of shade and a quick rain shower about midway cooled things off for a bit. Wednesday was a scorcher, no clouds, or much shade out there. Walking around on the greens was like the proverbial skillet. You could feel it through your shoes. No dawdling over putts, that's for sure. Made it through, but just didn't feel too well when I finished up. Only one beer at the turn, with plenty of water, gatorade and wet towels along the way. I had planned on playing the following day, but after checking the forecast- even hotter with HIGHER humidity, and the course was another open, no shade type- I decided to pass. That was when I decided to go the Golfsmith to check on some putter grips and have the driver checked (related story in another post at the time). Went back to hotel and grabbed some waves instead. Although with the high humidity it seemed dryer IN the water than out. :-P

Btw gatorade and powerade are not good unless you are drinking 3 bottles of water per gatorade. This will be my first summer playing golf in the 100+ degree weather that Houston brings but I think my training from 10 years of year round baseball will do me well.