Unusual to play well during heat exhaustion?

[schigara]

Two weeks ago, I was playing Galloway here in Memphis and was my first time walking a course as I just got my fancy Clicgear. I had gotten a bit toasted the night before at a friends b'day party so I was a bit dehydrated to begin with.

It was cloudy and about 80 deg. when I started and only planned to play 9 holes. I played pretty good considering my 16 hdcp, with a 42 for the front. I was drinking water the whole time and sweating like crazy since the temp had gotten up to 91 by the end of the front side. I called a buddy to come out to play the back 9 with me. This is when my game went up but my health went down.

After a short break waiting for my buddy to arrive, the temp was at 93 and then we start the back, still walking and drinking water. Hole 10 is a par 5 that I birdied and then walking to the tee box something weird happened. I stopped sweating as much and started walking slower. I made par on 11. I began drinking water much faster and started noticing a faster heart rate.

I managed to play 4 more holes and made par on them all. It was like tunnel vision. I wasn't hearing my buddy talk trash and wasn't thinking about the shot. Basically I guess I was thinking mostly about heart rate and was hitting the ball better than I ever have.

In this 9 hole portion, I was 1 under after hole 16 and hit another perfect drive on 17 and was walking to my ball when I could walk no farther. I knelt down and caught my breath in the fairway for what seemed like 5 minutes and then very slowly walked over to the other side of the cart path, under some trees to rest and let the group behind go by.

A guy in the group behind us saw what was happening and called the clubhouse and the course marshall showed up a few minutes later with a big jug of ice water and poured it down my neck and back. He then had me ride back to the clubhouse with him. He asked if I wanted an ambulance but I said that I just needed to cool off. I was no longer sweating at all and was red in the face. I sat in the clubhouse with my buddy for 2 hours soaking up the a/c and about 2 litres of water before I was finally able to drive home.

My best score for 9 holes ever has been a 40. I think I was on my way to shooting either even or 1 over for 9 holes(35-36).

It was the purest I have ever hit the ball.

[plr19]

Congratulations on the good day... but take it easy out there man. This extreme heat can be rough on you and heat exhaustion or heat strokes are nothing to mess around with.

[zeg]

I second the "take it easy" comment. You can do serious damage to yourself with heat stroke.

That said, I'd say maybe the daze kept you relaxed and that relaxation can be a recipe for a good "stroke".

[schigara]

I definitely understand now. I thought I could save some money at the course with buying the bag cart and walking the course but have realized that is just stupid in the climate during the summer, where I live. I will wait till the fall and spring weather to use the Clicgear to save money at the course.

I second the "take it easy" comment. You can do serious damage to yourself with heat stroke.

[cmvash]

I'd say it's borderline foolish to keep playing with heat exhaustion symptoms, you know, the signs that occur before a heat stroke.

The only thing that kept you from falling over was the amount of water you were putting through your body. I also agree that the "daze"(I've been there and know how you felt) you were in probably allowed your muscles to be less tense, allowing for a smoother stroke.

I'm glad you kicked ass out there but remember, it's not worth the risk - one heat stroke can cripple you for life. I'd also avoid playing on days with high humidity indexes.

[TXGolfer]

I walk here on the gulf coast of Texas and every weekend I see ~100deg with lots of humidity. The tricks I use are dress very cool, drink a lot of water before you start and while you are playing, and bring a towel that you can wet at every cold water dispenser. Putting a cool towel on the back of your neck or even pouring some cool water down your back will keep you at a good temp. Also get you and umbrella for your cart as that will help keep you cooler too.

During the week I play in the evenings and that is much easier. It is a lot easier to start playing when its hot and finish when its cool.

If you do start feeling heat exhaustion symptoms you should always stop and cool off. Heat stroke is not fun and can kill you.

[zRam]

Yeah I live in Ft Worth and it is very hot here. I shot my best 9 hole round a 41 after playing 18 I walked and it was about 106. It seems like your too tired to get tense or worry. I walked 36 2 weeks later with the temperature around 107. I just kept getting better and better until I hit the wall. 15, 16 ,and 17 I was in a daze. I shot a 98 then an 88. I drink a lot of water and stay in the shade as much as possible. I've worked outside my whole life though, so playing golf for 8 hours is easier than pipe fitting for 8 hours. : ) the 36 holes was too much and I won't do that in the dead of summer again, unless I'm really playing well.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I tried to play through heat exhaustion yesterday evening (it was very hot and muggy in NJ yesterday) and i really paid the price for it. I walked off after 12 holes because i was just basically throwing my body at the ball at that point. I was totally wasted.

[Fairway_CY]

I did the same thing last Wednesday. It started out as an overcast day in Northern Jersey, so I figured I'd walk... by the 7th hole, I was exhausted. I grabbed a drink at the turn and that cooled me off a bit... then I played okay until the 13th hole when I started to fry again.

In the end, I was basically swinging my arms and not using my body... despite a birdie on the 17th... the last 4 holes were a mess.

Heat isn't something to mess around with. I've been to the point of almost passing out while doing landscape work and it takes a few days to recover.

Be careful out there when it's that hot.

CY

[zeg]

I'll throw out there too that you need to be careful drinking large quantities of water when exercising. Drinking liters of water without food or other electrolyte intake can cause "water poisoning," which can be fatal. So hydrate yourself well during the hours leading up to going out, don't just drink a large amount right before you get out there. Then bring a reasonable quantity of water and some salty snacks, and above all, pay attention to your body. If it tells you you need to stop, you need to stop.

[Smarf]

I just wanted to add that you should be careful. That's not heat exhaustion, you had several symptoms of a heat stroke.

One of the tricks I picked up from a golf buddy that I use down here in the NC heat is to take a few golf towels and soak them in water the night before. Then I stick them in a freezer and throw them in a plastic bag to take with me to the course. They'll remain cool all day, and I wipe down after each hole with one and leave the other on my head and neck.

[tjy355]

Ken Venturi holding on line 2...

[TXGolfer]

I'll throw out there too that you need to be careful drinking large quantities of water when exercising. Drinking liters of water without food or other electrolyte intake can cause "water poisoning," which can be fatal. So hydrate yourself well during the hours leading up to going out, don't just drink a large amount right before you get out there. Then bring a reasonable quantity of water and some salty snacks, and above all, pay attention to your body. If it tells you you need to stop, you need to stop.

http://www.dhmo.org/ Yeah I usually drink 1.5L before I hit the course (Starting about 90 minutes before) then a slower steady amount at the course. I take a few snacks with me as well and nibble here and there.

[jrm1493]

My best round ever was a couple weeks ago, walked 18 in 100+ degree heat, shot an 81. I drank a lot the whole time but on the tee box on 15 I started to see stars and I couldn't focus. Took a few minutes and drank a quart of water and then continued. Still played the last 4 holes +1!

I think being so exhausted actually helps because you tend to play better golf when you don't try too hard and don't try to overswing. Having heat exhaustion helps you not to overswing.

When I walk in the summer I usually "fluid load" prior to the round by eating something really salty and drinking a quart of water or so (this is basically what we have the Astronauts do before re-entry when they are not accustomed to gravity - it helps them to not get dizzy or pass out). Then at the course buy a 32 oz gatorade, and pretty much drink it in the first 3-4 holes, then refill it to the top at every water jug. At the turn get a salty snack (the salt will help you to retain water - as mentioned before drinking only water can mess you up - you need salt when you are sweating a lot). I take a large swallow of water after every tee shot and walking between holes. Seems to work pretty well but on the day I was talking about above, I had stopped drinking as much on the back nine which I think is why I started to get dizzy / see stars.