It's Too Darn Hot to Play Golf...

[WUTiger]

I have fond memories of "too hot." Years ago, I was playing in the first round of the Lawton City Championship in Oklahoma. It was a 54-hole event, one round at each of three courses.

Round 1 was at Lawton CC, which was fairly low elevation and got hit by heavy rains the night before. We showed up to a damp course, and high temperatures. It was 98°F and about 95% humidity (rare, as Okla is usually dry). To make matters worse, players were forced to walk the damp course. I was still in the reserves and did distance running for conditioning, so I was not too bad off.

I was playing C flight, and shot an 88 to be second place. Some players had never walked 18 in their life, and almost died.

In round 2, my driver misbehaved  and I ended up in mid-pack (and stayed there). But, it was great to be "one back" for 24 hours.

[Club Rat]

3 minutes ago, Joe92385 said:

I'd only play in that temperature if I could drive my air conditioned truck onto the course.

Some of the Desert courses have components on the cart roofs which are "Cool Pac's"

They throw a bag of ice in them and push air through the compartment which vents above the riders heads and shoulders.

They work well when sitting idle and help keep players refreshed on hot days.

The hottest day I've ever played was 117* in Mesquite in July. I was off the course around 2 and didn't feel it was uncomfortable. Drank lot's of water and felt the Cool Pac did a great job.

I was golfing alone and there was no other players on course, so I was able to move along quickly without being in he direct sun for any lengthy period of time.

 

[xcott]

played 18 yesterdday in 100+ heat with 103+ heat index. Wasn't that bad. 

[Chilli Dipper]

7 hours ago, xcott said:

played 18 yesterdday in 100+ heat with 103+ heat index. Wasn't that bad. 

My round today in 93° temps actually felt pretty nice, until I finished the last of the drinks I had packed in the cooler pocket of my bag (three .5L bottles of water, one 20 oz. bottle of iced tea) by the 13th hole, and the beverage cart that had passed on the front nine never looped back around on the back nine.

[newtogolf]

22 hours ago, Club Rat said:

Talked with a friend in Phoenix over the weekend who indicated the temps will pop above 120* this week.... 

We are 99* for the high today, I only saw a handful of guys and a few gals out when I played.

My cooler is stocked with ice, water and cold towels and I seek the shade as often as possible.

But it's a dry heat 

[BuckeyeNut]

I've lost a lot of distance from the tee, but I drove a 314yd par4 green yesterday..................

 

Yes, It was about 100 degrees outside and downwind.   Bring on the HEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     I like it HOT!!!

[Club Rat]

3 hours ago, newtogolf said:

But it's a dry heat 

I hear "dry heat" is equivalent to sticking one's head in an "oven". 

 

[boogielicious]

13 hours ago, Chilli Dipper said:

My round today in 93° temps actually felt pretty nice, until I finished the last of the drinks I had packed in the cooler pocket of my bag (three .5L bottles of water, one 20 oz. bottle of iced tea) by the 13th hole, and the beverage cart that had passed on the front nine never looped back around on the back nine.

I find that once the temp gets close to 80F, I need to drink four bottles of fluid in a round. If it gets into the 90s, five bottles. I know if I haven't had enough because I start to get hoarse. I start drinking on the first hole too.

[jkelley9]

I will always take a really hot round over a cold round, except when we're talking about beers! 

As others have said, you just have to continually drink water and electrolytes. I take gatorade or whatever and dilute it at least 1:5. 32 oz per 9 holes usually for me (when it's > 90F outside and the humidity is up). The key is to intake water frequently over the round. The higher the frequency, the easier it is on your body. I usually take a few sips per hole, between some shots. Don't go 5 holes without and then start pounding back.

Wear sunscreen. I have had at least 4 people this past year alone say to me "wear sunscreen, I wish I had the sense to wear it when I started. I've had xx surgeries removing various skin cancers..." something along those lines.

Use one of those fancy "cooling" towels. You lightly wet it and put it on your neck and somehow it stays cooler than a regular wetted towel.

Put your glove on while walking up to address your ball, and take it off immediately after your swing (on the way back to the cart or push cart or whatever. If it's 105F out and humid as a mother I can usually go 1 glove per 9 holes before it gets too wet. Same conditions and leaving the glove on for longer periods gets exponentially worse. If I left a glove on for a full hole it would be saturated before the boll drops in the cup. I've met guys that have 6-7 gloves on their bag because they do this. makes no sense to me lol. And it's funny seeing the color difference between their left and right hands when they actually do take them off.

You have to play slower, if you're a fast player (like me). Open course in the fall, I'll bust out 9 holes in 1 hr 15 min with light jogging between shots (even though I'm sure I look ridiculous with my push cart... lol). During the summer I absolutely cannot do that. I have to take it a little easier. Which is usually not up to me anyways because there are more players on the course that (this) time of year anyways.

Edit: by the way, your body temperature response is most sensitive to the area on the back of your neck. So that whole keeping a cool towel there usually makes the temperature shock easier on your body. You just have to be mindful that you won't feel dehydrated as quickly that way so be proactive with fluids.

Edited June 17, 2016 by jkelley9

[Lastpick]

I always ride a cart.  I carry a little cooler filled with ice and  the fancy cooling towel and a couple of neck wraps.  I also found that if I eat almonds rather than sweets if fare better.  Sometimes I drink a couple of power aid zeros.  I have read that sugar is a no go for touring pros.  I carry the almonds in my bag in a water bottle.  

[DrvFrShow]

We've been having Junuary weather except with afternoon thunderstorms so unless you get out early in the morning, no golf. And it's been cold in the morning. Next week.... hot. One extreme to the other.

[RickK]

Never too hot to play golf!!!

Heat index was 107 yesterday.  Played 36 holes.  Just stay hydrated and all is good.  Much rather play in 100+ degree weather than deal with cold and especially cold and damp.  

Edited June 19, 2016 by RickK

[JonMA1]

It's never too hot to walk 18. And honestly, even the cold won't keep me from playing. Not because those extremes don't bother me under any other circumstance, but as mentioned earlier, the courses aren't open long enough throughout the year for me to be picky about when I play golf.

Besides, less than perfect conditions mean less waiting on others.

[stealthhwk]

I live in Dallas area. Heat and humidity are par for the course six months a year. I also work outdoors so thats five days in extreme heat and humidity followed by a four hr round of golf in it!! It sucks but its either that or no golf so I usually just tough it out. Heres some tips that help me: Stay hydrated every day, drink water above all else. Plug in some gatorade or something occasionally but 95% of ur liquid intake needs to be water. Cooling towels, wide brimmed breathable hat, shades, sun screen and get a cart.

[mcanadiens]

Not sure if I just didn't eat a good breakfast or what, but I met my match Sunday.

It was mid 90s and at least that humid and we were walking. By the second hole I'd sweated through every stitch I was wearing. By the fifth hole, I started seeing three balls on the floor. Somehow I got through 18 holes and carded a dead-average score. I hit the full-swing shots ok, but the short-game and putting stuff was clueless. No touch what-so-ever.

Took a bit in the clubhouse before I could stomach the drive home. Wouldn't care to experience that again.

[boogielicious]

It wasn't that hot yesterday, 80 - 85, but very humid. We walked a hilly 18 hole course (back 9 is hilly). I drank 6 bottles of water during the round and still did not have to pee. The last two holes I felt fatigued.