Although you're trying your best to focus, sweat is dripping into your eyes and you're seeing two balls on the green (and both of them are yours!) "It's not the heat," your golf buddy laughingly says after your stroke, "it's the humidity!"
You were not chuckling as your golf ball rimmed the cup.
What do you do next?
First, step into the shade and wipe off that sweat; although it cools you off, it's hampering your vision and your mental attitude. Next, take a sip or two of water - H20 will help to re-hydrate you.
Here are a few more tips for beating the summer heat out on the golf course:
1. Keep a clean towel with ice bucket handy for dabbing face and neck.
2. Wear a hat - a visor will still allow in the sun to burn the top of your head.
3. Use sunscreen - the burn you receive when your buddy takes away your glory with a birdie to your par should be the only type of suffering you should do around the pin.
4. Bugspray - Heat usually promotes bugs, stingers, biters on the golf course - you may not even realize you are getting bitten, allowing those bugs to hang on and really hang on to clothes and skin.
5. Freeze a couple of bottles of water the previous night so that they defrost slowly over your round.
6. Bring at least one additional golf glove for sweaty palms.
7. Wear a moisture-wicking shirt.
8. Try to get out for an early morning or twilight tee time - the sun doesn't agree with everyone.
9. Bring your mind to a cool place. Think cool thoughts while standing in the shade and focus your mind on your next shot - visualization will keep you in the present and not thinking about the sun's rays.
What tips do you have for dealing with summer heat on the golf course? Add your comments to our golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.
photo: IllinoisReview.typepad.com
