In my 30’s I didn’t worry about playing golf in the extreme heat and humidity in Florida. One day I had a rude awakening. As I was pulling my cart up the North Palm Beach CC 9th fairway, everything suddenly went blank. I felt dizzy, light headed and I thought I was going to faint. Back then we took salt tablets in extreme heat. Taking the tablets only made me nauseous. I remember crouching under a four-foot palm tree for relief from the sun as it was the only shade on the hole. I made it into the air conditioned clubhouse just in time to avoid passing out from heat exhaustion.
During the last month 15 states have experienced scorching temperatures as high as 105 degrees in unprecedented record setting heat. Nevertheless, because it is summer, golfers will be out playing under these conditions. As you sweat from the heat, you lose body fluids which cause a reduction in your physical and mental performance if they aren’t replaced.
Make sure your golf game won’t suffer by applying the following five strategies:
1. Wear loose fitting or sun protective clothing. LPGA Tour gals can be seen wearing the new soft and breathable long sleeves under their golf shirts. These new fabrics circulate air and also protect them from the sun. They are actually cooler than short sleeve shirts because it keeps the direct sun off your skin.
2. Protect yourself from the sun. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Using a silver sun umbrella will reflect the sun’s UV rays and keep you cooler.
3. Keep hydrated. Start your day with two glasses of water to replace what you lost overnight. Drink cool water constantly on course, not ice water. Remember when Jack Nicklaus had stomach cramps from drinking ice water during a tournament?
4. Do not take salt tablets. Salt tablets drain water from your body and make dehydration worse. Juices and sodas contain more than 10% sugar and are not absorbed well during exercise.
5. Maintain your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes are lost in sweat and must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of your body fluids constant. This is important to keep your nerves, muscles and heart working properly. Sports drinks replace electrolytes but also contain carbohydrate (sugar) calories. I personally drink Smartwater on the golf course and get my carbohydrates from eating fruit.
For additional information on preparing your body for extreme weather conditions, read the July 2010 newsletter, “Healthy Nutrition for Enhanced Mental Golf Energy” at www.pmi4.com
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If this article is helpful to you, and you want to learn more, call Joan for a complimentary 15-minute consultation about improving your mental game. She can be reached by phone at 828-696-2547, through the Positive Mental Imagery website or blog, or by leaving a message below.
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