In my 30\u2019s I didn\u2019t 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\u00a0North 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\u00a0heat exhaustion.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t replaced.<\/p>\n
Make sure your golf game won\u2019t suffer by applying the following five strategies:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 Wear loose fitting or sun protective clothing<\/strong>. LPGA Tour gals can be seen wearing\u00a0the 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.<\/p>\n 2. \u00a0Protect yourself from the sun<\/strong>. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun\u2019s ultraviolet radiation. Using a silver sun umbrella will reflect the sun\u2019s UV rays and keep you cooler.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 Keep hydrated.\u00a0 <\/strong>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?<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0 Do not take salt tablets. <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0 Maintain your electrolyte balance<\/strong>. \u00a0Electrolytes 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.<\/p>\n For additional information on preparing your body for extreme weather conditions, read the July 2010 newsletter, \u201cHealthy Nutrition for Enhanced Mental Golf Energy\u201d<\/em> at www.pmi4.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0 Play \u201cIn the Zone\u201d With Joan<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Log on to the PMI website <\/a>and Blog<\/a> for additional mental golf tips.<\/p>\n 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,\u00a0 through the Positive Mental Imagery website or blog, or by leaving a message below.<\/p>\n Self-empowering self-hypnosis mental golf CDs are available at www.pmi4.com\/cart<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In my 30\u2019s I didn\u2019t 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\u00a0North Palm Beach CC 9th fairway, everything suddenly went … Continue reading