Golfers, like sunbathers, surfers and swimmers, are sun worshippers. The brighter the sunlight and the longer the day, the happier they are.
No one, I suspect, likes bright sunshine and heat more than I do. Two weeks ago, I played eight straight days in temperatures of 100 or more. The heat helps me get and keep my old muscles and bones loose.
If you don’t believe that golfers like sunshine and heat, take a look at the recent weekends at your municipal golf courses and country clubs. They are packed.
Unfortunately, in the scorching temperatures of late June and July, heat and sunshine can be a menace to heath. Trying to play in excessive heat could lead to heat stroke, or worse. As your body temperature goes up you can become disoriented, respiration gets out of whack and the next thing you know you could be in an ambulance headed for the hospital.
Here are a couple of suggestions if you plan to play in the torrid temperatures:
n Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water on the course. Seek shade whenever you can. I don’t recommend walking unless you are in extremely good shape and accustomed to exertion in the heat.
n Don’t overdo it. If you start getting tired, stop under a tree and rest for a moment. Allow faster groups to go through and use that time to get a few extra breaths.
n If you feel discomfort after the round, check with your doctor. I used to run two to five miles a day (don’t laugh, it’s true). The only time I had trouble came when I ran two miles outside on a dirt road around noon. It was hot. By the time I finished, I was dragging. I had a headache and had trouble keeping focused. That weird feeling stayed with me the rest of the day and through the night.
The next morning I called my doctor and he got me into the office. I had become overheated, he said. He gave me a shot and told me to drink plenty of water as well as tomato and V-8 juice to restore my electrolytes, whatever that means. But it worked.
n Never forget that heat can cause serious health problems that may linger for quite some time. I had a friend who suffered a heat stroke, was hospitalized for a few days and could never again get out in the heat for any length of time without getting ill.
Exposure to the sun’s rays can be even more deadly. It is estimated that more than 150,000 people develop skin cancers each year. Many of those cancers might be prevented.
n Golfers should rub plenty of a good sunscreen onto exposed areas, such as the arms, face and ears, before they tee off and then again a couple of hours later. A buddy of mine had a tiny red spot on his face that was diagnosed as invasive melanoma. The cancer had spread and the surgery left a five-inch scar. Another pal had a similar-sized scar on his forearm. I intend to pay a visit to my dermatologist in a few weeks for a routine check.
n Wear a hat that covers your ears, nose and back of your neck, all of which are vulnerable areas for skin cancer. You also ought to wear a long-sleeved shirt. That seems unlikely for most golfers given the oppressive heat of the last month and the likelihood of more hot weather to come.
n In the old days, no one seemed to worry much about heat prostration or exposure to the sun. Many have paid a high price for that negligence.
n The thing to keep in mind is that getting out in extreme heat and/or the sun’s rays can kill. It is better to stay safe by taking a few simple precautions and than to be sorry later.
Oops!
In last week’s column, I misidentified Ray Schmidt as the owner of the Range Line Golf Center and sponsor of the Range Line Golf Center’s Area Golfer of the Year competition. Actually, Alan Schmidt is the owner of the golf center and sponsor of the Golfer of the Year competition. Sorry, guys!
Eagles
Royal Woolsy accomplished a remarkable feat last week. His approach on the 345-yard sixth at Schifferdecker Municipal Golf Course found the hole for an eagle two. But on the 321-yard 14th, he again knocked his second shot into the cup. Two eagles in one round constitutes a season’s worth for me.
Exhibitions
Marshall Smith, the Miami, Okla., golf guru to Chi Chi Rodriguez, Craig Stadler and other pros, and senior long-driving champion Greg Kyte of Carthage will put on exhibitions at the NAMI Joplin and Kiwanis fund-raising scrambles on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Schifferdecker Municipal Golf Course.
NAMI raises funds for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The Kiwanis event will benefit children’s charities.
Scramble
The second annual Marshall Dean Keller Memorial 2-man scramble is scheduled Friday, Aug. 3, at Carthage Golf Course.
All proceeds will be donated to First Candle, a national not-for-profit organization that is working to increase public support in the fight against stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome.
A shotgun start is scheduled at noon. Entry fee is $100 per player.
Sports
July 28, 2012
Sun is both friend, enemy of avid golfers
- High School Sports
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After last-minute win, Carl Junction soccer plays at Helias
Callie Degani controls a pass during a Carl Junction practice. The Bulldogs play a Class 2 quarterfinal game against Helias Catholic at 2 p.m. today in Jefferson City.
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn rolls into state tennis semifinals.
- Morgan takes third in triple jump; Williams wins long jump
- White, Elias spark Baxter Springs at state track meet
- Colgan blanks Silver Lake in Class 3A baseball championship game
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- Missouri Southern Sports
- Pittsburg State Sports
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After last-minute win, Carl Junction soccer plays at Helias
Callie Degani controls a pass during a Carl Junction practice. The Bulldogs play a Class 2 quarterfinal game against Helias Catholic at 2 p.m. today in Jefferson City.
For Carl Junction girls soccer coach Kevin Hauck, the ending of the Bulldogs’ 3-2 win over Republic on Wednesday was worthy of a movie script.
Continued ... - Joplin's Jeremy Lynn rolls into state tennis semifinals.
- MSSU's Green, Reagan earn All-America honors; PSU's Talbert wins discus
- Colgan blanks Silver Lake in Class 3A baseball championship game
- Morgan takes third in triple jump; Williams wins long jump
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