Heat related playing issues

[Blubill]

I have a question concerning how everyone deals with playing in the heat. We have had an unusual string of hot, at least for us, days recently. On most of those days I start out playing 8-10 pretty holes well then for no apparent reason I play 2-3 holes as if I was in a coma. Sometimes I don’t even remember pulling a club or why. Then I “come to my senses” or a playing partner will say something, usually concerning my blood sugar and am I ok. I’ll check my sugar and typically it’s ok, but I realize I haven’t been drinking enough water. That typically helps. My question is there something that folks who play in hot weather recommend in lieu of water that would help keep my electrolytes up? I’m thinking the combination of lowering electrolytes and blood sugars may be is what causing my issues. Anyone have similar issues in hot weather?

[TNwanabe]

Heat and humidity can really sap the mind and body. I drink water and Gatoraide while I play. I drink 2 large waters and 1 bottle of GA per side. I on the really bad days I need to use a rain glove on my off hand just to keep the club from slipping. I usually do not play well on the really hot days just because it seems more like a battle of will over just playing golf lol. 

[bk3318]

Stay hydrated. Are you a diabetic? Also consider using a UV umbrella on a push cart if you walk, that helps lower heat drastically for me.

[Blubill]

I am diabetic and have to be very aware of eating a little to maintain my sugars. That is part of my issue, most of the products to help maintain your hydration contain sugar. A friend recommended Pedialyte and I’m going to give that a try. Just wondering if this group had similar issues and what their resolutions were.

[sleepy_augusto]

Your description of the coma holes rings familiar from a recent round: Lost holes, no recollection, just full survival mode, find and consume all beverages...

It's been wildly hot this year!  

 

I'm testing methods to hydrate and cool down, including:

-drinking water after every shot.  Every. Single. One.  

-adding a Gatorlyte pack to the second jug of water

-pre-hydrating before the round or practice

-dressing in lighter colors and fabrics

-cooling towels (poor results so far)

-rotating gloves every few holes and not putting them in my pocket

 

Just picked this mini-mister up that should mount to the cart.

https://www.ryobitools.com/products/33287232284?srsltid=AfmBOor3AgT8Wz-X0NzvwHxu4bywy5Kx6GIVbw5E-fKuG7BD-L8QIjQv

 

I've also tried a neck fan and that was minimally helpful between shots and putting.

 

Whatever it takes to not leave the course in an ambulance!

 

[jvincent]

32 minutes ago, Blubill said:

My question is there something that folks who play in hot weather recommend in lieu of water that would help keep my electrolytes up? I’m thinking the combination of lowering electrolytes and blood sugars may be is what causing my issues. Anyone have similar issues in hot weather?

 

The key to not getting dehydrated is to make sure you are FULLY hydrated before the round and then keep it going. If you cross the threshold while you are playing, you are toast.

 

It was super hot this weekend here. In addition to making sure to drink plenty the evening before I had a bottle of Gatorade on the way to the course and during my warmup and front nine polished off another two. I kept drinking water on the back nine. Never felt any effects from the heat other than needing to play in rain gloves because of the amount of sweat.

 

From the time I left my house to the time I got back my liquid intake was just over a gallon (8.8 lbs). According to the before/after readings of my scale, I lost 2 lbs of water weight NET. So I actually sweated out just over 10 lbs of water.

Edited July 14 by jvincent

[caniac6]

I drink a Gatorade on the way to the course, and drink a lot of water during the round. I have a small cooler with cooling towels, and I ride when it’s hot. If it’s too hot, mid 90s, I don’t play. I take some medicine that makes me a bit sensitive to hot weather, so I need to be careful. Ended up in the ER a couple years ago, so I take the heat very seriously.

[cgasucks]

I have played in 90+F in the past (prefer not to) and drink tons of water during a round.  A gallon per person for a full 18 hole round would suffice.  After the round I still drink lots of water and Gatorade.

 

Knock on wood that I'm not diabetic or else I have to consider my blood sugar levels during play.

Edited July 14 by cgasucks

[Dabetic]

I think rule #1 is that proper hydration begins well before you need it - ideally the day prior

[Pepperturbo]

1 hour ago, Blubill said:

I have a question concerning how everyone deals with playing in the heat. We have had an unusual string of hot, at least for us, days recently. On most of those days I start out playing 8-10 pretty holes well then for no apparent reason I play 2-3 holes as if I was in a coma. Sometimes I don’t even remember pulling a club or why. Then I “come to my senses” or a playing partner will say something, usually concerning my blood sugar and am I ok. I’ll check my sugar and typically it’s ok, but I realize I haven’t been drinking enough water. That typically helps. My question is there something that folks who play in hot weather recommend in lieu of water that would help keep my electrolytes up? I’m thinking the combination of lowering electrolytes and blood sugars may be is what causing my issues. Anyone have similar issues in hot weather?

I try to prevent that, but sometimes I don't drink enough water; thus, my concentration goes perplunk around 12. I play in temps that hit 105 here in SOCAL and 80-90 on Maui too.

 

Recently, my solution is a bottle filled with "Protein2o Hydration" Drink, and a packet of "LivPur" per 9. Honestly, I am amazed at my clarity and ability to stay in the game. I especially notice it on the green. This past weekend, I walked off with a 76 on a testy course.

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

Lots of great advice already.  Also not a diabetic, and l don't know how that affects dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, but I will say that you need to drink way more water than you think you need to.  I will put away full 1.25 L nalgene bottles with ice like it's nothing.  Plus adding rehydration salts might not be a bad idea. 

 

It looks like I'm raining on things when I'm out there and it's, e.g., 90-95° F and 40-50% RH.  Rain gloves help.  Rotating gloves helps a lot.  Otherwise, I keep getting the index finger really sweaty and it's like I dipped it in liquid Teflon, lol.)  Don't drink booze on the course.  Stay in the shade when you can, and don't rush.  Be very cautious about symptoms like you describe:  light-headed, confused, forgetting things.  Heat stroke'll kill ya.

 

It's not pleasant, being outside in this soup.  I miss the Monterey Peninsula's weather terribly.  Oh well.  Beats not being able to play at all.

 

[Bonneville85308]

1 hour ago, sleepy_augusto said:

-drinking water after every shot.  Every. Single. One.  

 

 

This is my personal procedure for rounds played in summer afternoon 105-115 degree Phoenix temps. Big sip of water after every non-greenside shot and a gulp of water after walking off each green.

Edited July 14 by Bonneville85308

[McMunch]

All good stuff here. I load up on bananas, Gatorade and water the day before. Do the same day of...and during the round same and no alcohol.

Cooling towels as well.

 

I take blood pressure medication and if its hot- I don't on the day I play. Had a round last year when I felt dizzy and almost passed out because my BP dropped..

 

 

[txbadger]

i can't emphasize enough what many have already said... water... lots of it.   As far as Gatorade and the like just be careful of overdoing that... the amount of sugars in regular gatorade can be more detrimental than electrolyte benefit.  Having said that, everybody has a different health needs but you can't go wrong with lots of water.    During Texas summers, a half gallon of water per 18 works well for me. 

[cbrwn425]

1 hour ago, Dabetic said:

I think rule #1 is that proper hydration begins well before you need it - ideally the day prior

This right here is the key, I work in a very hot environment and it only gets worse in the summer, 110*F + on the worst days and 100*F on the best days. We constantly stress the importance of hydrating the day before and we provide cooling vests for use when needed. I wouldn't go that far for golf but cooling towels are a game changer when paired with proper hydration.

 

As others have said by the time you notice or someone else notices the symptoms of dehydration it's already too late. I make sure to drink a hydration packet the evening before, something like Body Armor or Drip Drop typically, Liquid IV if that's all we have. I'll also have plenty of water and usually a Gatorade during the round, usually the sugar free ones. You also need to be careful about drinking too much water, you don't want to feel like it's sloshing in your stomach because you'll end up feeling sick later from the heat and excess liquid. OP keep in mind that once you have heat related injuries such as heat stroke you can become more susceptible to them in the future. If you are experiencing instances like you describe you really should be getting out of the heat and not pushing through.

[getitdaily]

I can't tell you how to deal with super hot Arizona type heat. But 93 and humid Florida type stuff is right up my alley...

 

Lots of water the day BEFORE and the day of. Bananas are good. Having low sugar electrolytes starting in the middle of the round is helpful. 

 

Find shade whenever you can. On the tee, when it's not your go, stand in the shade if at all.possible. 

 

Assuming you can handle carbs (from a diabetic perspective) make sure you eat carbs the day before and during the round.  This doesn't mean skip protein...get plenty of that too.

 

No alcohol...the day before or during the round. Have a beer afterwards. 

[bcflyguy1]

 

[naval2006]

Very high heat is usually hard on the homestretch. My rule of thumb is get plenty of water so that you feel like going to the toilet every six or seven holes.  Never feel thirsty. And eating some fruit also helps. 

[Piter]

I play in hot humid conditions (south Pacific) where the cool season is around 25 degrees centigrade and during summer around 30 degrees.

 

Day before (well, every day really): drink till your pee is clear - that way you know all your cells in the body hold as much water as they can.

 

During round, I drink 2 big gulps at every tee off. That ends up being 3 liters of water per round. Might get a coke or so halfway if I want some sugar or just something cold.

 

Personally I think electrolytes drinks are overrated - it's mainly salt loss that makes you feel weak. I bring salted peanuts, crackers, pizza slice or whatever with me. Potato chips good too.

 

Gatorade has 21 grams of sugar per serving, that's 10 less than a can of coke. If sugar is an issue, leave it. Lots of other chemicals in there too btw:

 

[Mike_C]

3 hours ago, Blubill said:

I am diabetic and have to be very aware of eating a little to maintain my sugars. That is part of my issue, most of the products to help maintain your hydration contain sugar. A friend recommended Pedialyte and I’m going to give that a try. Just wondering if this group had similar issues and what their resolutions were.

I use the sugar free Liquid IV,  made with stevia.

 

Or my  old reliable, SaltStick Electrolyte Capsules, just take with water........

 

AMAZON - SaltStick Electrolyte Capsules with Vitamin D | Salt Pills with Electrolytes for Running, Endurance Sports Nutrition, Running Supplements

[sundaypins]

4 hours ago, TNwanabe said:

I usually do not play well on the really hot days just because it seems more like a battle of will over just playing golf lol. 

 

Over many years I've had 3 battles, not with the course architect but with heat and humidity.  The first was worst and could have taken me out but I was young and  didn't know what I was doing when it came to preventative maintenance.  The next 2 were tough, especially when you can feel the battle brewing on the outskirts looking in, but luckily I was better prepared from lessons learned and got through them.   Have a pretty good system down now that I follow religiously.   

Edited July 14 by sundaypins

[getitdaily]

15 minutes ago, sundaypins said:

 

Over many years I've had 3 battles, not with the course architect but with heat and humidity.  The first was worst and could have taken me out but I was young and  didn't know what I was doing when it came to preventative maintenance.  The next 2 were tough, especially when you can feel the battle brewing on the outskirts looking in, but luckily I was better prepared from lessons learned and got through them.   Have a pretty good system down now that I follow religiously.   

Sir, this is a golf forum, not mountain climbing. 

[GoGoErky]

Hydration starts well before the round. One should be consuming water and electrolytes on a daily basis. Then more water and potentially some more electrolytes on the day of the round.

 

i drink 1-1.5 gallons a day, closer to 1.5 in the summer due to training in a gym that’s not always cool.

 

Then eating foods that won’t spike sugars and cause a crash, some fruit, granola, deli meat sandwich.

 

 

[596]

Just a cautionary note on "lots of water".  When you drink too much water the salinity in your system drops so low you can't absorb the fluids.  Be sure you are intaking some salt. Any form will do.  In reality hyponatremia is more common then dehydration in athletics.  Symptoms are nearly the same.  

[fox_todd]

LMNT works. I play on southeast coast. Hot and humid from May to September. Many at my club use this. 

[Mike_C]

2 hours ago, fox_todd said:

LMNT works. I play on southeast coast. Hot and humid from May to September. Many at my club use this. 

I use it  also sometimes instead  of Liquid IV.  Salt content of LMNT is much  higher. 

[Asics10]

I ended up in the hospital due to over-hydration on a golf trip. I had symptoms of of dehydration like cramping and excess thirst, so I drank so much water it diluted my electrolytes. My sodium level was so low I was in the icu for 2days. Moral is keep hydrated and electrolytes up. 

 

Umbrella = free shade

Edited July 15 by Asics10

[PedronNiall]

Gatorade is fine. Still lots of back and forth over which if any of the electrolyte packs are as good, better, or worse  than it, and Gatorade is the only one that doesn't leave a weird texture or taste behind. If you're really worried about Gatorade then just throw some salt and a small bit of sugar in every other thermos you fill up and eat a banana or two during the round. 

 

As mentioned above, your urine should be nearly clear every time you go. Take hydration and staying cool seriously. Dying or getting permanent damage when it's avoidable isn't a good look. Gatorade or water, salt, and sugar immediately if you feel the least bit faint, loopy, or off, and call it a day if you have any trouble recovering within a few minutes. 

[Blubill]

Great tips here. I was drinking a 2 pint bottle of cold water on each side. Based on the discussion here I need to up that as well as try some of the electrolyte products. One issue that I failed to mention, I’m old and having dealt with prostate cancer, drinking “enough” water presents a separate challenge. NEVER pass up a chance to use the bathroom or porta potty! In my group the motto is “if there is a chance to go, GO”! Thanks for the tips!

[ShortGolfer]

Maybe you should do what the threesome that I played with yesterday did.  They played nine holes and went home.

 

The problem may be that your body isn't conditioned to handle the high heat and humidity.

I don't run air conditioning.  Instead I wear short shorts and crop tops to handle the heat.  I also have a "summer weight" where I carry less body fat than during the winter.

I spend a lot of time outside gardening.

 

Yesterday I mowed the yard before playing 18 holes of golf.  I drink a lot of water when I'm on the course.  A little bit at a time while waiting for the group in front of me.

Edited July 15 by ShortGolfer