By BRUCE MEADOWS

JUNE 2023

How hot is too hot ???

   If you really want to get out for a round of golf, weather isn’t always a factor.

    How cold does it have to be for you to decide not to play?  Or how windy or rainy?  Or how hot?

Having lived in Eastern Oregon for 7 years, I have experienced all those
conditions . . . sometimes in the same round !!! If you’ve played on the
eastern side of the Cascades or the Rockies, you know what I mean.

I recall one time inviting friends up from the Bay Area to play a round of
golf at Reames G&CC in Klamath Falls, elevation 4,700 feet.
When we teed off, the sun was shining and it was quite pleasant, but by
the time we got to the 9 th hole, it had started raining.

A hole later we experienced thunder, lightning and hail . . . a few holes
after that we were treated to a light dusting of snow.
My friends wanted to head to the clubhouse for shelter and an Irish
coffee, but I suggested we take shelter in a restroom and wait it out.
Less than 30 minutes later, the snow had stopped, the sun came out and
we finished our round in relatively decent weather.

My friends were amazed, but this is something I had seen many times.
I’ve had similar experiences in the Rockies, maybe more dramatically.
It looks like our extended Spring season is pretty much over, with
warmer temps on the way, although maybe not as hot as previous years.
Given the extra weed growth, etc. we’ve seen after recent heavy rains,
less heat and/or wind would be a blessing when it comes to fire danger.
That being said, if you do venture out to the golf course and the
thermometer is flirting with 90 degrees or higher, be smart.

Here are a few tips I picked up from various sources. Some are obvious
but golfers don’t always do what’s smart or obvious.

Stay hydrated:
This is NOT as simple as it sounds. Drinking plenty of fluids during
your round will not be enough. You need to actually begin at least one
day prior to your round. Possibly even earlier if you're flying to your
golf destination. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Wear the right clothing:
Choose loose, light-colored clothing made of moisture-wicking.
Certain materials works great for shirts and pants, and have their own
fabrics that will help keep you cool. The goal here is to keep the

clothes breathable and not have them stick to you when you start to
sweat. You'll feel more comfortable, stay cooler and play better.

Use sunblock:
Much of newer golf apparel has sunblock technology. Some people
advise wearing a light, long-sleeve shirt. If your skin is exposed, use
some type of sunscreen. SPF 50 is not too much.

Wear a hat or cap:
Regular style caps are great, but they're not perfect. The bucket hat
with a brim that goes all the way around may be more effective. But a
loose, light hat will do wonders in keeping the sun off of you. It's not
just about avoiding sunburn, it's about maintaining your energy level.

Eat light, but eat nonetheless:
Again, if you want to maintain your concentration and energy levels,
starving yourself is not going to help. But the last thing you want is to
feel heavy and lethargic due to a big meal before walking around for
five or six hours in the hot sun.

Warm up fully but lightly:
You want to be prepared for your round, so hit balls on the range
and use the putting green. But don't overexert. You're going to sap your
energy throughout the day. Don't burn it all before the first tee!

Find shade where you can:
Being outside usually means you can’t avoid the sun all the time, but you
should whenever you reasonably can. Finding the shade is a common
theme players suggest , , , and walk in the shade as much as possible.

Bring supplements:
One way of making whatever water you drink work harder for you is to add
supplements, like electrolytes and salt. Those small additives will allow your
body to retain the fluids more effectively.

Use your body’s quick-cooling points:
No matter how much you hydrate, if it’s hot enough, you’ll probably overheat.
And when this happens, you’ll need to manually cool yourself down. The best
way of doing this is to place an ice pack on the areas of your body where the
blood vessels are closer to your skin, like the back of your neck or your wrists.

Cooling your body in the right spots will help bring down your body
temperature in short order.

Conserve energy:
Another thing player after player stressed was the importance of conserving
energy. It’s exhausting playing in the heat, and your body is working overtime
trying to stay upright, so you’ve got to give it a rest whenever you can.

Coming Up . . .

At Bennett Valley . . .

At Fairgrounds GC, Tayman Park . . .

At Valley of the Moon . . .

Phone: 707.539.0415

At Santa Rosa Golf & CC . . .

New Summer Golf Clinics

Sign up for summer clinics at SRCC. Lots of options to help you improve
your game. Clinics are taught by Jessica Quayle and Zach March. To sign
up visit https://santarosa.glfconnect.com,or call the 707-546-6617.

July 8. Driver Clinic. 12:45-1:45. Work on gaining a better tee shot. Learn
key aspects to launching the ball higher and longer with lower spin. $50.
July 13. Trouble Shots Class. 9-11:30. Class focuses on trouble shots
encountered on the course. Punch Shots, Uneven Lies, Tricky Sand, and
when to choose the correct club. This class will help you make better
decisions on the course and reduce big numbers on the score card. $150.
July 15. Sand Clinic. 12:45-1:45. Learn to get closer to the hole from the
sand trap by implementing the proper set up and technique. $50.
July /27. Improvement Strategies #2. Hybrids Vs. Fairway Woods,
Distance Wedges (30-70 Yards), And Putting Direction. 2.5 Hours. $150.

At Foxtail GC . . .

SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2023 AT 9 AM
The Foxtail Open
Open to the public
The Foxtail Open – 2 Person Scramble Championship
9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start

$120 Entry per person includes: $120 Gift Card to purchase Asics Golf
Shoes PLUS 1 Dozen Q-Star Golf Balls (Value $150). Prizes awarded to
Low Gross Team and Low Net Team. Blind Bogey Handicap for Low Net.
Foxtail South 9am Shotgun. Loyalty Club and Members receive discounts –
please sign-up directly with Golf Shop.

General Entry: $120
Player's Club: $110
Limited Members: $100
South and Unlimited Members: $90

At Foxtail, Valley of the Moon . . .

We want to hear from you . . .

Thanks for your comments, questions and suggestions. I appreciate
them and would like to get as many as possible. If you have
information about anything golf-related, including upcoming clinics,
activities, tournaments or sales, let me know.
And if you have questions, complaints or compliments about golf in
our area, let me know and I’ll make some inquiries. Email me