Walking off the 18th green soaking wet and feeling completely gassed is no one's idea of a good round, no matter what you shot on the scorecard. Playing golf in serious heat isn’t just uncomfortable, it can drain your energy, ruin your focus, and turn a great day on the course into a miserable slog. This guide will give you a complete game plan to not just survive a hot round, but to actually play smart, focused golf by managing your body, adjusting your strategy, and understanding how the heat affects every part of your game.
The smartest shots you hit on a blistering day are the ones you make before you even step on the first tee. Showing up unprepared for extreme heat is a guaranteed way to see your game fall apart by the back nine. Here's how to stack the deck in your favor.
This is probably the single most overlooked aspect of playing in the heat. You can’t start chugging water on the first tee and expect to stay hydrated for four hours. It just doesn’t work that way. True hydration is a process that begins at least 24 hours before your round.
Your goal is to get your body fully saturated with fluids so you're starting from a surplus, not a deficit. The day before a hot round, make a concious effort to drink water steadily throughout the day. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty - that’s your body’s alarm bell telling you you’re already behind.
More importantly, water alone isn't enough when you're going to be sweating profusely. When you sweat, you lose vital electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which are the minerals that help your body actually absorb and use the water you're drinking. Losing them leads to cramping, fatigue, and headaches.
Long gone are the days of heavy cotton polo shirts that felt like wearing a wet blanket by the third hole. Modern golf apparel is technical gear designed to help you, so use it. Your clothing choices can drastically affect your body's ability to regulate its temperature.
Your golf bag on a hot day is your mobile support station. Preparing it properly means you'll have everything you need to combat the elements. Think beyond just clubs and balls.
Once you’re on the course, the battle shifts from preparation to execution and management. You have to accept that playing in 95-degree heat is a different sport than playing in 70-degree comfort. You must adjust your physical and mental approach.
When it’s brutally hot, your number one goal should be energy conservation. Every bit of physical exertion costs you more than it would on a normal day. That means trying to maul a drive 300 yards just isn't a smart play.
Instead, focus on tempo and efficiency. Think about swinging at about 80-85% of your maximum effort. A smooth, rhythmic swing will keep you in balance, reduce physical strain, and often produce a better result than a wild, overly aggressive lash at the ball. The name of the game is preserving energy so your mind and body are still sharp on the 16th fairway.
This is a simple mantra to repeat throughout your round to keep yourself on track. Dehydration and energy depletion are sneaky - they creep up on you. You need a system to stay ahead of them.
Playing in the heat isn't just a physical challenge, it has a direct scientific impact on your golf ball and clubs.
This is a huge one that many golfers don't account for. Hot air is less dense than cold air. Less dense air creates less drag (resistance) on the golf ball as it flies. What does this mean for you? Your golf ball will travel farther in the heat.
A shot that might be a perfect 8-iron from 150 yards in the spring could fly 155 or even 160 yards on a hot summer day. This means you likely need to take one less club on many of your approach shots. This adjustment is essential to avoid airmailing greens all day.
Even with extra gloves, sweat is your enemy. Keep your primary towel for drying your hands and grips only. A wet grip can cause the club to slip at impact, leading to disastrous hooks or slices.
Be aware that the course itself will change, too. Greens often get baked out and become firmer and faster in intense heat. This means your approach shots might bounce more and roll out farther, and your putts will be quicker. Play for more release on your approach shots and be extra gentle on the greens.
As a coach, I have to be clear about this: there is no score or bet that is worth risking your health for. Being a "pro" sometimes means knowing when to walk off the course. You need to be aware of the signs of heat-related illness.
It's important to know the difference. Both are serious, but one is a medical emergency.
If you experience any of these, your round is over. Stop playing immediately, get to a cool, shady spot (preferably an air-conditioned clubhouse), and drink plenty of fluids. Do not try to "tough it out."
Heatstroke is life-threatening. If you or a playing partner shows these signs, call 911 immediately. This is not the time to be a hero, it's the time to get professional medical help as fast as possible.
Playing excellent golf in extreme heat comes down to a complete strategy. It's about hydrating proactively, dressing for cooling performance, managing your energy with a smoother tempo, and making smart on-course adjustments to account for how a hot day physically changes the game.
Making smart adjustments - like figuring out exactly how much farther the ball will fly or which club to pull when you’re swinging at 80% - can be a lot to juggle when you're already physically tired. For challenges like this, we developed Caddie AI to serve as your personal on-course expert. When your mind feels a bit foggy from the heat, you can get a quick club recommendation right in your pocket. It helps take the thinking out of it, letting you focus on just making a confident, smooth swing.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
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