How to Play Golf in Hot Weather

Playing a great round of golf when the thermometer is pushing its upper limits is less about powering through the heat and more about outsmarting it. The sun can drain your energy, sabotage your swing, and cloud your judgment, but a few simple adjustments can turn a sweltering slog into a successful summer round. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from pre-round preparation to post-round recovery, helping you manage the heat and play with confidence.

Pre-Round Preparation: The Battle Begins Before the First Tee

You wouldn't start a round with a dirty set of clubs, so don't start a hot day unprepared. Success in the heat is earned before you even pull into the parking lot. These steps will set you up to feel better, play better, and stay safe under the sun.

Hydration is Not a Day-Of Activity

One of the biggest mistakes golfers make is trying to hydrate during the round. By the time you feel thirsty on the 7th hole, you're already dehydrated, and your performance is suffering. True hydration is a habit, not an emergency fix.

• Start 24 Hours Early: Begin increasing your water intake the day before your round. Aim for consistent sips throughout the day rather than chugging large amounts at once. This gives your body time to actually absorb the fluid.
• Add Electrolytes: When you sweat, you lose more than just water, you lose vital minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium. These electrolytes are what help your body regulate muscle function and fluid balance. Consider adding an electrolyte tablet or powder to your water the morning of your round.
• Avoid Dehydrating Drinks: Steer clear of excessive caffeine and alcohol the day before and the morning of your round. These act as diuretics, causing your body to lose more fluid. Save that post-round beer for when you're cooling off in the clubhouse.

Dress for Success, Not Stress

Your attire is your first line of defense against the heat. The wrong clothing can trap heat and moisture, making you feel sluggish and uncomfortable. Think of your golf shirt and pants as performance equipment.

• Fabric is Paramount: Leave the cotton polos at home. Cotton absorbs sweat like a sponge, becoming heavy, sticky, and preventing heat from escaping your body. Instead, opt for modern synthetic fabrics like polyester blends. They are designed to be lightweight, breathable, and, most importantly, moisture-wicking. This means they pull sweat away from your skin to the surface of the fabric where it can evaporate quickly, creating a cooling effect.
• Color Matters: Wear light colors. Dark clothing absorbs sunlight and heat, while light colors like white, tan, or light grey will reflect it, helping to keep you cooler.
• Go Wide with Headwear: A standard baseball cap is better than nothing, but a wide-brimmed "bucket" or "safari" style hat is far superior. It provides 360-degree shade, protecting your face, ears, and the back of your neck from direct sunlight - major spots that can contribute to you feeling overheated.
• Sun Protection is Non-Negotiable: A good pair of UV-protective sunglasses doesn't just reduce glare, it also protects your eyes from long-term damage and can reduce squinting, which helps prevent headaches and facial fatigue. Apply a broad-spectrum, sweat-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher at least 20 minutes before you tee off and remember to reapply at the turn.

On-Course Game Plan: Adjusting for the Heat Factor

The heat doesn’t just affect you, it affects your equipment and the course itself. Understanding these changes and adapting your strategy is the difference between a frustrating day and an intelligent round of golf.

Your Body Under Duress

Heat-induced fatigue is the number one cause of big scores on summer days. It saps your strength, shortens your focus, and leads to lazy swing technique. Your goal is to conserve energy at every opportunity.

• Pace Yourself: This isn't the time to be a hero. Walk at a relaxed pace. If you tend to get anxious or rushed, make a conscious effort to slow down your Preshot routine. Use the time between shots to find a "personal shade tree," even if it’s just for a 30-second break.
• Fuel Smartly: Your body is burning extra calories just trying to stay cool. Don't let your energy bottom out. Avoid the heavy hot dog at the turn and instead pack light, easy-to-digest snacks. Things like bananas (rich in potassium), nuts, pretzels, or a simple granola bar will provide sustained energy without weighing you down.
• Master Your Grip: Sweaty hands are a menace. A single slip at impact can send a shot way off-line. Pack at least two towels: one for your hands and grips, and one for your face and neck (a pre-wetted cooling towel is a fantastic addition). Consider playing with an extra golf glove or two so you can swap for a dry one midway through each nine. Some players even find that a rain glove offers a more secure grip when hands are very sweaty.

How Heat Changes Your Equipment and the Course

Many golfers are surprised to learn how much heat can alter shot calculations. Ignoring these factors is like playing with the wrong yardages.

• Hot Air = Longer Shots: Here's a simple bit of physics: warm air is less dense than cool air. This means the golf ball experiences less resistance (drag) as it flies, causing it to travel farther. On a very hot day, you can expect shots to carry anywhere from a half-club to a full club longer than normal. A 150-yard 8-iron on a cool spring day might be a 9-iron on a hot summer afternoon.
• The Greens Get firmer: The sun bakes the moisture out of putting greens, making them harder and faster. Approach shots that would normally stop quickly might now take a big bounce and roll out. You'll need to land your approach shots shorter than you normally would to account for this extra release. On the greens themselves, putts will be quicker and will likely break less than they do on softer surfaces. Spend a few extra minutes on the practice green to get a feel for the speed before you tee off.

Course Management Hacks for a Scorcher

Work smarter, not harder. You can save strokes and energy just by making better decisions about how you navigate the course.

Conserve Energy Like a Pro

If you see a Tour pro playing in the heat, you'll notice they rarely waste a single drop of energy. They stay in the shade, they walk calmly, and they don't take dozens of aggressive practice swings.

• Use a Cart: If ever there was a day to take a golf cart or use a push cart, this is it. Carrying your bag on a 95-degree day will drain your energy reserves faster than a three-putt. Give your back and shoulders a break.
• Seek the Shade: Don't just walk straight down the middle of the fairway. Plan your walk between shots to pass under as many trees as possible. Standing in the shade while waiting for others to hit can drop your perceived temperature significantly.
• Reduce Practice Swings: A full, 100% effort practice swing uses a lot of energy. dialing back is helpful too For your on course prep, try feeling the swing with one or two slower, half-swings instead of three full ones. The goal is to rehearse the feeling, not wear yourself out before you even address the ball.

Manage Your Expectations

Playing in extreme heat is a challenge. It's okay - and smart - to adjust your personal goals for the day.

Focus more on course management and precise execution than on trying to shoot your career-best. The main objective is to enjoy the game and finish strong. You might notice your stamina wane on the back nine. This is normal. Concentrate on staying committed to each shot and avoid lazy mental mistakes that come from fatigue, like misjudging the wind or grabbing the wrong club.

Final Thoughts

Tackling golf in hot weather is a skill in itself, centered on smart preparation and on-course conservation of both your physical and mental stamina. By focusing on hydration, proper gear, and adjusted shot strategy, you can protect yourself from the sun’s draining effects and keep your game sharp from the first tee to the 18th green.

Playing an intelligent game in the heat is all about conserving both physical and mental energy. Fatigue from the sun can cloud your judgment, making simple decisions like club selection or shot strategy feel surprisingly difficult. That's a core benefit of an app like Caddie AI, which we developed to give you an on-demand golf brain. It helps take the guesswork out of your game by providing smart, simple strategy and club advice, letting you play with more confidence and save your mental energy for a strong finish, even on the most demanding summer days.