Page 66 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2019

SPORTS & OUTDOORS coast golf update
TEE-OFF
wi Tommy
GOLFERS MUST HYDRATE RESPONSIBLY
It’s hot! Really hot! Golfers who
like air-conditioned golf courses in April and October scurry to early morning tee times or late-evening, nine-hole matches that dodge the 2 p.m. scorching sun during the months of July and August. Some like it hot, however.
Those who prefer the warmest months over bulky sweater-time should take precautions and hydrate responsibly. Let’s face it, drives are longer when
the muscles stretch. The combination of proprioceptors and the vestibular system allows golfers to smash drives in July and August to lengths that January and February never see. Be a DH, a designated hydrator.
According to many experts, dehydration can cause chemical imbalances in the brain, ultimately impairing judgment. Fitness guru Todd Marsh suggests that dehydration can cause impatience and moody thoughts. Nobody likes a grumpy golfer.
Several resources are now available
to golfers who don’t want to stay indoors during these hot, humid months in South Mississippi. The U.S. Marines developed the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). The WBGT index
story by Tommy Snell
uses air temperature, relative humidity,
wind speed, cloud cover (solar radiation), and sun angle to calculate the heat stress risk from working (or golfing) outdoors. The WBGT can be found at www.weather.gov/tsa/wbgt.
So how much water do golfers need? According to MyTPI.com, “The optimal amount of water to drink is half your body weight (pounds) in ounces per day. For example, a 200
drinking 25 percent of your water first thing in the morning, choosing bottled water that has approximately 200-300 parts per million (mg/L) of dissolved solids, and adding a small pinch of Celtic Sea Salt to every liter of water. Golf responsibly in July!
pound person will need to drink 100 ounces of water per day. A key point to remember is that other fluids do not count toward your goal of half your bodyweight in ounces.”
The website also recommends
66 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2019
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The Department of Health and Human Services offers some helpful tips:
• Under most circumstances, consuming adequate amounts of water and regular meals will be sufficient to stay hydrated and maintain a proper electrolyte balance.
• Hydrate before, during and after golf. Small amounts often.
• Replenish salts lost through sweat by eating a balanced diet.
• Avoid consuming energy drinks while golfing during hot weather.