Aside from the golf essentials (like your tees, balls, and clubs), we made a list of some other items you won’t want to forget to put in your golf bag this season. These items will help you conquer any course no matter the conditions.
Make sure you are lathering up this summer to protect your skin from those pesky UV rays and keep your skin looking young. Look out for broad spectrum sunscreen to protect yourself from both UVB and UVA rays. Use SPF 30 or higher and reapply after 2 hours or after playing 9 holes (don’t forget to apply even when it is cloudy). The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using 1 ounce (a shot glass) over your whole body. For more information about sunscreen and sun safety this summer check out The Skin Cancer Foundation.
Not only are bugs annoying, but they carry diseases that you should avoid. Use bug spray that repels disease carrying insects: Lyme Disease, Triple E, and West Nile Virus. Deer ticks causing Lyme Disease are most active May through July, so make sure you check yourself after every round of golf.
If you do get insect bites or stings this season, try using anti-itch cream, The Bug Bite Thing, or sting relief wipes following the bite. For ticks, remove carefully (keeping the head intact with the body)— using tick twisters/keys, tweezers, or dish soap. Save the tick (for identification) and keep note of any Lyme symptoms.
Imagine you’re on the course wearing your cool, new golf shoes, but they starting to give you blisters. Or maybe, you’re trying out a new way to hold your clubs and now your glove is causing an irritating blister. Always carry a few Band-aids or adhesive tape in your bag, so that you can finish your round strong and with minimal pain. You never know when you might need a Band-Aid or if someone else in your group might need one.
We can’t tell you how many times an extra pair of socks has come in handy at the end (or sometimes the middle) of a round. Maybe it starts to downpour halfway through, or you step in a wet spot— having those socks will keep your feet dry for the rest of the round. Another reason is so that, when you finish the round, you can put on some nice, clean, (not sweaty) socks. Don’t forget those socks in your bag this season!
Tissues come in handy in many ways, and you should always keep a pack in your bag. Right now, with allergy season in full swing, tissues are a must have on every round. Even if you don’t struggle with allergies, tissues can help you out in many different ways on the course. So don’t forget them this season!
The New England weather can change quickly, especially when you are spending a few hours out on the course. It might start out sunny, but get chilly or rainy later in your round, so we recommend always keeping a jacket in your bag. An umbrella is also helpful to have, keeping you and your clubs dry or shaded throughout a rainy round.
Make sure to keep some extra snacks and water in your bag to help beat the heat. If you’re walking, you’ll need a couple more snacks than you might need if you’re using a cart. Fun fact: You can burn up to 1900 calories when walking, so make sure you are refueling your body to keep up. Making sure that you stay fueled will help your game stay consistent throughout the entire round.
Some snack ideas for your rounds this season:
Trail mix/nuts
Banana or Apple
Protein/granola bar (avoid chocolate or anything that will melt)
PB&J sandwich
Cheese sticks
Beef jerky
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