Golfers, not up to par on your hydration? It could severely affect your performance!

You're coming up on the 15th hole. You are fatigued, hot, and you feel a headache coming on. You've been fighting the course for the past 4 holes, and it is winning. Your game was great on the front nine, but now it's crumbling. Why does this always seem to happen? There could be one, simple solution...Hydration!

Golf requires the physical skills of endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility as well as keen cognitive function, concentration, and anxiety control.

Scientific research shows that dehydration negatively affects all of these important attributes that are critical in the game of golf. If your strength and endurance are compromised by dehydration, perhaps your drives might not go as far. If your balance and flexibility are off, your chances of slicing increase. If your concentration is hindered, your putts may not fall; instead of that coveted birdie, you find yourself 3-putting for bogey. All of these scenarios can become even worse on a hot, humid day when the risk of dehydration increases.

Staying hydrated throughout the round may be the key to improving your game. Here are some simple solutions that may help:

• Start hydrating the day before by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
• 2 hours before your round, start drinking approximately 2 cups (16 oz) of water.
• At the start of each hole, drink about a 1/2 cup of water, even when not feeling thirsty. For some of us, the thirst mechanism doesn't kick in until we are already dehydrated. What is a 1/2 cup? It's about 4 gulps of your water. 
• Avoid alcohol (and this is where I lose you golfers 21 and older). But seriously, if you are a competitive golfer and serious about your game, you should know that alcohol causes dehydration, even if consumed the day before your round. Coupled with 4-5 hours of play in the heat and humidity, alcohol could really blow your game.

These are just a few tips to get you started. Everyone is different, so try a few of the hydration tips above to see what works best for you. 

Play hard and hydrate wisely! 
Good luck to the SJSU Men's Golf Team and 
the Valley Christian HS Varsity Golf Team this Spring!