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July is here, and the heat came with it.

Golfers do not care how hot it is — they will play 18 regardless of the heat index. From raging storms to triple-digit temperatures, if someone has a tee time, they’re more often than not making it happen.

There are plenty of items that golfers can take with them on the cart to stay cool and hydrated.

An honorable mention is if someone is taking a caddie, think of them as well. Pack a couple of water bottles, an extra cooling rag, or something that will make a difference. They usually walk in that 100-degree weather, so make your experience better by showing love to the caddie. They will appreciate you even more if you think of them in this heat.

Remember to tip them if they did a good job as well. Again, they’re walking in hot conditions, chasing the ball all over; it is the least a player can do.

So, without further delay, let’s examine five things that will help players stay cool on the golf course and beat this heat.

5. A Good hat to shade you from the sun and a solid SPF

The first step to staying cool on the golf course is wearing a hat that will shade you from the sun. Don’t forget the sunscreen, either. Both are needed to not only stay cool but protect your skin.

Bucket hats are great for shading your face and neck. Joel Dahmen wears one after having cancer earlier in his life.

There are also options for breathable hats that help keep the head from overheating.

There are many different sunscreens on the market, but my favorite is the Super Goop. This company has mineral and regular sunscreen options.

SuperGoop, Golf — The SuperGoop Play Bundle | SuperGoop

Super Goop Sunscreen

SuperGoop is perfect for the golf course. It lasts a long time and is great with sweat. They have SPF 50 and 30, which is chock-full of antioxidants and other great ingredients for the skin.

The spray is great for the golf course, but they also have a fantastic mineral face and lip SPF product. We included the “Play Bundle” because it’s a great way to test the product.

Regardless of the sunscreen brand, having a hat and keeping the SPF on is crucial to enjoying golf this summer.

4. Hydration Tools

Purchase Liquid IV packets to put in water bottles or electrolyte tablets. Staying hydrated includes drinking water and replacing any lost electrolytes.

Purchase a pack of your favorite brand and stuff some of those into the golf bag. Having those on hand will be a lifesaver when an extra boost is needed.

3. Portable fan

A misting fan is incredible for the summer, especially while on the golf course. It keeps a steady breeze on you while providing a little spritz of water.

Portable Misting Fan

A portable misting fan that can be propped on the golf cart is essential during summer. This option has excellent reviews, and the price is not too steep.

People can also use wearable cooling devices. These gadgets sit around the necks and blow cool air around the head. Many women wore them at the Tour Championship last year, and they are another great option for staying cool while playing golf. If interested in one of those, here is the link for a portable neck fan.

2. Cooling Rags/ Cooler

Many people know about the Frogg Toogs Chilly Pad cooling towels, and it is time to buy one. Also, get a small cooler and keep ice in it. Drench the towel in water, and it will keep the heat away. These rags will keep you cool between shots and last for hours.

A cooler is great for snacks and drinks, but you can also throw in the towel to keep it colder longer.

1. Emotional Support Water

Stay cool on the golf course by purchasing a water bottle. Channel your inner Rickie Fowler and snag a 30-40oz bottle to carry with you. Do not forget those stickers, either—they are a necessity.

Fill it up often because staying hydrated is essential in the summer.

The heat can drain you quickly, so the more water, the better. A reminder, though: While many people like cold water, it can shock your system on a hot day. Room-temperature water may not be as refreshing, but it does help the most with hydration.

If you insist on cold water, remember to sip it. Do not chug it, as that can also cause issues.

Those are the things to do this summer to beat the heat and keep playing golf.

What do you do to keep cool while playing golf during the summer? Sound off below with your favorite tip.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

The NFL is inching closer and closer to an expanded schedule, which will likely mean an 18th game is coming in the not-so-distant future.

In an April interview with ESPN’s Pat McAfee, commissioner Roger Goodell said the conversation surrounding an extra game has already begun.

“If we got to 18 (regular season) and 2 (preseason games), that’s not an unreasonable thing,” Goodell said. “The other thing it does, [Super Bowl Sunday] ends on up Presidents’ Day weekend, which is a three-day weekend, which makes it Sunday night and then you have Monday off.”

When the league moved from 16 games to 17 in 2021, it gave the owners some leeway in trying to push for 18. However, the players pushed back and a compromise of 17 was agreed upon. But it’s only a matter of time before 18 is the new norm.

Once again, if the league adds another game, the players will need some type of compromise. There’s already pushback from players saying that a 17-game schedule is grueling enough, so some changes will have to be made if and when the league adds another game.

The NFL can also get creative when expanding to 18 games, so here are three ways the league’s schedule can change by adding an additional contest:

Labor Day Weekend Kickoff

Obviously, a week or two will have to be added in order to expand the schedule, and the easiest way is by starting the season a week earlier.

Let’s take this year’s calendar as an example: Labor Day is Sept. 2 on a Monday. But with a big kickoff weekend, let’s stretch this out as much as possible and get teams on national TV.

We can start with the annual Thursday night kickoff on Aug. 29 between the defending Super Bowl champions hosting an opponent of intrigue. Then, as seen with this year’s Friday night kickoff game, this turns into more of a weekend.

Saturday is for college football, as always. So the NFL takes a rest.

There are 14 remaining games up for grabs for Sunday and Monday, but these games can and should be spread out as much as possible. Let’s have a mere four games on in the early window, two games late, one for CBS and another for FOX, and a Sunday Night Football matchup on NBC in primetime.

And then, let’s repeat that on Monday. After all, it is a holiday, so football should be part of it.

This gives each fan base a chance to not only see their team on in a (mostly) uninterrupted setting, but it gives the national base a chance to see a bunch of games to kick off the season when there already is the added anticipation from preseason and training camp.

Add a second bye for all teams

Before 2002 when the NFL had 31 teams, it was customary for teams to have multiple bye weeks. So that should also be the case if the league adds one more game.

Teams should have a bye in October during Weeks 7-10, and another in December between Weeks 13-17.

In each bye week, two divisions, one from the AFC and one from the NFC, will all be totally off. Then they will each play a division rival the following week. This will eliminate any advantage with each team coming off a bye, and it also allows these teams to be as healthy as possible going into a divisional matchup.

With two bye weeks and 18 games, this means there will be 20 weeks of play during the regular season. The final week of games would take place on the third Sunday of January.

President’s Day Weekend Becomes Super Bowl Weekend

Every year, workers say that Super Bowl Monday should be a holiday, and this schedule change would (sort of) make that a thing — at least for people who don’t have to work on President’s Day.

If the playoffs didn’t start until the end of January, we’re looking at Conference Championships going into February and the Super Bowl would take place two weeks later on the Sunday of President’s Day Weekend.

Perhaps a schedule change like this would move the country one step closer to officially making Super Bowl Monday a national holiday.

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