5 Things Every Golfer Should be Prepared for on the Course

Think back to your old Boy Scouts days. Do you remember the motto?

“Be Prepared.”

The same goes for your four hour round on the course.

In those rare times when we’re faced with a torrential downpour, a splitting migraine, or a dead cell phone, being prepared with the proper supplies can go a long way towards staying focused and keeping our game on track.

Conversely, not being prepared for battle on the course could hamper a great round, so make sure you’re ready for anything by adding these items to your bag.

Weather

• Umbrella: We often see far to many golfers either neglecting to add an umbrella to their bag. Trust us, the time to remember an umbrella is not when the skies open up and you’re 20-minute walks from the closest shelter. Most modern umbrellas don’t weigh that much and cost less than $20. The key is remembering to add one to your bag when well before you get caught in a downpour. If you’re looking to make a statement umbrellas can even make a great golf outing giveaway and you can personalize them at a reasonable price.

• Towel: Towels can be used to clean clubs and even wipe your hands of sweat on those hot summer days, but having an extra dry towel or two packed away in a waterproof pocket (or ziplock bag) can prove to be a lifesaver on a wet, rainy day. Of course it’s always great idea to have a club towel clipped to your bag, but it’s also a wise idea to carry a few small washcloth-size towels as well. During a real wet round you can use wrap one of these small washcloths around your grip to get a better hold of the club.

• Sunscreen: The sun can be your best friend or your biggest enemy when you’re out on the course. We’re all aware of the skin damage that sun can cause, and sometimes we get so locked in on our game, we forget to apply our sunscreen. It doesn’t take much to protect you from dangerous skin diseases with simply adding a travel size sunscreen to the side pocket, or even clipping something like this right on your bag so you don’t forget it.

• Rain Jacket: Purchasing a lightweight rain slicker is a great idea and could easily be folded and tucked away in your bag in hopes you’ll never have to pull it out! Don’t spend a ton of money on this since you may only use it once or twice per season.  As some golf rain jackets range from $150-$300, we found one for you on Amazon that will do the trick for about $40.

Pain / Ailments

• Over-the-Counter Pain Killers:  We’ve all been there, a few holes in and your back is acting up or our head is splitting from the heat (or that tequila from last night). The fastest way to a blow-up hole is an injury, headache, joint pain, or any other distraction that can completely shift your focus. It’s simple enough to through a bottle of Tylenol or Advil in your golf bag for future use. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did when the aches and pains sneak up on you.

• Basic First Aid Kit: You’re bag doesn’t need to look like the supply closet at your local hospital, but make sure you have a few basic first aid items tucked away somewhere in your bag. Bee stings, scrapes, cuts, poison ivy, and countless other minor injuries can happen out there. Don’t let issues like this ruin your round when a simple band-aid could have gotten you patched right up. A simple $5 First Aid Kit with all of the essentials is a perfect solution.

Thirst / Hunger

• Electrolytes: Have you ever started your round off with an amazing score only to have it all slip away from you because you’re dragging hard on the back nine? Without proper hydration you can easily lose focus, cramp up, and develop a monster headache. A an easy fix for this is bringing a couple of bottles of Gatorade, Vitamin Water, or PowerAde along with you on a hot day. Don’t assume the course will have water available. The last thing you want to do is be stuck out in a four hour round with nothing to quench your thirst.

• Nourishment: Just like staying hydrated, our bodies need physical nourishment for energy. The easiest way to prepare for this is to put some protein bars, granola bars, or even a banana in your bag. Here again, a little thinking ahead goes a long way. Don’t rely on remembering every time. Instead, simply buy a box of healthy, non-persishable snacks and throw a few in your bag. You’ll be pleasantly surprised the next time hunger strikes and you remember you have a granola bar on deck! Remember that you burn over 1000 calories when walking 18 holes. Simple replenishment will keep your muscles and mind working the way they should.

Technology

• Cell Phone Charger: For good or for bad the reality is that our cell phones rarely leave our side, and the same is true even during most of our golf rounds. Whether you’re on the phone to check in with the office or using it to run your favorite golf apps (here are a few of our favorites) the last thing you want is a dead battery. With that in mind, a fun and helpful little device to stow away in the bag is a phone charger for your golf cart…yes they do exist! We recently discovered the Golf Cart Phone Charger by GimmeCharge ($58), and it’s been a life saver on more than one occation. The simple tool adapts to your golf cart and can be used to charge just about any device (phone, sky caddie, etc) that uses a USB port. And for all you walkers out there, something like the Anker Astro Mini Portable Charger provides a great way to juice your devices back up mid-round.

• GPS Device: Nowadays it seems that when it comes to rangefinding, your GPS options are seemingly unlimited. From free apps to super high-tech GPS watches, and even pinpoint accurate lasers, there is no limit to the number of ways you can lock in your yardage. Check out our recent Top 5 GPS Devices breakdown here for more on this.

Competition

• Cash: Just because you paid your greens fees with the reliable plastic, doesn’t mean you won’t need cash on the course, and when your foursome decides to play a friendly skins game you don’t want to be the only guy in the group without a dollar in your pocket. It’s also wise to keep some cash on hand for tipping (if you’re not sure about tipping, we’ve got the ultimate golf tipping guide already laid out for you here). Either way, it doesn’t hurt to keep five or ten bucks in your pocket for when these situations pop up.

So, did we miss anything? Let us know what items you keep handy to be prepared for anything by leaving us a comment below.

(Cover Photo Credit)