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 (Photo: Getty Images/Ryan McVay/Digital Vision) But too much fun beneath the sun also can lead to serious health problems. “It’s amazing to me that even though there is a lot of knowledge about the incidence of skin cancer in this country, cases are actually increasing,” said Mark Wishner, founder of the Sun SafeTee Program, a San Diego-based organization seeking to help golfers by protecting their skin. “Roughly speaking, more than a million people will be diagnosed with some kind of skin cancer this year, and about 12,000 people will die, primarily of melanoma, one of the most lethal forms of skin cancer.” Scaring the golfing public is not what he, or his group, is about, Wishner said. “It’s about educating people who play golf, in order that they can enjoy a lifetime of playing the game,” he said. The Sun SafeTee Program has a connection with one golfer who spent a lot of time in the sun — San Diego golf legend Gene Littler, whose son, Curt, is a dermatologist and Sun SafeTee board member. “Education is the key to both preventing skin cancer and for getting timely treatment,” Curt Littler said. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, making it a good time to remind golfers of ways they can reduce their exposure to harmful UV rays. The easiest way to avoid skin problems also is the most burdensome for golfers: stay out of the sun, particularly in the peak sun hours between 10 a.m and 4 p.m. But, unless you’re teeing off at 5 a.m., it’s doubtful your round will be done by 10 a.m., so the most effective way to minimize the sun’s rays is to apply sunscreen on any exposed area of your body. Wishner said it’s important to apply your first coat of sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before teeing off, and keep the product in your golf bag so you can apply more at the turn. “That’s the biggest misnomer, even for people who use it,” Wishner said of sunscreen. “They think they can put it on at 8 a.m. and it will last all day. But it lasts only two to three hours under the best conditions. And on a golf course, the amount you perspire and the altitude can affect its impact.” One reason some golfers don’t like sunscreen is that they fear it will make their hands feel greasy. “If you apply it 30 minutes before your round, there’s plenty of time for it to dry off, and there are many products that can just be sprayed on, so that concern doesn’t really fly,” Wishner said. Clothing also can reduce excessive sun exposure — long-sleeved shirts, long pants and hats are helpful, but avoid baseball caps and straw hats. You want a wide-brimmed hat and material that blocks the sun. “Just hold the hat up to the sun and if light doesn’t penetrate, it will help,” said Wishner, who was successfully treated for skin cancer when he was 15. “And you want a wide brim because some of the areas where skin cancer is most likely to pop up are the lips and ears, areas that you sometimes miss when applying sunscreen.” The Sun SafeTee organization has worked with the Southern California PGA and the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, showing up at junior golf tournaments and distributing informational pamphlets to juniors and their families. “A lot of kids play golf in the summer months and during the afternoons, so that’s why it’s so important to get the message out to them,” Wishner said. The goal is to become a nonprofit foundation with a national presence that works with major golf tours to educate the public, he said. For more information, visit sunsafetee.org. |
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