UV radiation peaks in the four hours around solar noon, a window that a round on the course can span from start to finish. What the WHO recommends, what clubs require and how to plan a summer day.
A round of 18 holes lasts hours, almost always outdoors and with no continuous shade. In summer the sun is the first opponent, even before wind or water. It pays to know what the World Health Organization recommends, what club regulations say about headwear and how to shift play to avoid the hottest hours. For your own skin, a dermatologist remains the point of reference.
What the WHO recommends: the basic defences
In its fact sheet on ultraviolet radiation, the WHO lists these defences:
- Limit time in the midday sun, when UV exposure is at its highest.
- Seek shade whenever possible.
- Wear protective clothing.
- A wide-brimmed hat, to protect eyes, face, ears and neck.
- Wraparound sunglasses offering 99 to 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays.
- A broad-spectrum sunscreen on the parts that clothes do not cover: the WHO specifies that it works best alongside clothing and shade, not on its own.
Protection is recommended when the UV index is 3 or above. According to the WHO, again, the daily maximum occurs in the four hours around solar noon, which, depending on location and daylight saving time, falls between 12:00 and 14:00.
The hat on the course: what clubs say
On the course, a hat also has an etiquette side. The Golf Club Mare di Roma asks for informal but smart clothing and, among the things to avoid, lists T-shirts, non-golf caps and metal spikes. Headwear is therefore allowed as long as it is golf headwear. Elsewhere dress codes focus on the rest of the outfit: at Acquasanta, for instance, a polo shirt and long trousers or knee-length Bermuda shorts for men, a polo shirt and trousers, Bermuda shorts or a skirt for women.
The practical advice is simple: choose your hat as you would choose your polo, golf-style and with a brim, and when in doubt ask at the secretary's office.
Tee times: when to play in summer
Clubs adapt their hours to the season, and reading them helps in choosing a start time. A few examples:
| Club | Summer hours |
|---|---|
| Archi di Claudio Golf Club | 8 am to 8 pm in summer, 8 am to 6 pm in winter |
| Golf Club Mare di Roma | 8 am to 8 pm, every day, with tee times every 12 minutes |
| CUS Ferrara Golf Club | 8:30 am to 7:30 pm in summer |
| Canavese Golf & Country Club | 9 am to 7 pm, until 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays |
Opening hours are not sun advice, but they show that at these clubs opening runs until evening, so you can choose your playing window. To find out which tee times are free you need to book: at Mare di Roma tee times can be booked online up to six months ahead, or by phone and on WhatsApp.
Choosing a course at altitude
Another route is to move the holiday to where it is cooler. The Cansiglio Golf Club is played at 1,027 metres, among fir and beech forests, with a microclimate that, according to the club, stays cool even in high summer. The Golf Club Aosta-Arsanières, at 1,050 metres in the Great St Bernard Valley, is played in a microclimate that, according to the club, offers mild winters and cool summers. The Golf Club Alta Badia, at around 1,700 metres, has a short season: according to the tourist board, play runs from June to September or October.
Altitude does not cancel the sun: the criterion the WHO gives for protection is the UV index (3 or above), not temperature, so ask yourself how high the index is rather than how hot it feels.
Water and refreshments on the course
Some clubs organise on-course service. At the Golf Club Castelconturbia the golf cart with GPS costs 60 euros for 18 holes, with water and snacks included; at Chervò Golf San Vigilio a mobile buvette brings snacks and drinks to players directly on the course, so as not to interrupt play. At clubs that do not say, it is best to ask beforehand or bring your own water.
Frequently asked questions
What hat do I need to play golf in summer?+
The WHO recommends a wide-brimmed hat, which protects eyes, face, ears and neck. On the course choose golf headwear: the Golf Club Mare di Roma, for example, excludes non-golf caps.
When is the sun strongest?+
In the four hours around solar noon, which, depending on location and daylight saving time, falls between 12:00 and 14:00, according to the WHO.
Which sunglasses do I need?+
The WHO recommends wraparound sunglasses with 99 to 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays.
When is sun protection needed?+
The WHO recommends it when the UV index is 3 or above. To choose the sunscreen best suited to your skin, consult a dermatologist.
How late can you play in summer?+
It depends on the club: until 8 pm at Mare di Roma and Archi di Claudio, until 7:30 pm at CUS Ferrara, until 7 pm (8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays) at Canavese.
Is there drinking water on the course?+
It depends on the club: at Castelconturbia water and snacks are included with the golf cart, at Chervò San Vigilio there is a mobile buvette; elsewhere ask at the secretary's office.
