THERE isn’t much worse than looking forward to an early morning tee time, only to get onto the course and start sneezing uncontrollably. Like golf needed to be any more difficult? Golf course allergens from flowers, weeds, grass and trees might be affecting your game.
“What causes allergies is the body’s immune system reacting to the pollen,” says Dr Ara Suppiah, whose patients include several allergy sufferers on the US PGA Tour, such as Gary Woodland and Englishman Ian Poulter. “What happens is, your immune system goes on red alert, and it causes things such as sneezing, itching and watery eyes. But most important, it disrupts your sleep cycle.
“In addition to feeling bad, you might have your energy zapped on the golf course.”
Suppiah suggests following this defence plan for a better round of golf during allergy season. It starts the night before you play.
10–11 pm
Take diphenhydramine (Benadryl or generic). This antihistamine is sedating and counters the allergic reactions, like post-nasal drip, that keep you from having a good night’s sleep. Even if you weren’t outside much that day, the dust mites in your house can exacerbate your symptoms on the golf course.
6–9am
Take cetirizine (Zyrtec or generic). This antihistamine treats the classic reactions (sneezing, watery eyes, etc.) but won’t make you drowsy. Don’t think you need it? Try focussing over a putt when your eyes look and feel like you just watched the ending of Marley & Me.
10am–12pm
Tee off. The last thing you want to do is play while the maintenance crews are grooming the course, which typically happens first thing in the morning. If that’s not the case at your course, find out when they’re cutting grass, etc and schedule around it.
12–2 pm
While on the front nine, wash your hands and face with wipes (easily stored in your golf bag) or a clean, wet towel. Walking down the fairway on a high-pollen day can be like walking into a community of allergies.
1–3 pm
Wash again on the back nine, and consider changing your shirt: Any pollen that has settled onto the collar can give you fits. Also, a nasal decongestant (Claritin-D) and/or eye drops (Visine) can help.
4–5 pm
Take a shower. Pollen is in your hair and under your fingernails, among other places. Scrub down, and you’ll feel a lot better.
Bonus tips:
Your body is constantly fighting off allergies by using enzymes to break down the large amounts of histamine formed by your immune system. But sometimes you don’t have enough enzymes for the cleanup, and the reaction doesn’t subside. You can keep enzyme levels high by using supplements known as diamine oxidase and histamine N-methyltransferase. Just consult your doctor before taking them. “The last resort, when nothing else seems to help, is an allergy shot,” Suppiah says. “It can give you six weeks of quality time outdoors. Might be the best thing for an upcoming mates golf trip.”
