(Staff Note: Don really enjoys your comments, but can't possibly answer all of them personally. He'll continue to share some of his answers on these pages. Virtually all topics are covered in our DVD series and Foundations manual. So keep those comments coming!)
I am at Harbour Town Golf Links Thursday Morning at 6:45 AM to meet D.J. for breakfast and then watch him as he goes through his practice sessions before teeing it up in the first round of the Verizon Heritage.
After breakfast DJ first heads to the putting green.
His caddy, Todd, always has a 6 to 9 foot straight putt marked with an orange (Clemson) chalk line waiting for him.
He will usually start with putts in the 3 to 4 foot range.
He likes to make at least 50 in a row before moving on to hitting lag putts from hole to hole and working on breaking putts, both long and short.
From the putting green he heads to the range to loosen up.
He usually starts with a 9 or 8 iron, saving his sand wedge for last before heading to the sand trap for greenside bunker shots to end the session.
During these warm-ups I usually am mostly a cheerleader, complimenting and psyching him up.
I will only make setup or swing comments if he asks or if something is glaringly wrong, which is rare, as we work out problems after playing when at tournaments, so things should be good the next day.
From the driving range it's back to the putting green and then to the first tee as soon as the group ahead is walking off.
As he leaves, I shake his hand or pat him on the shoulder and say my playing mantra to him, 'F & G'¦P!' Fairways and Greens'¦Patience!
I then go to the tee and blend in with the crowd to follow him, watching and tracking his stats and taking notes on things to talk about and work on after the round.
Don Trahan shows up, and we walk together down the first fairway.
We talk mostly about the PPGS web site, what my next daily article will be about, but we keep a sharp eye on DJ and I keep up on my stats and notes.
DJ starts par, birdie, par.
As we walk to the par 3 fourth hole that is a half island surrounded on the front to the left back with water, we see the pin is tucked back left.
Tup's first comment is it is a 'Super Sucker Pin' (I'll cover that in another daily article) and I agree with his assessment.
DJ hits his tee ball 20 to 25 feet right to the center of the green and two putts for par.
Now, to get to the point of the title of this article:
With his two playing partners still to putt out, he walks off the green, reaches into his bag and pulls out a tube of sunscreen and proceeds to start covering up his face, ears, neck, then his arms and back of his hands.
Tup comments, it is good that he is covering up, but why does he always wait to do it on the course?
Why doesn't he keep it near the sink and put it on in the bathroom after he shaves.
I replied, maybe he wants to send a good message to all the fans.
Yes, without a doubt, using sunscreen is sending a good message.
Every golfer should use it when playing golf and, for that matter, any time when out in the sun for long periods.
Oh, Tup's comment about putting it on at home or in the locker room is a good one. My dermatologist recommends that, because it has more time to soak in and be more effective. DJ and I both use real high SPF rated sunscreens of 30 or more and mostly only SPF 50 for maximum protection.
My dermatologist also recommends re-applying if it is hot and you are sweating a lot.
Being a golf instructor and spending eight or more hours a day on the lesson tee, and hopefully playing a few holes, I am in the category of extreme sun exposure.
I get a check-up twice a year (spring and fall) with my dermatologist.
A few years ago I got a good scare when she told me that I had a basil cell carcinoma on my right cheek that had to be removed and checked for cancer.
Thankfully, it was benign.
I have always worn a visor or hat to teach and play.
Since the basil cell scare, I now wear bucket hats with at least a 3 inch brim when I teach to keep the sun off all of my face and neck.
But for years I was lazy or careless in screening up before going out in the sun.
I paid the price, but lucked out with my first scare.
My last visit in March, she burned off 5 spots on my face and one on my ear, and overall I checked out OK on my legs, back and chest.
So, play and practice smart by screening yourself with a sunscreen of at least an SPF of 30 or more.
And if you start using my Peak Performance Golf Swing DVD's (and thus, spending even MORE time in the sun playing and winning golf like never before) PLEASE'¦ PLEASE'¦see your dermatologist regularly, a minimum of once a year.
The Surge!