Sun Safety for Junior Golfers: Protecting Kids on the Course
Golf means hours outdoors in Australian sun - here's how parents can properly protect junior golfers on the course.
Golf is one of the more sun-exposed junior sports - a round can take three to four hours, much of it in open, unshaded fairways, often across the middle of the day when UV levels in Australia are at their highest. Good sun safety habits are just as important a part of preparing a junior golfer as their swing technique.
Sunscreen that actually holds up over a round
Broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen applied at least fifteen to twenty minutes before stepping onto the course gives it time to bind to the skin properly. Because a round is long, reapplication matters - pack a travel-size bottle in the golf bag and reapply roughly every two hours, or sooner if your child has been sweating heavily. Don't forget commonly missed spots: the back of the neck, ears, and the tops of the feet if wearing low socks.
Clothing and hats as a first line of defence
A wide-brimmed hat offers meaningfully better coverage for the face, ears and neck than a cap alone, though many kids prefer a cap for comfort and style - either is far better than no hat. Lightweight, collared shirts with a bit of UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating add another layer of protection with minimal extra effort, and quality sunglasses reduce glare and UV exposure to the eyes over a long round.
Timing rounds and tournaments around UV levels
Where there's flexibility, earlier tee times avoid the most intense midday UV window. This isn't always possible for club events and tournaments, which are often scheduled around club and course availability rather than sun exposure, but it's worth keeping in mind for casual practice rounds and lessons where you do have some choice.
Watching for heat stress, not just sunburn
Sun safety on the golf course isn't only about skin protection - heat and dehydration matter just as much over a long round. Encourage regular water breaks even when your child doesn't feel thirsty, and know the signs of overheating: flushed skin, headache, unusual tiredness or dizziness. If any of these appear, get your child into shade, cool them down and offer water immediately, and don't hesitate to withdraw from a round or event if symptoms don't settle quickly.
If you're prepping a kit list for an event, our tournament packing guide covers sun protection alongside everything else worth bringing.
Is golf riskier for sun exposure than other junior sports?
It can be, mainly because of duration rather than intensity - a golf round is typically longer than a game of most other junior team sports, and much of the course offers little natural shade. That makes consistent habits (hat, sunscreen, reapplication, hydration) more important in golf than in shorter, more shaded activities, even though the actual sun intensity on any given day is the same for every outdoor sport.