A Personal Wake-Up Call for Every Golfer Who Thinks the Sun Is Their Friend
I used to have red hair. That's the first thing my dermatologist noted during my most recent skin check — not with nostalgia, but with clinical significance. Fair skin. Red hair (even if it's mostly a memory now). A complexion that never tanned, only burned. The kind of skin that dermatologists point to when they explain who is most at risk.
Over the past several years, I've had precancerous spots treated on my face — actinic keratoses, the rough patches that are one step removed from squamous cell carcinoma. And I've had a basal cell carcinoma removed. These are the "better" skin cancers, the ones doctors use air quotes around when they say survivable. But there is no air-quotes version of the treatment: the scraping, the freezing, the Mohs surgery, the follow-up biopsies, the waiting. There is no casual version of cancer.
I'm writing this because most of the golfers I see on the course every Saturday morning are younger than me — and virtually none of them wear sunscreen. This article is for them.
WHAT UV IS ACTUALLY DOING TO YOUR SKIN
The sun emits two types of ultraviolet radiation that reach Earth's surface, and both are working against you on the course.
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UVB rays are the burn-causers — the shorter-wavelength radiation that penetrates the outer skin layer, directly damages DNA, and drives mutations that can turn into melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. They are 400 times more intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and peak in summer months.
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UVA rays are the long-game threat. They make up roughly 95% of all UV radiation reaching the ground, maintain roughly equal intensity throughout the day and all year long, and penetrate more deeply into the dermis. UVA generates oxidative stress and inflammation that accelerates skin aging and contributes to skin cancer. Unlike UVB, you don't feel UVA burning you. It works silently, and it passes through clouds and glass. If you're driving the cart, you're still getting dosed.
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Melanoma, the deadliest form, accounts for only about 4% of cases — but over 80% of skin cancer deaths. People with fair skin, red or blonde hair, and a history of sunburns are at significantly elevated risk.
DOES SUNSCREEN ACTUALLY WORK?
Yes. Emphatically.
The landmark evidence comes from the Nambour study — a long-term randomized controlled trial in Australia that tracked more than 1,600 people over years of daily sunscreen use. Those who applied it daily were half as likely to develop melanoma. A separate analysis cited by Stanford Medicine found that daily SPF 15 use lowered melanoma risk by 30%; regular use also significantly reduces basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and other keratinocyte cancers.
Stanford Medicine dermatologists are unambiguous: "Sunscreen is a safe, essential tool for preventing skin cancer, other skin disorders, and the overall effects of aging on the skin."
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) echoes this consensus, recommending that everyone — regardless of age, skin tone, or gender — use broad-spectrum, SPF 30+, water-resistant sunscreen whenever outdoors.
"Even the best sunscreen isn't bulletproof. A hat, shade, and sun-protective clothing are your first line of defense. Sunscreen protects what's left exposed."
— Rachel Neale, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SUNSCREEN
The label is your guide. The AAD's three non-negotiables: broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, water resistant. Here's what those terms mean in practice:
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Broad-spectrum means protection against both UVA and UVB. If the label doesn't say it, assume it doesn't provide it.
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SPF 30 blocks approximately 97% of UVB rays. SPF 50 blocks about 98%. The difference narrows quickly at higher numbers — but because most people apply too little, Stanford Medicine dermatologists recommend erring toward higher SPF to compensate.
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Water resistant means the product maintains its stated SPF for either 40 or 80 minutes of sweating or swimming. No sunscreen is "waterproof” — the FDA has prohibited that claim as misleading.
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Mineral vs. chemical: Mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on top of skin and physically scatter UV light. The FDA has confirmed these two as "generally recognized as safe and effective" (GRASE). Chemical sunscreens absorb UV into the skin and deactivate it; seven commonly used chemical filters — including oxybenzone and avobenzone — are still under FDA review for full safety classification. For sensitive skin, pregnancy, or children, mineral is the safer default. DermNet notes that mineral-only options are broadly preferred in reef-sensitive and ecologically protected areas.
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Tinted options add iron oxide pigments that block visible light — an underrated benefit for those with dark spots or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and a practical way to avoid the white cast that zinc oxide can leave.
Superintendent-Approved Picks for Greenside Protection
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EltaMD UV Sport Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 — Zinc oxide–only, water resistant 80 min, no white cast. Compact enough for a bag pocket. A dermatologist and course-staff favorite.
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Blue Lizard Sport SPF 50+ — Mineral-only with a UV-activated cap that turns blue in sunlight (a useful reminder for kids and forgetful adults). Water resistant 80 min.
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Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick — Clean mineral formula, fragrance-free, easy one-handed application between holes. No aerosol, no turf risk.
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Tinted Option — Supergoop! Mineral Sheerscreen SPF 30 Tinted: Iron-oxide formula that blocks visible light as well as UV. Great for faces with dark spots or sensitivity. No aerosol format.
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Lip Protection — Coola Sport Liplux SPF 50: Often overlooked; lips have no melanin protection and are a common site for squamous cell carcinoma.
What to avoid on the course: Any aerosol or spray format. The overspray goes where you don't.
WHAT TO AVOID
Oxybenzone is the ingredient most dermatologists flag first for patients with sensitive or allergy-prone skin, and some jurisdictions (Hawaii, Palau, the U.S. Virgin Islands) have banned it outright due to coral reef damage. If your skin stings after sunscreen application, look at the active ingredients — a mineral-only formula is often the fix.
Aerosol sprays deserve a special warning for golfers. DermNet reports that in winds of just 20 km/h (12 mph), up to 93% of aerosol sunscreen never makes contact with skin — it simply blows away. That's not just wasteful. On the golf course, that chemical mist is landing on greens, tees, and fairways.
Iowa State University Extension turfgrass research documented that chemical sunscreen — specifically a Coppertone Sport SPF 30 aerosol — caused visible browning of creeping bentgrass within hours of application, with some areas requiring up to 10 days to recover. DEET-based bug repellent, the other aerosol commonly deployed at the 19th tee box, caused severe, near-permanent turf damage in the same trials. A 2025 industry analysis by golf course superintendents found additional degradation of cart vinyl and club grips from the same chemical aerosol overspray.
Bottom line: Do not spray aerosol sunscreen or bug repellent while standing on the turf. Period.
"DEET and chemical aerosol sunscreen can brown out bentgrass within hours. Some spots never come back — they require reseeding."
— Iowa State University Extension Turfgrass Research
COMPLEMENTARY PROTECTIONS
Sunscreen is not the whole strategy. Stanford Medicine dermatologists recommend layering:
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UPF clothing (rated UPF 30 or higher) physically blocks UV before it reaches skin. Long-sleeve performance golf shirts in moisture-wicking fabric now offer this at no comfort penalty.
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Wide-Brim hats (3-inch brim minimum) protect the scalp, ears, and back of neck — the three most-missed zones in skin cancer diagnosis. For those of us whose scalp is no longer shielded by hair, this is non-optional.
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Sunglasses rated UV400 or "100% UV protection" shield the eyes and delicate periorbital skin, which is particularly vulnerable.
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Seek shade during peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when possible). On a golf course, that means being strategic about cart placement, using the tree line, and not lingering on exposed tee boxes unnecessarily.
PRACTICAL GREENSIDE APPLICATION TIPS
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Apply 15–30 minutes before sun exposure to allow chemical sunscreen to bind to the skin. Mineral sunscreen is effective immediately.
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Use the right amount: For the face alone, a nickel-sized dollop. For the full body, approximately one ounce — about a shot glass. Most people apply 25–50% of what's needed, effectively halving their stated SPF protection.
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Reapply every two hours, or immediately after towel-drying. FDA labeling regulations require this guidance on all sunscreen products. Reapplication does not "reset the clock" on UV damage already accumulated — it prevents further damage, which is why adequate application the first time matters.
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On aerosols: If you insist on a spray, apply it to your hands first, then rub it in. Never spray directly toward your face (inhalation risk), and never spray while standing on turf. The safest aerosol-free alternatives are mineral lotion sticks, which golf course superintendents now actively recommend as the preferred format.
"SPF is not a timer — it's a filter. There's no SPF level that makes all-day unprotected sun exposure safe."
— Stanford Medicine Dermatology
PRE-ROUND CHECKLIST — CLIP IT. KEEP IT IN YOUR BAG.
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[ ] Applied broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen 15–30 min before teeing off
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[ ] Used at least one full ounce on exposed body; nickel-sized dollop on face
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[ ] Wearing a wide-brim hat (3" minimum) covering ears and back of neck
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[ ] Wearing UPF-rated shirt or sun-protective clothing on shoulders and arms
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[ ] Sunglasses rated UV400 in the bag for the round
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[ ] Reapplication reminder set on phone for every 2 hours
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[ ] No aerosol sprays applied while standing on turf — sticks and lotions only
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[ ] Scheduled annual full-body skin check with a board-certified dermatologist
RESOURCES
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American Academy of Dermatology: aad.org/sunscreen
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Stanford Medicine Sun Safety: stanfordhealthcare.org (search "sun exposure facts")
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DermNet Sunscreen Overview: dermnetnz.org/topics/sunscreens
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Iowa State University Turfgrass Extension: turfgrass.extension.iastate.edu
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FDA Sunscreen Labeling Rules: 21 CFR § 201.327
Greenside News is not a medical provider. This feature is for educational purposes. Consult a board-certified dermatologist for personalized skin cancer screening and treatment guidance.
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