As most golfers know, mosquitoes are just another hazard to deal with when out on the golf course. They’re as inevitable as a missed 3-foot putt, so knowing how to prepare for them before you step out on the links is almost as important as practicing your back swing.
Avoid The Fescue
Easier said than done, we know! Golf balls and the rough go together like mosquitoes and… well, nothing goes together with mosquitoes, but you get the point! Deep shrubbery and foliage give mosquitoes a dark, humid environment to hang out in, so if you’re having a mosquito problem on the golf course, we’d bet that you’ll find a few hanging out on the underside of foliage leaves in out of bounds areas or by water hazards. If possible, try to keep the ball on the fairway, so aim to avoid spending too much time fishing for balls in the water hazard. You’re basically a walking buffet for hungry mosquitoes when playing around these areas.
Stay Away From Dark Clothing
Sometimes, the clothes you wear can explain why you’re getting more mosquito-attention than those around you. Time and again, research has shown that mosquitos are attracted to dark colours including blue, so try and stay away from them if you can.
Mosquitos love sweat
Humans release lots of goodies through our skin that mosquitoes love almost as much as us golfers love birdies. When we sweat, we emit lactic acids, which mosquitos seek out and get drawn in by from the tall grass and wooded areas on the golf course. So try to be relaxed and not to break a sweat.
Use The Spray
Using repellent is a tried and tested way to protect your skin from skeeter bites on the golf course. But don’t just buy anything; make sure you purchase a repellent that has DEET. Products containing DEET – such as liquids, lotions, and sprays – are designed to be applied directly to the skin. DEET makes it harder for mosquitoes and ticks to smell you, since our lactic acids and carbon dioxide are a good indicator that we’re around. DEET confuses their senses, which is why it’s so effective.
Bug Spray Harms grass
Most golfers do not know that their insect repellent will harm turf, especially when directed at legs and ankles. The overspray usually leaves a pattern of a green footprint or footprints surrounded by straw-colored injured turf.Turf crews work really hard at getting that carpet feel grass that golfers love so much. When you’re spraying on that bug spray for protection, it’s also showering the grass around you. It takes less than a day for that spray to ruin all those hours of hard work and leave your footprints behind. The solution to this problem is to spray legs and ankles on a cart path or other non-turf surface where the overspray will not contact grass. Depending on conditions and the amount of spray on the grass, these spots usually recover in 1-4 weeks. In extreme cases, though, they can result in the death of the patch of turf. Please be vigilant and use the spray in the parking lot or on paved pathways. The maintenance crews will thank you and other golfers as well. Enjoy your summer and stay bug free.