Welcome to Stuff Golfers Should Know, a GOLF.com series in which we’re taking a departure from traditional swing instruction to reveal all kinds of other useful golf (and life!) wisdom that is sure to make you the smartest, savviest player in your foursome.
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Golfers don’t like blocks. But healthcare experts recognize their value. Blocks help protect against the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays, minimizing blotchiness, wrinkling and burning. They can even help reduce the risk of skin cancer.
We’re speaking, of course, about sunblocks. Here are five worth keeping in your bag.
Skinnies Sungel SPF 30
Many sunscreens are composed of up to 50 percent water, sometimes more. Water does nothing to protect against the sun. Skinnies Sungel has no H20. As its name suggests, it’s a concentrated gel, so it stays on your skin longer than some water-diluted sunscreens. Plus, as the brand boasts, a little bit of it goes a long way.
Infused with a medley of electrolytes that help nourish skin, this sweat-and-water-resistant sunscreen has all of the broad-spectrum safeguards you could ask for. It’s also oil-free and non-greasy, so you won’t lose your grip.
Not that you plan on leaving dry land, but it’s still nice to know that your sunscreen is made with reef-safe ingredients. Good for the environment, All Good is also good for your body. It uses non-nano zinc oxide, which forms a protective barrier against the sun without absorbing into your skin. Another eco-conscious note: All Good can be bought in bulk and refilled in the same container when you run out.
Unless you earn a living as a mime, you don’t want to go around looking like one. Native offers 100-percent zinc-oxide safeguards in a non-greasy formula that rubs in easily. Ideal lightweight, unscented protection from the sun.
Goes on light, stays on long. Bravo Sierra is fragrance-free, cruelty-free and reef-friendly. Developed through field-testing on active members of the U.S. military, it stands up to rugged, sun-bleached conditions. Five percent of proceeds from its sales goes toward a nonprofit supporting military service members, veterans and their families.
A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.