News | Skin Cancer: The biggest bogey on the golf course

Golfers around the country are being urged to 'play it safe' this summer as a new campaign hopes to highlights the increased danger of skin cancer for golfers.

?If you play golf, there's a good chance you'll get skin cancer? is the startling message of a new cancer screening campaign organised by Dublin?s mole screening clinic on Grafton Street, and supported by Halpenny Golf.

Leading experts warn that getting four to six hours of sun exposure from a round of golf, not wearing or reapplying sunscreen, teeing off mid-morning when the sun's rays are at their strongest, and having little or no shade (if you manage to stay on the fairways) are all factors that can contribute to the dangers of skin cancer for golfers.

Thankfully, the lads over at The Mole Screening Clinic on Grafton Street, are on hand to help. You see, they?re Ireland?s only dedicated melanoma detection clinic, so they know numerous ways in which golfers can protect themselves this summer.

Before you tee up make sure to wear protective lotion, a good hat, a pair of sunglasses and long sleeve shirts and pants, even if it?s a warm cloudy day.

According to Mike Malone, Managing Director of The Mole Screening Clinic, Irish blokes have a skin type that is more susceptible to skin cancer.

?Most of the Irish population are either skin type 1 or 2; which burns regularly and tans with difficulty, so unfortunately they are at greater risk of skin cancer.?? It is good to get out and about in the sun, and golf is great for fitness at any age, but we need to protect skin from the sun?s harmful rays at all times? he says.

So the next time you walk up to the 1st make sure you rub a bit of lotion in first. If you don?t, it could spell an early walk to the 19th (the big one in the sky that is).

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