FROM THE NEWSROOM

Everything under the
sun is in harm's way

TravelGolf.com Staff Report

SPRING LAKE, N.J. (Sept. 24, 2003) -- Avid golfers with a slew of tremendous courses to choose from, don't readily forget the game's essentials: top-notch golf clubs, comfortable golf shoes, a fresh golf glove and virgin balls right out of the sleeve. Truth be told, however, most diehard duffers forget something even more important when heading out to play -- proper protection from the sun.

From the pine-packed fairways of the North Carolina Sandhills to the sizzling Sonoran Desert of Scotsdale, the summer sun can beat down without relent. A common sight -- from coast to coast - is men, women and junior strolling red-faced down a sunsplashed fairway after four-plus hours in the blistering sun.

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They are placing themselves at elevated risk for a potentially deadly disease if they aren't practicing proper skin care. Nearly 10,000 people in the United States died of skin cancer last year.

But the good news is, you can protect yourself with some easy precautions.

On particularly sunny days, one of the easiest -- and most stylish -- things you can do is wear a hat. PGA Tour pro Briny Baird frequently dons one of the wide-brimmed Panama-variety, which provides him excellent protection from the sun's damaging UV rays. Broad-brimmed hats made from a close-weave fiber offer a tremendous shield for your face and neck.

Another easy way to protect your skin is to wear lightweight, long-sleeve shirts and pants. Made with fabrics like cotton, hemp and linen, they will help keep you cool and protect your skin. This is especially true of dark colors, which reflect the invisible radiation that can penetrate skin, contributing to discoloration, wrinkles, sunburn and even skin cancer.

Protection from UV rays is also important when it comes to your eyes. Sunglasses not only look cool, the right kind can also block out 100 percent of UV rays. There are many brands and styles in a wide price range that can do just that.

Sunscreen, on the other hand, can't block 100 percent of UV rays from reaching your skin. But it's proper use is still the most important sun protection measure you can take.

Sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or more offers you maximum effectiveness, blocking out 96 percent of UV. An SPF 15 will block out 93 percent.

One skin-protection company -- Proderma -- even makes a line of sun and skin-care products formulated specifically for golfers. It also features the only sunscreen and other SPF skin products for golfers to earn the The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation for safety and effectiveness. The Skin Cancer Foundation is a New York City-based non-profit organization. Proderma's nine-product line is used by more than 100 PGA Tour pros, top college golf programs, and features SPF 30 sunscreen, lip balm and face stick.

You should apply sunscreen before your round and at the turn. Sunscreen is much more effective if applied every two hours or so.

Taking some or all of these precautions the next time you tee it up will certainly help protect you from the sun's hidden dangers. And as we head into the fall remember that UV radiation is everpresent -- even on cooler days. So don't let down your guard and protect yourself before you tee it up.

For more information on Proderma skin products, log on to prodermaproducts.com, or call (800) 447-3035.

Proderma for Golfers Launches ForeWardEducational Program to Protect Golfers from Sun in Fall and Winter

SPRING LAKE, N.J. (Sept. 24, 2003) -- Proderma, maker of the only line of sun and skin-care products formulated specifically for golfers, today announces the launch of a "ForeWardeducational campaign to reduce the incidence of skin cancer among golfers in the Fall and Winter.

Proderma has produced literature about the effects of the suns damaging rays on cooler days in Fall and Winter, as well as tips about applying sun-blocking formulas. Prodermas literature is available at more than 2,000 golf shops that carry Proderma products, or by visiting prodermaproducts.com or calling 1.800.447.3035.

The ForeWard program was created after Prodermas survey of golfers determined they overwhelmingly take for granted the suns damaging effects on their skin when the temperature drops.

Golfers are vulnerable to skin cancer in all types of weather, particularly during fall and spring when they think theyre not at danger any longersays Dan Brown, Vice President of Golf Operations for Proderma. Its our mission to save lives by forewardingeducational information like this.

Additional protective and preventativeeducational campaigns exclusively engineered by Proderma are in effect with PGA Magazine, PGA sections and the PGA Tours First Tee program.

Prodermas golfer-specific products are breakthrough because theyre designed to promote secure gripping of clubs through their natural, non-greasy ingredients. Theyre odorless, discourage insects and provide 24-hour preventative and therapeutic protection and skin-cell replenishment.

Proderma's nine-product line features SPF 30 Sunscreen, Windscreen, Hand Lotion, SPF 18 Facial Moisturizer, SPF 18 Body Lotion, SPF 30 Lip Balm, SPF 30 Face Stick, Burn Gel, and Moonscreen (works overnight for morning tee times).

Proderma features the only SPF 30 products for golfers to earn the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation for safety and effectiveness after passing a series of stringent scientific examinations. This is critical given the substantial time golfers are exposed to the suns damaging rays and other outdoor elements that lead to more than $1 billion spent annually on skin-cancer surgery. The Skin Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City.

About Proderma Sun & Skin Care Products

Proderma's exclusive sun and skin care products from Spring Lake, NJ-based 19th Hole Products, LLC, deliver protection from exposure to sun and wind, anytime, anywhere, as well as the everyday effects of aging. All ingredients used in Proderma products were carefully chosen to blend the best of cosmetic, herbal, and scientific knowledge. Nutritive, restorative herbal extracts promote skin conditioning and natural moisturizing. Antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E help to protect skin against the cumulative effects of sun exposure. Allantoin, tree tee oil, and ginseng help speed up and promote the skin's natural healing process.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.