Each part of the day entices differently: early morning, noon, late afternoon, early evening. The sections of day possess unique and very subtle appeal. Who would understand those nuances better than the golfer?

We at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club find outdoor activities the centerpiece of good living; after all, this is not called the Sunshine State so that we can stay indoors.

As long as the sun moves across the blue sky, golfers will continue to discover the most opportune time for golfing (some have even taken to the night). Is it at the break of dawn when the day seems still and outdoor life is just beginning to stir? How about midday when the sun glares brightly straight overhead? Or late afternoon as the horizon begins to loosen up and even the atmosphere seems to recline and prepare for the coming darkness?

The early birds may prefer early morning’s lower temperatures and humidity levels, smaller crowds and better course conditions. Morning seems to project a sense of peace and hope.

Early Morning Golfing Only for The Most Devoted

Some experts advise against early-morning golf, saying your body isn’t quite equipped or your mind alert enough at the start of the day.

“From a circadian rhythm standpoint, 6:30 in the morning is the worst possible time to play golf,” Dr. Charles Czeisler told GolfNow®. “You will be less flexible, your coordination will be off a little, your judgment will not be as good, and your short-term memory would be affected.” Czeisler is a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard University.

Darrel Drobnich, the National Sleep Foundation’s former chief program officer, said the best play times are 9 – 11 a.m. or late in the afternoon. “There are two periods of the day when the body has less alertness,” Drobnich told Golf Digest. “One is midnight to 6 a.m. (and) the other is 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.”

Recent studies of athletes’ strength and flexibility purport that peak times may be in the late afternoon and early evening. A University of Texas professor of biomedical engineering, Michael Smolensky, asserts that performance levels are the highest in the late afternoon while joints and muscles are nearly 20 percent more limber in the early evening.

Here Comes The Sun

However, for the diehard early birds, researchers say exposure to the sun and bright lights helps readjust your biological clock to adapt more quickly to early times of the day.

Shawn Youngstedt, a University of South Carolina associate professor of earth science, told GolfNow® that exposure to the sun can have transformative effects. “It does not take a lot and can affect mood, behavior and function.”

Golden Ocala Golf Club offers players a 10-acre short game area with two practice holes and a driving range. The Golf Shop at Golden Ocala offers clubs, clothing and a wide variety of golf accessories, stocking only the finest in the sport. Private lessons are available with Golden Ocala’s PGA professional instructions, led by acclaimed golf instructors John Elliot Jr, Nick Montanaro and Daren Robinson.

Come and experience the sport of golf at its finest. Keep up with all of the latest news from Golden Ocala by following us on Facebook and Twitter.