In a groundbreaking move, the Delaware State Women’s Golf Team has become the first U.S. golf team to participate in the Todd Keirstead Sun Safety Seminar, a pioneering initiative designed to educate athletes on the dangers of prolonged sun exposure and the importance of UV protection, not just during their playing careers, but for the rest of their lives.
With golfers spending countless hours exposed to harmful UV rays, understanding how to protect their skin is just as essential as perfecting their swings. The team’s participation in this seminar marks a proactive step toward ensuring that these athletes are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to safeguard their health both on and off the course.
A Crucial Step Toward Long-Term Health
The idea for the seminar stemmed from Todd Keirstead’s personal journey as a skin cancer survivor and advocate. “Having spent decades in the golf industry, I have witnessed firsthand how golfers, professionals, and amateurs alike, often overlooked proper sun protection, unaware of the cumulative damage caused by years of UV exposure,” says Keirstead. “My mission became clear, to educate and empower golfers to take sun safety as seriously as they do their training and competition.”
When Coach Craig Bowen and the Delaware State Women’s Golf Team learned about the initiative, they immediately recognized its importance. Golf demands mental focus, physical endurance, and technical precision, but none matters if players don’t care for their health. By participating in the Todd Keirstead Sun Safety Seminar, the team is taking a leadership role in prioritizing skin cancer awareness in collegiate golf.
Todd Keirstead recently presented his Sun Safety Seminar at the 2025 Orlando PGA Show, at the Orlando Convention Center with overwhelming success.
Key Areas of Focus
The seminar is a comprehensive program that combines education, prevention strategies, and practical applications to help athletes make sun safety a daily habit. Some of the core topics covered include:
1. The Real Risks of UV Exposure in Golf
Many young athletes assume that skin cancer is something that only affects older individuals. However, research shows that one in four American golfers will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and athletes who spend extensive time outdoors, like golfers, are at even greater risk. Players learn how even one severe sunburn can double their chances of developing melanoma and why consistent protection is crucial.
2. Smart Sun Protection Strategies for Golfers
The seminar provided practical, easy-to-follow strategies to reduce UV exposure while maintaining peak performance. Topics included:
– The importance of broad-spectrum sunscreen and proper application techniques
– Choosing UV-protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses
– Understanding peak sun hours and how to adjust practice schedules accordingly
– The benefits of seeking shade and using sun sleeves or umbrellas during play
3. The Long-Term Impact of Sun Safety
Beyond the immediate risks of sunburns and heat exhaustion, Keirstead emphasized the long-term consequences of neglecting UV protection. Many professional golfers have had to undergo skin cancer treatment, including major surgeries, due to years of unprotected sun exposure. By building sun-safe habits now, Delaware State’s players are not only protecting their current health but also investing in their long-term well-being.
4. Breaking the “Tough It Out” Mentality
In sports, there’s often a culture of endurance and perseverance, where athletes push through discomfort without thinking about long-term consequences. Many golfers shrug off sun exposure, assuming that “a little tan” is harmless. The seminar works to shift that mindset, helping players understand that sun damage is cumulative and that prevention is far easier than treatment.
Empowering a Generation of Sun-Smart Golfers
For Coach Craig Bowen, integrating this seminar into the team’s preparation was a no-brainer. “Todd Keirstead’s Sun Safety Seminar is vital for educating our team on UV protection now and building lifelong habits,” says Coach Bowen. “As athletes spending hours in the sun, learning proper skin care today helps prevent future health risks, allowing us to stay healthy and continue playing the game we love. It’s about ensuring these players have long, healthy lives beyond their time on the course.”
Leading the Charge for Change in College Golf
By embracing the Todd Keirstead Sun Safety Seminar, the Delaware State Women’s Golf Team is leading the way for other college programs to take sun protection seriously. Their participation is more than just an educational session, it’s a statement that health and safety must be prioritized alongside performance.
This initiative is just the beginning of what could be a transformative movement in collegiate and professional golf. As more teams recognize the importance of UV protection and skin cancer awareness, the hope is that sun safety will become as commonplace as stretching before a round.
For the Delaware State Women’s Golf Team, this seminar is more than just an event, it’s the start of a lifelong commitment to sun safety, ensuring that today’s athletes can continue playing the sport they love for years to come, without the shadow of preventable skin cancer looming over them.
