The Melanoma Fund proudly welcomes Gregor Graham, a rising star in the world of golf, as its newest Sunguard ambassador.
With a commitment to promoting sun safety and skin cancer prevention, Gregor joins a distinguished team of sports and outdoor enthusiasts dedicated to championing sun safe outdoor practices.
Fresh off his victory at the South African Amateur Championship, Gregor has represented Scotland at every age level. Now in the Men’s Performance Squad, Gregor has just been selected to represent Scotland in the European Nations Cup, Sotogrande, Spain and has also been selected to be part of the 2024 Great Britain and Ireland Squad.
With a family history of melanoma and fair skin that is prone to sunburn, Gregor has a inbuilt, profound dedication to sun protection, which serves as inspiration for both young and seasoned golfers alike.
“As a golfer, I understand that sun and heat protection is vital for consistent performance but also for long-term health,” says Gregor. “I am honoured to join forces with The Melanoma Fund to raise awareness and encourage proactive sun safety measures within the golfing community and beyond.”
In his role as Sunguard ambassador, Gregor will actively engage in educational initiatives, especially as part of the charity’s Slip! Slap! Swing! campaign, outreach programmes, and advocacy campaigns aimed at fostering a greater understanding of sun protection in golf.
“We are thrilled to have Gregor Graham on board as part of our Sunguard ambassador,” says Michelle Baker, CEO of the Melanoma Fund. “His talent, enthusiasm, and commitment to sun safety make him a perfect fit for our mission, to protect lives through education and awareness, and with his career rising, he has the potential to create huge impact.”
Gregor regularly travels to warmer climes and understands the importance of not only protecting his skin, but acclimatising properly to the heat, to ensure he is in top form.
Here he provides more details about his sun protection routines, and the rationale behind them:
How do you build sun protection into your routines, both in practice and competing?
“This is something I take seriously. I’m always using a golf cap or wide brimmed hat when the sun is out, and the temperature is warm. I will always use SPF30+ sunscreen, applying before I start practicing and applying as the day goes on.
I will apply sunscreen before practicing or competing and where possible it is hot, I will always try and get time in the shade, whether that’s stopping to have my lunch, or staying in the shade under trees or umbrellas, when it’s not my shot.”
You have family history of melanoma. How has that motivated you to protect your skin?
“You shouldn’t mess with UV rays, skin cancer is a very real threat, and especially so for me, considering I have fair skin. A friend and fellow Scottish Golf performance player, and my Granny and Grampa, have all in the last few years been touched by melanoma. This has made me aware that it’s best to be safe than sorry, and to check my skin regularly. Early detection is vital, so be aware of any moles or lesions that are new or changing. Without health, what have you got?”
How can avoiding sunburn and overheating provide you with small gains around performance?
“I’ve seen it on several occasions, teammates, competitors either getting sunburned or dehydrated on the golf course. Both can be highly distracting and can weaken your performance. The pain due to sunburn can affect your swing and not drinking enough water, messes with your focus or concentration. In worse case scenarios, I’ve seen golfers withdraw from tournaments from these avoidable issues, so learning about how to stay healthy and safe is vital if you want to be successful.”
How you avoid a greasy grip and what has helped you build good habits and why?
“I apply sunscreen in the locker room after I have done my warmup and stretching, I can then wash my hands so to prevent greasy hands. When I reapply on the fairway, I always carry wipes, water bottles and towels, so again this is not issue with a greasy grip. Ther
e are some great formulations out there, including Stokoderm which the Melanoma Fund supply from their website, designed to eliminate a greasy grip.
How you feel your attitudes can influence and inspire young players around sun protection?
“Unfortunately, many golfers avoid sun protection and that can be due to not wanting a greasy grip, wanting to tan or simply not having established good habits. I feel I can create impact by inspiring and helping to educate younger people. To start, the most powerful thing I can do that by leading by example, which is more powerful than talking about it.”
I would like to see more professional golfers and other athletes talking about sun protection, and to be seen putting it on to inspire young people. It is great that the Melanoma Fund is working in golf and other sports, getting tournament officials and national governing bodies to raise awareness about the risks.
With skin cancer so prevalent in golf, this will serve and protect everyone in the game, and I am proud to be a active part of it.”
For further information about Sunguuard Ambassadors visit: https://www.melanoma-fund.co.uk
