Improve Your Long Game (IYLG) is a free sun protection program for golf clubs, aiming to improve sun protective behaviours of male recreational golfers aged 40+ years. The program supports clubs to embed sun protection by (i) providing resources that aim to increase knowledge and awareness among their members, guests, and staff; and (ii) providing free sunscreen at the 1st and 10th tees, supporting application and reapplication.
IYLG is an established program that has been implemented in New South Wales, since 2015. The IYLG program was piloted with 10 Western Australian golf clubs in 2022. The Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change was commissioned by Cancer Council WA to evaluate the IYLG pilot program in four clubs to determine if the program was impactful and suited to be scaled up for state-wide roll out. The evaluation comprised two parts: on-course observations of sun protective behaviours among golfers and an online survey of staff and players. While the primary focus of the IYLG program is males aged 40+, men and women of all ages were included to capture sun protective-related behaviours at the participating clubs.
Results indicated that exposure to the Improve Your Long Game (IYLG) program was associated with increased engagement in sun protective behaviours among golfers. IYLG was well-received by those who reported an awareness of the program, with high levels of personal relevance and believability. The program appeared to teach golfers something new and the learnings were often generalised to other areas of golfers’ lives.