When you think of hazards on a golf course, what comes to mind? Water, sand and trees? All of these can wreak havoc on your game, but what about those that put your safety and health at risk?
Grab your clubs and join us as we share our 18-hole “scorecard” of the most common golf course hazards – and tips to help you avoid them.
1. The sun’s ultraviolet rays: Chris Whitten, executive director of the Golf Association of Michigan advises applying sunscreen both before you hit the course and, if you’re playing 18 holes, reapplying it after the ninth hole. Some T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts are designed to provide UV protection, and wide-billed hats can keep the sun off your face and neck.
2. Clothing: GolfDigest.com says to choose breathable
clothing to help protect against heat illness, as well
as socks that keep your feet dry. Wet feet can lead to
blisters.
3. Shoes: When it comes to footwear, stability is key,
says physical therapist Ross Brakeville, owner of
Georgia Sports Medicine Specialists. “If you’re going to
walk or play golf, you need mobile feet,” he said. This
requires shoes that don’t allow your feet to move around
in them, which could lead to lower-body sprains.
4. Overexertion: You wouldn’t run a 5K race without
training, so don’t expect to play 18 holes without
building up your physical stamina. “The body hasn’t
prepared itself to meet the demands of the endurance
load,” Brakeville said. “That adds stress to the joints and
muscles.”
5. Muscle strains/tears: Before you take your first
swing, Brakeville recommends a five- to 10-minute
full-body warmup. “Put a golf club in your hand and
swing one handed from both sides,” he said. Then, from
a seated position, rotate your shoulders to the left and
right to loosen your back and shoulder muscles. Once
you’re out on the course, trying to crush your drive as
far as the eye can see can add stress to your joints, Mayo
Clinic says. To help avoid this, practice perfect posture:
avoid hunching your shoulders or standing too erect
while playing, Brakeville said. This can “lock” various
joints and lead to injury.
6. A heavy bag: Brakeville suggests removing excess
weight from your golf bag. “Many bags now have
harnesses to carry the bag across both shoulders,” he said.
This will distribute the weight you’re carrying more evenly.
7. Hands: The main reason golfers wear gloves, Golf
Channel Technical Adviser Frank Thomas said, is
to improve their grip on a club. This prevents a club
from slipping out of your hands and injuring yourself
or someone else. It also helps prevent blisters from
forming on your fingers and palms.
8. Equipment: Worn grips on clubs is one of the most
common safety failures. A cost-effective way of
restoring grips is washing them in soap and warm
water. “Let them dry overnight to retain some of their
original tackiness,” Whitten said.
9. Dehydration: Along with balls and tees, pack a
water bottle in your golf bag. “If you feel yourself
wearing down, you’re already dehydrated,” Whitten said.
10. Alcohol: Alcohol won’t replace the necessary fluids
your body loses when you sweat, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention cautions. It also
increases your potential for heat illness. Stick with water.
11. Weather/lightning: Weather apps are a must,
Whitten says, who adds that bad weather “has
become so much easier to track with cellphones.”
Lightning is a particular concern. According to
PGA.com’s GolfBuzz, some courses are equipped
with systems that sound an alarm when lightning is
detected in the area. If an alarm sounds, find a
designated shelter immediately. Don’t hide under
trees, near water or in a golf cart.
12. Uneven surfaces: Golf courses are designed to be a
challenge to navigate. When walking, use caution
when encountering elevated tee boxes, sunken sand
traps, berms and hilly terrain. Also, when approaching
water hazards, be extra careful because they may have
steep banks and the footing can be slick.
13. Golf carts: When you’re driving a cart, Whitten
recommends you avoid quick turns, stay on
designated paths, and approach hills and slopes with
caution – especially during a morning round. “That
wet turf and the smooth tires of golf carts can be a
dangerous combination,” he said.
14. Know your surroundings: Leave plenty of distance
between you and the group ahead of you to
avoid unintentionally hitting your ball at other golfers.
Also, look around before taking your swing – even in
practice – to make sure nobody is in your swing radius.
15. Wayward shots: “Nobody intends to hit a bad
shot, but we’re human,” Whitten said. That
makes communicating – yelling “Fore!” after hitting
an errant shot – with other people in the area very
important. This gives anyone in the potential path of
your shot a chance to take cover. Being aware of
golfers at neighboring holes also can keep you safe
from wayward shots, he said.
16. Wildlife: Just as you enjoy the serenity of a golf
course, so do snakes, alligators, skunks and other
members of the animal kingdom. “We’re really more
in their habitat than we are in ours,” Whitten said.
Stay aware of your surroundings and avoid approaching
wild animals.
17. Leave it lie: Losing your ball in the water or out of
bounds is frustrating. But trying to retrieve it
could lead to you falling into a body of water, coming
into contact with poison ivy or oak, or disrupting an
unsuspecting animal – which could attack in an act of
defense.
18. Recovery: Want to be prepared for your next
round? Personal trainer Kathryn McKenzie of
Canada’s Surefire Fitness recommends good nutrition,
hydration and proper sleep to rejuvenate.
