4 Golf Safety Tips for Spring
Golf Course Safety
Golf safety isn’t the most interesting topic for golf course managers to talk about, yet it’s one of the most important. At the start of the season, golf safety must be addressed to ensure the club, its visitors, and your staff are well prepared and protected for any issues that may arise. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 4 golf spring safety tips to get you ready for all of the successful days you’ll have during the season.
4 Golf Safety Tips
1. Refresh for the New Season
Our fist safety tip for golf courses and country clubs is to review your information. A new season could mean new policies, safety standards, and guest expectations. This definitely is not the most enjoyable part of running a golf course, but it’s definitely one of the most important parts. Make sure yourself, your staff, and your visitors are aware of important safety updates or rule changes. Test your emergency systems and any weather monitoring systems you may have as well. Making sure everything is up to par will help you all season long.
2. Focus on Hydration
This second tip is key for keeping your members healthy so they can enjoy rounds of golf at your facility all season long. Hydration is very important for golfers of all ages. That’s because staying hydrated helps keep bodies at the correct temperature and reduces muscle cramps. Remind golfers and caddies alike to hydrate before, during, and after being out on the course. If your course is spread out, remind golfers to bring water bottles or possibly offer a water delivery service to far away holes. Another great tip is to remind golfers to bring a sports drink for every hour they anticipate being on the course.
Hydration is even more important when you factor in that idea that many of your golfers may be drinking an alcoholic beverage. If you offer alcohol on your course, you need to stress proper hydration even more. It’s a good idea to offer water bottles with every drink to help keep your golfers hydrated and successful on the course.
3. Keep an Eye on the Weather
Spring and summer thunderstorms can form quickly and be deadly. Don’t leave your players’ safety up to chance. In today’s day and age, it’s important for golf clubs to prioritize golfer safety in severe weather. Especially because NOAA reports that 64% of lightning deaths in the U.S. since 2006 occur during leisure activities, like golf.
The best ways to protect your golfers and caddies from cloud-to-ground lightning strikes and other forms of dangerous weather is to monitor the weather and know when to cancel or call people indoors. We know that being the decision-maker in this situation isn’t an easy job. If you call golfers in while the weather still looks good, you risk them not believing you or getting angry. On the other hand, if you make the call too late, you put your visitors and employees at direct risk. We’ve found that the option that brings golf course managers the greatest peace of mind is automated alerting systems that monitor storms and send out alerts themselves.
4. Educate on Physical Safety – Heat Stress
The last spring safety tip for your golf course is to educate golfers and staff on heat illnesses. A lot of people forget that high temperatures add extra stress to the human body. Even more stress is added to people who aren’t the most physical fit. We tend to forget that golfers at your club come from all ages, body types, and fitness levels. Since not all golfers are always the most seasoned athletes, it’s a good idea to educate your staff on the signs of heat illnesses and remind your golfers about it as well. Heat stroke can be deadly, so efforts to protect your golfers are important for your relationships with them.
What Did We Miss?
These 4 golf safety tips are quick ways to make your season more successful, however, we didn’t cover everything. What did we miss? Share this post on social media with your added tips to help other golf course managers have a great season. Don’t forget to mention us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, & Twitter.
