By Garett Squire, Superintendent at Shadow Ridge Golf Club
Golf courses are special places. They provide players with a quiet, peaceful, and most of the time, relaxing place to play. And our Turf Care employees feel the same way. Working on a golf course can be an incredible experience; seeing the sun rise on a fairway loaded with dew, hearing a sprinkler watering in the distance, and a deep breath of crisp morning air can lift the soul. While both golfers and employees appreciate the joys of being on the course, when their paths inevitably cross, operators need to be mindful of the possibility of accidents between the two.
Keeping both golfers and staff safe while on the course should be high on the list of management's primary concerns. According to Golf Course Management magazine, around 40,000 people seek medical attention due to golf ball related injuries, annually. There are many strategies to try to minimize contact between players and crew and therefore minimize golf ball related injuries.
Start Early
Starting the turf care team a few hours before the first tee time is the easiest way to maintain limited contact between the turf care team and golfers. Many daily tasks need to be completed to prepare a golf course for play; about 75% of the total work completed on a golf course is performed in the first half of the day. However, unexpected delays can occur such as equipment breakdowns or irrigation problems and this can slow down the pace of grounds work, increasing the likelihood of interactions between golfers and the turf care crew.
Communication
When the above happens, both golfers and turf care employees should practice patience. Sometimes golfers and/or turf care workers can feel pressured to rush in order to maintain pace of play and that’s when accidents can happen. A friendly wave between the golfer and the turf care employee is the best way to prevent golf ball related injuries. Encourage both staff and players to look ahead carefully and acknowledge each other’s location.
High-Visibility Clothing
High-visibility clothing is an initiative that’s been implemented for staff this year at Shadow Ridge Golf Club. All turf care employees will be wearing high-visibility vests and helmets while on course so that golfers will be able to spot them from a distance in order to make contact with a friendly wave. Historically, turf care employees are usually instructed to not be seen on the course so this change will be an interesting trial in diminishing the possibilities of on-course accidents.
Fore!
Yelling fore when a golf ball is headed in the direction of a fellow golfer or turf care employee is the most common way of warning people in the line of a stray ball. Golf course operators should encourage players to continue this practice as it has long been proven the most effective way to decrease accidents. As for golfers, there is no shame in giving warning to your fellow players; it could prevent a possible injury.
Golfers and turf care employees can share the golf course safely. Continuing to use the tried and tested methods along with implementing new ideas to prevent injuries is imperative to keeping everyone safe on the course. So head’s up and play on!