Under Jeff's guidance, students are encouraged to get out on the course and play as part of the learning process. This is AFTER Jeff feels we have enough control of the ball not to be dangerous to ourselves and to others however golf is actually a fairly dangerous sport. Consider the fact that one is playing on long, narrow fairways and that anyone at all can actually be permitted on a golf course and that tiny little ball is hit at a powerful rate of speed and often does not travel in the direction one expects it to.
Source: listed on picture.
On the Friday after Thanksgiving, Keith, a fellow student and I decided to play around of golf together. Keith and I are both beginners so we are fairly well matched. Boy was that ever a bad idea. First, unbeknown to us, Thanksgiving Friday is one of THE busiest days on golf courses and the folks out there are typically non-players just out for a day of fun. The folks we encountered that day were indeed rank amateurs. They had no knowledge of golf etiquette, took their time at each tee and conversed at each hole and stood with mouths open when we asked if we could "play through." (Advance past players who are slow - a common courtesy in golf.) Playing through did not end up being such a hot idea either as we later found ourselves waiting behind another novice group. We were sitting in the cart, with Keith in the driver's seat when he turned his head towards me to speak. THWACK! Keith's cheekbone, just below his eye had been hit by a golf ball. No one had hollered the warning "fore" so it was pure luck that Keith had turned his head. Otherwise he very likely would have lost an eye. The golfer who drove the ball was on an opposite fairway and instead of driving the ball straight ahead had driven the ball at a 45 degree angle nailing Keith dead on. That was the end of our game that day. We picked up ice for his cheek and headed straight to emergency as his face was quite swollen and his eye beginning to close. Fortunately, even though it took a number of weeks to heal and Keith had a grand shinner, he is no worse off except he vows he will never play on Thanksgiving Friday again. My friend Alissa's brother Tom was not so lucky. Tom had played golf for 20 years often with the same group of friends. It was a fine September day when Tom and his best friend and two other buddies met up to play 18 holes. It was a glorious day until the 7th hole where Tom, having sunk his putt hopped on the back of the golf cart, where the clubs are carried. Tom's best friend choose that moment to "floor" the golf cart which learched forward. Tom slipped off the cart and hit his head on the concrete cart path. Despite the Doctor's best efforts, Tom never regained consciousness and died 3days later.
Am I mindful of these and other hazards while out on the course? You bet. Am I going to stop learning to play? No way. Sure, there's always a chance of being hit by an errant ball or someone doing something stupid on the course however one cannot stop living just because there is an element of danger involved. I will not play with people who fool around during play or those who mistake the golf course for a cocktail party but a beer and a few laughs make the game enjoyable so I will continue to plug away at attempting to master this sport. However I will keep my head up and a careful eye on those playing around me.
Here is some interesting information on golf cart safety.
Golf Cart Safety Because golf carts operate at relatively slow speeds, it's easy to overlook safety procedures. But golf cart accidents can cause serious injury and death. Between 1992 and 2001, golf cart accidents caused an average of 739 nonfatal injuries annually that led to lost workdays, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. From 1994 to 2000, the Bureau reported an average of five deaths per year associated with golf carts.
Source: www.gofcartaccidents.com
On the Friday after Thanksgiving, Keith, a fellow student and I decided to play around of golf together. Keith and I are both beginners so we are fairly well matched. Boy was that ever a bad idea. First, unbeknown to us, Thanksgiving Friday is one of THE busiest days on golf courses and the folks out there are typically non-players just out for a day of fun. The folks we encountered that day were indeed rank amateurs. They had no knowledge of golf etiquette, took their time at each tee and conversed at each hole and stood with mouths open when we asked if we could "play through." (Advance past players who are slow - a common courtesy in golf.) Playing through did not end up being such a hot idea either as we later found ourselves waiting behind another novice group. We were sitting in the cart, with Keith in the driver's seat when he turned his head towards me to speak. THWACK! Keith's cheekbone, just below his eye had been hit by a golf ball. No one had hollered the warning "fore" so it was pure luck that Keith had turned his head. Otherwise he very likely would have lost an eye. The golfer who drove the ball was on an opposite fairway and instead of driving the ball straight ahead had driven the ball at a 45 degree angle nailing Keith dead on. That was the end of our game that day. We picked up ice for his cheek and headed straight to emergency as his face was quite swollen and his eye beginning to close. Fortunately, even though it took a number of weeks to heal and Keith had a grand shinner, he is no worse off except he vows he will never play on Thanksgiving Friday again. My friend Alissa's brother Tom was not so lucky. Tom had played golf for 20 years often with the same group of friends. It was a fine September day when Tom and his best friend and two other buddies met up to play 18 holes. It was a glorious day until the 7th hole where Tom, having sunk his putt hopped on the back of the golf cart, where the clubs are carried. Tom's best friend choose that moment to "floor" the golf cart which learched forward. Tom slipped off the cart and hit his head on the concrete cart path. Despite the Doctor's best efforts, Tom never regained consciousness and died 3days later.
Am I mindful of these and other hazards while out on the course? You bet. Am I going to stop learning to play? No way. Sure, there's always a chance of being hit by an errant ball or someone doing something stupid on the course however one cannot stop living just because there is an element of danger involved. I will not play with people who fool around during play or those who mistake the golf course for a cocktail party but a beer and a few laughs make the game enjoyable so I will continue to plug away at attempting to master this sport. However I will keep my head up and a careful eye on those playing around me.
Here is some interesting information on golf cart safety.
Golf Cart Safety Because golf carts operate at relatively slow speeds, it's easy to overlook safety procedures. But golf cart accidents can cause serious injury and death. Between 1992 and 2001, golf cart accidents caused an average of 739 nonfatal injuries annually that led to lost workdays, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. From 1994 to 2000, the Bureau reported an average of five deaths per year associated with golf carts.
Source: www.gofcartaccidents.com
I really enjoy reading your blog ... you're such a good writer ... the second story was very sad ... but i think you're right keep practicing. I believe sports are not only good for our body but also for our minds !!!
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