Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods on Sunday.

Tiger shooting 3 over par? On a Sunday? Is it time for him to retire the red shirt? I walked the front 9 at Pebble Beach Golf links and witnessed it with my very own eyes, and I’m still not sure what happened. Phil Mickelson  shot a blazing 64 to come from 6 strokes back to win the tournament. He was paired with Tiger on Sunday and even though neither man was leading the tournament at the start of the day, you just kind of knew that one of them would probably end up holding that crystal trophy. But the way it happened was surprising.

Overall, Tiger really didn’t look so bad, but the poor guy couldn’t make a putt to save his life. You could see his frustration start to mount as he continued to miss birdie opportunities while Phil made the most of his chances. This is one of the few instances where Tiger simply just got outplayed. It’s something we’re really not used to seeing. But can’t  you just feel the motivation rising? I doubt that he’ll forget this one soon. And even if he does, the media and the very vocal golf community will most definitely keep reminding him.

Comedian Bill Murray dressed for inclement weather at Pebble Beach.

Tiger’s last visit to Pebble Beach to play in a PGA tour event was 2002. When he announced in January that he would be playing, ticket sales skyrocketed. The tournament is a pro-am so there are always a cast of characters on the roster that are guaranteed to bring out the fans. Actor Bill Murray, comedian George Lopez, and Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo are just a few of the celebrity amateurs that teed it up. When Tiger committed however, according to the tournament office, ticket sales were up by over 30%.

The galleries were big, and the unpredictable weather on the Monterey Peninsula was well,  predictable. Clear and decent temperatures on Friday disappeared in the blink of an eye and turned to heavy, heavy mist that resembled rain and continued for the remainder of the day. Spending four days in exclusive Pebble Beach at some of the world’s most famous golf courses is a bucket list entry for many people. I’m spoiled though. I was born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula.  And the natural beauty of my home is beyond compare.

 The tournament was played on 3 different courses — Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill and the MPCC Shore Course. All are located near the famous 17-mile drive. Trying to enter and exit 17-mile drive even with the proper media credentials was an unforgettable experience. And maneuvering through barricades and detours directed by well-meaning but confused police explorers was an adventure. I had the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views of 17-mile drive again, and again, and again on the first day of the tournament because the detours kept leading us around in circles. When I passed by the same herd of deer for the third time, I’m pretty sure one of the does waved because she recognized the car. If you’re going to get trapped in a forest, this is probably the most scenic one you’ll ever find.

Before AT&T took over the sponsorship, this tournament used to be an annual event  run by Bing Crosby. Back in those days, a kid could approach Jack Nicklaus or Johnny Miller in the parking lot without fear of being tackled by security. But we live in a different era now.  Security was so prevalent that it was a bit suffocating. Plain clothes cops (that everybody recognized because of their black windbreakers and earpieces) were everywhere threatening to confiscate your Iphone if you tried to take a picture. And the security force that followed Tiger Woods on the course looked like the secret service detail that accompanies President Obama.

Golf pundits are having a field day with the turn of events that took place yesterday. Everybody has an opinion on what’s wrong with Tiger. I, personally, don’t think anything is wrong with him. People are expecting him to continue winning in the same fashion that he did the first half of his career. But things change. Leading or being in contention on a Sunday is no longer a guaranteed victory for him.

In his press conference on Saturday, Tiger admitted that he played the entire year last year either hurt or rehabbing an injury. He claims he’s healthy now for the first time in quite awhile. The intangible that remains a little bit more murky is Tiger’s mental focus. But the god-given talent is obviously still there. I expect to see him in the winner’s column again this year as he continues to chase Nicklaus’ record. But for anyone looking to watch a repeat of what he did in the past, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. It’s a brand new golf world in 2012, and it’s really not Tiger’s fault. You can blame it on those darned Mayans and that crazy calendar.

Who’s the happiest person in the world now that Tiger Woods finally won a golf tournament?

His accountant?  No. His $1.2 million winner’s check from the Chevron World Challenge  will be donated to the Tiger Woods foundation.

Me?  No. It’s true that I’m still a real fan, and although I was ecstatic to watch that putt go in on the 18^th, I don’t get the honors of being “happiest person.”

Tiger himself?  He finally got the monkey off his back after this scandal and injury plagued chapter, but I think he probably ranks only  second on the list of happiest people in the world.

The hands down, number one, happiest group of people in the world now that Tiger Woods is back in the winner’s circle is the  PGA Tour because love him or hate him, it’s an undisputed fact that not only is Tiger Woods good for the game of golf but the game of golf NEEDS Tiger Woods.

Before you haters get too riled up, I ask you to put your poison pens away. This statement has nothing to do with Tiger’s personal life or the debate as to whether or not he is a good role model for kids and adults. The blogs have been burning up since late Sunday afternoon with Tiger dissenters still fanning the flames with their pithy quotes about extramarital affairs and on the other side hordes of overactive Tiger fans already awarding him the green jacket for the 2012 Masters. Both views are extreme and can be either laughed at or dismissed entirely.

The simple truth is that Tiger Woods is part of an extraordinary group of athletes who possess skills that set them apart from other superstars in their games. There are lots of great athletes. Of the “great” there are a few that are part of an “elite” category. Like Willie Mays and Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods is in this group and his past poor judgment in his personal life will never take that away from him.

When Tiger wins golf tournaments, there’s a certain unexplainable spark in the air that is reserved for sports moments when you realize that you are witnessing historic events that may never again be seen.  The Willie Mays basket catch in the 1954 World Series. Michael Jordan’s 63-point game in the 1986 NBA playoffs. And yes, Tiger Woods’ 12-stroke win in the 1997 Masters opened the door for his possible membership into this elite club. But adding 13 additional majors over the past 14 years closed the door and nailed it shut.

When Tiger plays in tournaments, fans come to watch. When Tiger wins, television ratings soar. Tiger is money in the bank and without him winning regularly, the PGA tour has suffered over the past 2 years.

No offense to Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy or a handful of others who have had moments of brilliance on the tour but the simple fact is, they are not Tiger Woods. And they never will be. Watching them win is sometimes fun, but they simply don’t have the magic that captures the world when Tiger plays and plays well.

I don’t know if Sunday’s win at Sherwood means that Tiger is back. I hope so. Golf has not been as much fun to watch over the past 749 days. I interviewed a lot of fans at the 2010 US Open in Pebble Beach last year to get a reading on how golf fans are feeling about Tiger Woods. One woman I met said it best. “The man is in the doghouse, but I still love the golfer.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

WATB 1420, Atlanta, Georgia’s only multicultural radio station will carry the interview via live stream on the WATB website. Log in to www.watb1420.com and click on the live stream button to hear the conversation which will focus on spreading the word about the benefits and networking opportunities associated with the sport and YGolf magazine’s continuing efforts to introduce the game to more women, particularly in minority communities.

Don’t forget to tune in on Wednesday!!

Rolling Greens Golf Club (RGGC) is an organized golf league based in Southern California. This past summer, Williams came up with the idea of planning a clinic for women that would be an introduction to golf for ladies who have some interest or curiosity in the sport but may not have the confidence or the know how to take the initial steps to get started.

When Williams contacted YGolf Magazine about possibly supporting and attending this clinic, it was truly a case of perfect timing. The YGolf mission statement is to spread the word about golf and to introduce the sport to more women. The decision to be a part of this event was a no brainer.

Melvante Williams, Brian Benbow, Yvonne Thomas, Damon Wafer, John Coleman (Photo courtesy: Leticia Rey Photography)

The 4-hour day offered hands on instruction in putting, chipping, and driving. Participants were divided into small groups that rotated every 30 minutes to a different session. RGGC members and golf pros at the Lakes were the instructors. I was the only female instructor at the event and with RGGC board member Damon Wafer taught the Rules and Etiquette class.

It was a perfect day.

(Photo courtesy: Leticia Rey Photography)

Pleasant southern California temperatures and a group of ladies that were genuinely excited about learning the game. Besides giving women a chance to be involved in a fun outdoor activity, golf courses are also known as the new boardroom for many businessmen. There are networking opportunities galore and for the most part, women have been missing out on these lucrative and fun fringe benefits.

After the golf sessions, a buffet lunch was served. And of course, no Los Angeles event is complete these days without a swag bag. Each participant received a bag of goodies courtesy of RGGC that included a variety of items such as golf balls, tees, and an RGGC logo tee-shirt provided in a fashionable white tote bag with the RGGC and YGolf logos on each side. The Lakes also provided each lady with gift certificates for a free round of golf and a free driving range card.

Participants at the first Rolling Greens Golf Club Ladies clinic (Photo courtesy: Leticia Rey Photography)

If laughter and smiles can be used as the measuring stick to rate the day then the clinic was a bona fide success. A great group of women were introduced to the game that I’ve grown to love. Friendships were created and possible new golf buddies met for the first time. And it is my hope that this will be the start of many more events that will grow into a successful networking opportunity for many.

And a special acknowledgement goes out to the RGGC men. The hospitality that you showed to all the women at the event was very impressive. There’s no doubt in my mind that if you look up the word “gentlemen” in the dictionary you might find a picture of the RGGC men right next to the definition.

For more information about Rolling Greens Golf Club, please visit their website at www.rggolfclub.com.

All photos courtesy of Leticia Rey Photography

www.leticiarey.com

Keep in mind that if you’re used to watching the golfers playing in tournaments on television, you’ll see lady pros on average hitting their drivers over 230 yards and for the men, anywhere between 280 and 320 yards. But for amateur golfers that you’ll more than likely be paired up with during your golf outings, the distances are usually much less.

Spending time on the golf range hitting balls is the best way to determine how far YOU can actually hit with each club. There really is no wrong club distance, and when you’re out on the course, remember that you’re not in a competition to determine who can hit their 7-iron the furthest.

As a beginner, it’s ok to wonder about how your distances compare to other amateurs. Just don’t get caught up in trying to match those averages. Being a long hitter does not guarantee that you will post lower scores. And as you continue to play, you’ll begin to appreciate the importance of hitting the ball straight more than anything.

The chart below shows the ranges with each club for both male and female amateur players. It will give you a representation of short hitters, mid hitters, and long hitters. That way you’ll be able to determine where you rank on the scale.

So use this chart as a guideline to improve your distances, but never forget the golfer’s mantra – HIT ‘EM STRAIGHT!!

CLUB                                       WOMEN                                       MEN

Driver                                       150-175-200                           200-230-260

3-wood                                    125-150-180                           180-215-235

5-wood                                    105-135-170                           170-195-210

2-iron                                       105-135-170                           170-195-210

3-iron                                       100-125-160                           160-180-200

4-iron                                       90-120-150                             150-170-185

5-iron                                       80-110-140                             140-160-170

6-iron                                       70-100-130                             130-150-160

7-iron                                       65-90-120                               120-140-150

8-iron                                       60-80-110                               110-130-140

9-iron                                       55-70-95                                 95-115-130

PW                                             50-60-80                                 80-105-120

SW                                             40-50-60                                 60-80-100

When:    Saturday, October 15, 2011   8:30am – 1pm

Where:    The Lakes Golf Course in El Segundo, California.

Rolling Greens Golf Club is sponsoring a beginner’s clinic for women  interested in learning about the game of golf. You’ll spend the day with golf pros teaching you rules and etiquette, learn about the proper equipment and how to hold and swing a golf club. You’ll also have the opportunity to putt on an actual putting green, hit balls on the driving range, and chip and blast balls out of sand traps. The day will end with a question and answer luncheon and raffle and there will be prizes and gifts for everyone.

YGolf Magazine is partnering with Rolling Greens Golf Club to introduce the game of golf  to more women. Aside from just being fun, golf is a great way to advance your career. The golf course is the new boardroom, and it can now also be the hot, new location for girl’s day out. All equipment will be provided by the clinic. Just bring your curiosity and your willingness to try something new that might possibly become your great new hobby.

Registration is open to the first 50 women so SIGN UP NOW. And since actions speak louder than words, check out the golf clinic promo video so that you can get a little taste of what you have to look forward to on October 15^th. (Yes, I’m the chick in pink hitting golf balls on the video, and I will be one of the instructors at the clinic.)

Don’t miss out. Spaces are limited and advanced registration is required. Go to  http://www.rggolfclub.com to register today! Hope to see you there!

My Hybrid 4 is not just a rescue club. It’s my FAVORITE, GO TO club!! I know I had it when we started the back 9 so it had to be somewhere between the 10th and the 14th holes. Well, that was a week ago and my FAVORITE GO TO club has not found its way back to me yet. I am heartbroken.

So I am now experiencing the stages of grief about losing my club, and I’ve admittedly reached the anger stage. If somebody found my club on the course, why didn’t they just turn it in to the pro shop? Over the years, I have found countless items (including clubs) laying around golf courses. I always sympathize with the person that lost the item and then I turn it over to the nearest course Marshall or hand it in to the pro shop at the end of my round.

Question of the day – When you find lost items on the golf course, do you turn them in or do you keep them? The golf angel on my shoulder tells me that my club is hiding in some obscure location on the course and hasn’t been found yet. As soon as it is, the course will contact me immediately, then I can go get it and golf happily ever after. But the golf devil on my other shoulder is shouting in my ear that my Hybrid 4 now has a new owner that is using it with absolutely no remorse.

If that’s true, then here’s a note to the new owner: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned or a woman who thinks her favorite golf club was “stolen.” You may be enjoying my club right now, but rest assured that the golf Karma gods and I will NEVER forget. I do share part of the responsibility because it was me that left it laying on the course somewhere, but I sincerely hope that all golfers reading this will think twice the next time you find a lost club or golf accessory on the course. That item you found has an owner, and if you decide to keep it, that owner (like me) might need months of therapy to deal with getting over the loss. Do you really want that on your conscience?

Writing this is helping me process my emotions. I now accept that my hybrid 4 is gone and that I should either find an exact replica and replace it or start searching for something new. I was considering placing its picture on the side of a milk carton, but I guess now that seems a little extreme. But I do believe in the power of positive thinking so if everyone reading this will send good vibes to my Hybrid 4, maybe it will find its way home!

I think I’m starting to feel a little bit better, and I just realized that I actually get to start shopping for a hot, new golf club to replace the old one! And last but not least, a personal note to my Hybrid 4, wherever it is. The countless rounds and great shots we shared together will never be forgotten. My handicap and I will truly miss you…

PIN-UP GOLF is the brainchild of Pennington who, armed with a marketing degree from Louisiana Tech, originally moved to Southern California for a career in modeling and acting after graduating from college. As a model, she was hired to make appearances at charity golf tournaments and during this time, she was bitten by the bug and fell in love with the game. Aside from posing for pictures and signing autographs at the tournaments, Jennifer also helped organizers out by helping to sell raffle tickets and getting participants excited about donating to the charities. This didn’t go unnoticed, and she started getting more and more requests from other groups to help at their tournaments.

The sudden passing of Jennifer’s mother in 1998 gave her the drive she needed to go after her dream. “My mother always taught me that I could do whatever I wanted if I believed in myself, and if I worked hard enough,” said Pennington. Jennifer felt that the time was right for her to make a difference in the world. She had a vision, she was looking for a new career, she loved golf, and she loved helping others. She put all of these components together one day and said, “This is a business.” She created the idea for professional fundraising golf hostesses and PIN-UP GOLF was born.

Jennifer Pennington - Founder/CEO Pin-Up Golf

Jennifer’s idea was to organize a staff that loves to play golf, respects the game and the etiquette, has outgoing personalities, and that she could train to learn fundraising skills. In 1998, there was no business model, so she created her own system from scratch. She says it took an entire year before she ran her first tournament in 1999. Now after 13 years, PIN-UP GOLF has handled fundraising for more than 2,000 tournaments and raised over $8 million for charity.

In the beginning, Jennifer’s biggest challenge was convincing potential clients that PIN-UP GOLF was a real professional business with a staff that is trained in fundraising. “They’re not just girls hanging out decorating the golf course.” says Pennington. Her staff takes their jobs seriously, they’re all golfers, so they love the game, and now after 13 years, they have a proven track record.

Jennifer’s staff is an experienced group of fundraisers that comes on board to help charity tournaments organize their day of activities that includes mulligan or skills packages, helping to sell raffle tickets and auction items, and assisting with registration and hospitality for the players.

The main goal for these tournaments is to raise as much money as possible for charity. Pennington added, “A lot of the tournaments that I used to work with had volunteers handling most of the activities, and the volunteers weren’t real comfortable asking for donations. Overall, many tournaments think their volunteers can do what PIN-UP GOLF does.”  Jennifer emphasizes that having her staff at an event will double, triple, or even quadruple fundraising for the day because they’re experienced in it and it’s their profession.  “Sometimes organizers think they’re doing good, but they haven’t seen greatness,” says Pennington. “They’re lowering their standards because they really don’t know how much money they COULD be making.”

Jennifer is an excellent role model for both male and female entrepreneurs with a dream. And her advice to them is simple– “Believe in yourself. Believe you can do it.” Her favorite quote is “Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s doing whatever it takes despite one’s fears.”

It’s a safe bet that courage is definitely another ingredient needed to make a successful female golf entrepreneur.

For more information about Pin-Up Golf, the company’s website can be accessed at www.pinupgolf.com.

YGolf Magazine’s motto defines it as being “fit, fabulous, passionate about your golf game and how you look on the course.” But that is just the tip of the iceberg. The 21^st century woman golfer not only gets great joy from the sport, but she’s also a very business savvy individual who has discovered the great networking opportunities that are just waiting to be taken advantage of.

In 2011, YGolf Magazine will bring you stories of real 21^st century women golfers so they can share how and when they started golfing and why they remain so passionate about the sport. While conducting some of the interviews, I kept getting asked how I got started. So to kickoff this series, here’s my story…

My personal golf journey was ignited in 2002, but when I took a deeper look at my own story, I realized that my hidden passion existed long before I even realized it. Born in Fort Ord, California on the Monterey Peninsula, I can honestly say my first breath was taken in an area that can be described as one of the world’s most beautiful golf meccas.

My big brother was bitten by the golf bug when he was a teenager, and I went to a driving range for the first time with him when I was 8 or 9 years old. I spent most of that time watching him hit balls with me goofing around with the putter, and  I didn’t actually pick up another golf club until my senior year in college at USC.

As a Sports Information broadcasting major, I graduated with a double major in broadcast journalism and physical education, and the curriculum required selecting and completing a few courses that combined not only theoretical comprehension of the sport but active participation as well. At first glance, golf seemed a safer choice than trying to run drills with the Trojan football team. Ya think?

I spent one semester learning the basics of golf and actually getting out on a real course for practical experience. My memories of trying to hit the ball at Arroyo Seco golf course in Pasadena were priceless albeit for the wrong reasons. I quickly learned that “swing and a miss” is a term not used exclusively for baseball. The few times I swung and actually hit the golf ball though was an exhilarating feeling. But after the semester ended, I didn’t pick up another golf club for almost 20 years.

In the meantime, the Tiger Woods phenomenon officially began in 1997. I was mesmerized by his story, became a huge fan, followed his career closely on television and attended tournaments when he came to town. Watching golf became one of my favorite pastimes, and coincidently, I was also looking for a new hobby. After 13 years in corporate America and then finally getting my feet wet as a budding entrepreneur, it was becoming apparent that all work and no play was the fast track to career burnout. I wanted to have more fun.

While sifting through some junk mail one day, I thumbed through a community college catalogue, saw a listing for golf lessons and immediately got excited.  I also immediately told myself to calm down, and it took a lot of self control to stop myself from running out to the nearest sporting goods store and buying a set of golf clubs. One visit to the spare bedroom in my house would divulge my dark little secret – I already owned a sporting goods store, and it was downstairs in my house!

Welcome to Yvonne’s 24-hour fitness gym! I had a treadmill, a weight bench,  100+ pounds of chrome free weights, a Jane Fonda step for step aerobics, an Ab-doer, a library of fitness videos, a Wavemaster punching bag, AND I had floor to ceiling mirrors installed on one wall (just like in the gyms) so I could watch my progress. But I think I forgot to mention one minor detail. It all looked good, but I wasn’t actually using any of it. All of this equipment was collecting dust except that my two very enterprising cats had started using my leather weight bench as a scratching post. At least somebody was getting some exercise.

My sad admission is that I had been searching for a hobby for years but nothing stuck. I would get excited, run out and buy all of the goodies, use them for a month or two and promptly lose interest. At least this time I recognized my illness before investing hard earned cash on a set of clubs that quite possibly were going to end up as a cat toy.

So I changed my strategy, and I signed up for the group golf lessons at El Cariso golf course – without buying any clubs first. An instructor spent time showing me the proper technique, and I actually hit the ball!  After a few lessons, I decided that I was really starting to like this golf thing, and I gave myself permission to buy a starter set. My boyfriend at the time was not a golfer, but he offered to go to the range and hit balls with me. We both got completely hooked on the game, and it became an activity that we shared together for many years.

2008 Porter Valley CC Ladies Team

As my game improved, it made me only want to play more and more. Over the years, I’ve been a member of two women’s golf teams, and I’ve met friends and made numerous, valuable business acquaintances. But I’ve neglected to mention possibly my most favorite thing about golf. The beautiful nature and wildlife that surrounds you on the course. The rabbits, the deer, and the squirrels that are resident spectators are a constant reminder that I have found my own little piece of heaven right here on earth.

I am now entering my 9^th year as a “real golfer,” and I’m focusing on using the sport as a business and networking tool. What better place to meet with a client than on the golf course? I’ve taken private lessons 3 or 4 times from a variety of excellent teachers in Southern California, and my confidence has soared to the point where I can spontaneously show up at any course and sign up as a single. The majority of the time I get paired up with 3 guys, but I have no fear. Once they figure out that I can really play, I simply become one of their golf buddies for the day. My handicap hovers around 15 but my golf self esteem is enormous.

As the year progresses, I will be bringing you more stories of Real 21^st century women who golf. And YGolf Magazine continues to actively recruit advertisers and sponsors that will assist us in organizing clinics and events that will introduce the world of golf to women everywhere.

A recent post by a friend on Facebook has served as a not so subtle reminder to me about dangers that can occur with golf balls and other golf equipment, and that all golfers must remain aware so that we stay safe and continue to enjoy the game we love.

Learning proper safety tips and etiquette is extremely necessary for new golfers and even if you are a veteran, it’s a good idea to review guidelines periodically so that you don’t forget.

Brent Kelley’s Golf Safety Guide on About.com is a MUST read for new golfers. The tips are beneficial for all of us. For new golfers, read it BEFORE you play your first round. Veterans, read it before you play your NEXT round. Save it, print it out, carry it in your golf bag, and email it to another golfer (male or female) that you know and care about. It offers several tips that need to be shared. Brent’s guide is reprinted below.

Simple Safety Guidelines for Golfers

By Brent Kelley

Golf is a very safe sport – as long as a few basic, common-sense rules of safety are followed. When those rules are ignored, injuries can occur.

Golf involves the swinging of hard clubs, which propel hard balls at high speeds. If you’re in the way of either the clubs or the balls, you’re in danger. You could be placing yourself in danger, too, if you do not respect the power of the sun, the danger of lightning, or your body’s need for the right kind of fluids on warm days. Here are some guidelines that can help ensure your safety, and that of those around you on the golf course:

Keep Track of Those Around You
When a golf club is in your hands and you are preparing to swing, it is your responsibility to make sure your playing partners are a safe distance away from you. It’s not too difficult, after all, to keep track of where everyone is when your group is likely just four or fewer golfers.

Never swing a golf club when another golfer is close to you. That’s the most important thing to remember. And be a little extra cautious on practice swings, when it’s easy for golfers to let their guard down. Extra vigilance is also needed when younger golfers are part of your group.

Also, look ahead of you, and to the left and right of the area where you are aiming your shot. Don’t hit your ball until you are confident that any golfers up ahead are out of your range.

Heads Up
While it’s the responsibility of every golfer to be sure it is safe for them to take their stroke, you can’t always rely on every golfer to do just that. So even when it’s not your turn to hit, stay aware of your surroundings.

Be especially careful if you have to venture into an adjoining fairway to retrieve or play an errant shot, or if you are close to an adjoining fairway and golfers on that hole are hitting toward you.

And always keep a safe distance from golfers in your own group when they are preparing to play a stroke.

Yell Fore, or Cover Up When You Hear It
Even if you follow the advice above, there will surely come times when you hit your drive farther than you expected, or a hook or slice comes out of nowhere and takes your ball toward an adjoining fairway. Or when you play your stroke believing the fairway ahead is clear … only to notice players up ahead who had been obscured by a hill or trees.

You know what to do: Yell “Fore!” as loud as you can. That is the international word of warning in golf. It lets golfers playing near you know that an errant golf ball might be heading their way, and they need to take cover.

And what should you do when you hear “fore!” being yelled in your direction? For goodness sakes, do not stand up, crane your neck, and try to spot the ball! You’re just making yourself a bigger target.

Instead, cover up. Crouch behind your golf bag, get behind a tree, hide behind the cart, cover your head with your arms. Make yourself a smaller target, and protect your head.

Never Hit Into the Group Ahead of Yours
This should go without saying, shouldn’t it? What we’re talking about are those occasions when a very slow group is ahead of yours, and frustration takes over. It happens to all of us. Someone in your group gets angry, and next thing you know, they’re teeing up a ball and intentionally hitting into the slow-playing group ahead.

If you’re ever tempted to do this … don’t. It’s very rare, but golfers have been killed after being struck by golf balls. Injuries do occur.

Instead of taking aim at someone in anger, take a deep breath. Remind yourself that you’re playing golf, a great game, and enjoy the camaraderie with your buddies. If you spot a course marshall, flag him down and ask if he can help speed up play. Don’t take the risk of hurting someone ahead.

Drive Safely
Most golf carts come with a safety label. Read it, and follow the directions. No, driving a golf cart along the course’s cart paths isn’t a difficult thing to do. But read and observe all safety rules. Don’t hang your feet out of the cart while it’s in motion; don’t go off-roading over bumpy terrain; don’t drive at full speed around curves or down steep hills. Don’t let small children drive the cart (unless they are sitting in your lap and you have your hands on the steering wheel). Don’t drive the cart if you’ve had a few too many beers. And watch out for other golf carts at points where paths cross.

Protect Yourself from the Sun
A typical round of golf means four hours of exposure to the harsh effects of the sun. More on a slow day, or on a day when you play more than 18 holes. More when you factor in time on the practice putting green or driving range.

In short, golfers have a large exposure to the potentially dangerous effects of the sun. Protect your skin by always using a strong sunscreen.

Also, wear a wide-brimmed cap to keep the sun off your face. Better yet, get yourself a straw hat or other full-brimmed hat that will also help keep the sun off the back of your neck.

Add Fluids … the Right Kind of Fluids
If you’re playing golf under the sun on a hot day, you’ll be sweating off a lot of body fluids. Even if the sun is nowhere to be seen, and it’s a cool day, you’ll be working up a thirst.

Quench that thirst the right way. Drink plenty of water. If you buy a beverage, make it a sports drink such as Gatorade.

Of course, there are those golfers who play simply as an excuse to drink beer. It’s important to avoid beer (at least until after the round) on hot days. Because alcohol, along with the sun, also dehydrates the human body. And we all know about alcohol’s disorienting effect on people. The odds of an accident occurring go way up with each beer.

Beware Lightning
Lightning is a killer, and during a thunderstorm, golfers carrying metal clubs in their hands while on exposed land are at great risk. If there is lightning anywhere around the golf course, or thunderstorms approaching, take cover.

At the very first sign of lightning, head for the clubhouse. If you are caught out on the course and unable to get to the clubhouse, do not seek cover under trees. Trees are lightning rods. Instead, look for a designated lightning shelter (found on many courses in areas where lightning occurs with great frequency) or a concrete or stone bathroom. Open-walled structures will not protect you from lightning, even if they have a lightning rod or are designated as lightning shelters.

If caught out in the open and unable to find shelter, get away from your clubs, your golf cart, water and trees, and remove metal spikes if wearing them. If in a group, group members should remain at least 15 feet apart. If you feel a tingling sensation or the hair on your arms stands up, crouch in a baseball catcher’s position, balancing on the balls of your feet. Fold your arms in front of your knees, keep your feet together and your head forward.

Brent Kelley is a sports journalist who has covered golf for more than two decades, at newspapers, magazines and online and has posted this guide at www.About.com