Supervision

• On-site supervision is recommended following initial skill instruction and after all safety concerns have been emphasized.

Instructional Considerations

Students must receive instruction on proper golf etiquette and safety. This must include:

• During instruction, or while waiting to practice hitting or swinging, non-active players' clubs must be carried in the cane position, remain on the ground or in their bag.
• Rules of play pertaining to the driving range and/or mini-putt should be followed.
• Students must have an opportunity to develop skills before playing on a golf course.
• Establishing a safe location to stand when someone is hitting.
• If on a golf course, how to enter another fairway safely.
• When it is safe to hit if the group ahead is on the same hole.
• Be 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.
• Teachers should establish a safe routine for hitting and retrieving golf balls.
• Resources such as Golf Canada’s National Golf in Schools Program manual provide exercises for use of modified equipment with lower grades.
• Displays of frustration are one thing, but outbursts of temper are quite another. Throwing clubs or otherwise can be dangerous to yourself and others.

Equipment/Facilities

• Plastic whiffle or rubber golf balls are recommended for schoolyard use.
• Real golf balls should not be used on school property, except for putting.
• Equipment, especially grips, must be checked regularly and repaired as needed.
• Clubs of appropriate length should be used.
• When learning basic skills a variety of implements can be used in place of clubs and putters. These include practice clubs made of plastic or foam (such as those designed for Golf Canada’s National Golf School Program), field hockey sticks, indoor field hockey sticks, gym ringette sticks, small floor hockey sticks, pillo polo sticks or metre sticks.
• Students should be a sufficient distance away from those executing backswing and follow through.
• School property or proper golf facility should be used.
• Hitting area must be well marked and controlled.