From Brent Kelley,
Your Guide to Golf.
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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 ocurring 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.

The About.com Sports Medicine Guide has a thorough article on lightning safety, which we recommend all golfers read.