Give the Southwest Section of the PGA a tip of the golf cap for getting involved with the game at the high school level. Those spring and summer clinics the SWPGA have provided for high school coaches in the past six months will pay Tiger Woods-type dividends down the road.

So what are the long-term ramifications for the high school coaches and players? As it turns out, even with a helping hand from the SWPGA, high school coaches in Arizona are limited in what they can do for their players. Sure, they can offer more knowledge when it comes to rules and etiquette, and even make a practice session more fun and enlightening.

But when it comes time to tee it up in matches -- the state tournaments being the big exception -- many coaches still prefer to play a game among themselves. Hey, it’s not their fault, as 5-A and 4-A coaches are not allowed to “coach’’ on the course, only to make rulings and take disciplinary action.

Besides, when you only make $1,500 to $2,500 a season for such a major commitment of your time, there’s got to be some perks like a little free golf, right?

Oddly, this is not the case at the Class 3-A level. Because 3-A coaches went out and attended clinics, and eventually got the OK from the Arizona Interscholastic Association, they are allowed to do what college-level coaches have been doing for years: Give advice to their players on the course during a tournament.

According to Craig Anderson of the AIA, what’s good for one class is not necessarily good for all. And while Class 5-A and 4-A do it their way, “the Class 3-A coaches, perhaps because they are from smaller schools with less experienced players, felt they needed to be on the course with their players.’’

“If the 5-A and 4-A schools want to change that, and if they undergo the education, get the documentation, and eventually get it legislated, they can do that,’’ Anderson explained. “The biggest deal to us when it comes to high school golf, is for the coaches know what they can and can’t do. . . . And in that regard, we appreciate what the Soutwest Section is doing for us.’’

As Anderson pointed out, the general perception of high school golf coaches has been “teachers who drive the vans around (to tournaments).’’

“I hate to say it, but high school golf coaches, at least in the past, have been like babysitters,’’ Anderson said. “But that’s changing, thanks to the Southwest Section, which has stepped up and offered their help, which in turn makes for a more professional approach with the kids.’’

Still, don’t expect Class 5-A and 4-A coaches to be on the course any time soon despite the extended education. John Pierce, the athletic director at Horizon and a former golf coach himself, said the bigger schools prefer to “let the players make their own decisions on the course.’’

“(Banning coaches from the course) was originally meant to combat slow play,’’ said Pierce, who is the chairperson for the Desert Valley Region. “And while many (coaches) actually do play (golf) while their players are competing, they’re always available for rulings and to weed out inappropriate behavior, especially when it gets serious during state tournament play.’’

But wouldn’t having a coach nearby be a benefit to the player and, ultimately, the team? If not, why do the college coaches do it?

Randy Lein, the men’s golf coach at Arizona State, called it “two different worlds.’’

“I understand where the high schools are coming from with this,’’ he said. “This is a full-time job for me, and it’s not for them.

“I know when I was in high school, my coach was a history teacher who couldn’t break 100. So there’s probably some good reasons why high school golf is run that way.’’

Sister Lynn Winsor, the dean of Arizona high school golf coaches after winning a record 23 state championships in 32 years, concurs with Lein and Pierce, and adds this insight.

“There’s already too much pressure on these kids without the coach being on the course during a tournament,’’ she said. “I know every school is different, and every class is different, but our attitude in 5-A has been to let the kids decide things for themselves.’’

As for coaching, Sister Lynn said that while golf has gotten bigger at the high school level -- “now it’s cool to play golf’’ -- the most important part of being a mentor is “respect and care for our student athletes.’’

“Show them they mean something to you,’’ she said. “And teach them how to win and lose gracefully.’’

Who can argue with that? Which doesn’t mean for a minute that what the SWPGA is doing to further educate high school coaches is going for naught, Sister Lynn added.

“It’s nice to know the professionals really care about these kids,’’ she said. “Because that generosity creates more interest, and from that golf will only grow.’’