how to be safe on golf course during thunderstorm

How To Stay Safe In A Thunderstorm On The Golf Course.

• 1 - Don’t get your golf umbrella out. When the heavens open and the rain starts to fall, your first reaction might be to reach for your golf umbrella ...
• 2 - Leave your mobile phone in your bag. Another common move golfers make when they’re stuck out on the course is to make a phone call, but again we’d ...
• 3 - Stay away from any water hazards. Similar to the advice given to anyone in a boat or swimming when a thunderstorm approaches, you should endeavour ...
• 4 - Avoid standing under trees. Another part of the golf course to avoid is the trees around you. Don’t use them as shelter - studies have shown that ...

Full Answer

Is it safe to golf in a thunderstorm?

If you hear thunder, it means that lightning is within striking distance. The first step in staying safe from lightning on the golf course is awareness of weather conditions and expected weather conditions during your round. If you know that thunderstorms are possible, then you know to watch out (and listen out) for trouble.

How do golf courses prepare for thunderstorms?

Golf courses in areas of frequent thunderstorms may have policies and procedures (such as sirens) in place to warn golfers of approaching bad weather. Sports medicine journalist Elizabeth Quinn of Verywell.com says all outdoors enthusiasts, including golfers, need to know the "30/30 Lightning Rule":

How to stay safe from lightning on the golf course?

Always be aware of changing weather conditions and sky conditions on the golf course; be alert for thunder and for lightning. If you hear thunder, it means that lightning is within striking distance. The first step in staying safe from lightning on the golf course is awareness of weather conditions and expected weather conditions during your round.

How do lightning and thunderstorms affect golfers?

Over half of all golf course-related lightning deaths happen after a thunderstorm has passed over. Because lightning is attracted to standing objects, a golfer is usually the tallest object on the grass. It’s obvious that most lightning comes from a cloud by an electrical build-up and discharges to the ground.

What do you do in a golf course during a lightning storm?

Golf and Frisbee Golf are the only sports with regulations relating to lightning. A good rule for everyone is: "If you can see it (lightning), flee it; if you can hear it (thunder), clear it."

Is it safe to golf during a thunderstorm?

And in a typical year, lightning kills more people than tornadoes or hurricanes. A golf course is an especially dangerous place during a thunderstorm because it has isolated, tall trees and wide-open spaces where golfers can be the tallest target.

Can a golf club get struck by lightning?

A bogey may ruin your golf game for a hole but being struck by lightning will ruin your golf game forever. Our golf professionals can tell you your odds of being struck by lightning on the golf course and how to stay safe from lightning strikes.

Is it safe to be on a turf field during lightning?

no. It is never safe to be outside during a storm. Lightning has incredible energy and potential, and it travels unpredictably. Air is not a great conductor of electricity yet lightning manages to slice through air with ease.

How many golfers get struck by lightning?

He died at the golf course. John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist at the National Lightning Safety Council, said there have been 12 golf-related lightning fatalities in the U.S. since 2006.

How do you prevent lightning in an open field?

If caught in an open field, seek a low spot and crouch with your feet together and head low. Stay away from objects that conduct electricity, such as barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, and other tall objects. Drop metal objects like golf clubs, fishing poles, umbrellas, and backpacks with metal frames.

How many times did Lee Trevino been struck by lightning?

Thing is, despite lightning being about five times hotter than the sun, according to NASA, most people struck by lightning survive, up to 90%. Lee Trevino, winner of six major championships and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, was struck by lightning three times on the golf course and survived.

What are 5 safety tips for lightning?

Protect Yourself from Lightning StrikesImmediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks.Never lie flat on the ground. ... Never shelter under an isolated tree.Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.More items...

How do you know if you're about to be struck by lightning?

7 Signs That Lightning Is About to StrikeYou See Tall, Bright White Clouds. ... You Can Hear the Thunder Approaching. ... You See Your Hair Standing on End or Feel Tingling. ... You Taste Something Metallic. ... You Smell the Scent of Ozone in the Air. ... You Start to Get Dizzy or Sweat. ... You Can Hear Vibrating, Buzzing, or Crackling.

What is the lightning rule for sports?

To resume athletics activities, lightning safety experts recommend waiting 30 minutes after both the last sound of thunder and after the last flash of lightning is at least six miles away, and moving away from the venue.