what to do storms on golf course

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What do you do on a golf course during a thunderstorm?

What do you do on a golf course during a thunderstorm? 1. Seek shelter 2. Follow the 3 sirens rule 3. Don’t stand under any trees 4. Avoid water puddles 5. Never use an umbrella 1. Are golf carts safe from lightning? 2. What is the meaning of the golf course lightning siren? 3. How can you tell how close a storm is on a golf course? 4.

Is it safe to play golf during a storm?

Anyone sitting inside will be able to be safe from getting struck by lightning. Once a storm has passed, golf players can safely make their way back to the clubhouse where they are better protected. While it’s not recommended to play golf while there is lightning, the recommended waiting time between strikes is 30 minutes.

What do you do when lightning strikes on a golf course?

If lightning strikes are flashing, high-tail it to the clubhouse or pro shop or your vehicle. Or, if there are designated lightning shelters on the golf course, try to get there. (Note: Open-sided buildings do not provide protection from lightning even if they have a lightning rod).

What to do if you are caught on the golf course?

Scout out the locations for shelter on the golf course prior to your round. Know where to go beforehand because time could be of the essence in finding a safe place. If you are caught on the course and there is no shelter near, consider the following tips: Do not stand under tall trees or sit in a golf cart.

What do you do if you are caught in a thunderstorm on a golf course?

If you are caught on the course and there is no shelter near, consider the following tips:Do not stand under tall trees or sit in a golf cart. ... You must get away from your cart and away from your golf clubs quickly.Stay away from water.If you are old-school and have metal spikes on, take them off.More items...•

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.

What to do when golf is rained out?

You can play golf in the rain provided it poses no threat to player safety, and if the course remains playable and not waterlogged. If water begins pooling on the fairways and greens, or if lightning is present, it is recommended to halt play until conditions improve.

Can you play golf in a storm?

The rules of golf are straightforward when lightning is a risk. Rule 6-8 makes it quite clear that a player is entitled to discontinue play if he or she believes there is danger from lightning.

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.

Do golfers get struck by lightning?

From 2006 through 2019, 418 people were struck and killed by lightning in the United States. Almost two thirds of the deaths occurred to people who had been enjoying outdoor leisure activities. The common belief that golfers are responsible for the greatest number of lightning deaths was shown to be a myth.

How do you hit a golf ball in wet conditions?

1:223:45Golf Tip of the Week: Drills For Playing on a Wet Course - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLike this right like this yeah well you want to lean it like this we see like this they're trying toMoreLike this right like this yeah well you want to lean it like this we see like this they're trying to help it up in the air right any wet conditions twice as bad because it won't bounce.

How do you hit a golf ball in the rain?

Slow down – With the ball not travelling as far you will be tempted to try and hit the ball harder to compensate. Try not to. Remember grip is the key thing you are wanting to maintain in the rain so concentrate and keeping your tempo and slowing your swing down to try and maintain as much control and grip as possible.

How do you play Heavy rain golf?

Accessorize. You can't play golf if you can't grip your clubs. ... Don't forget your umbrella. There is a time and place for using that oversized golf umbrella. ... Spend big on the rain suit. ... Waterproof your everyday gear. ... Bring extra. ... Dry clothes for the 19th hole. ... Cover your clubs. ... Take a free drop.More items...•

Why is it a bad idea to play golf in a storm?

If you are carrying metal golf clubs at the time, it could raise your risk (this is a common reason people are standing out in flat fields during thunderstorms, is to carry golf clubs. Sometimes such people get struck by lightning). The safest place to be during a thunderstorm is a building or a car.

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.

Are golf carts safe in lightning storms?

If a substantial building is not available, enclosed motor vehicles can provide shelter as long as patrons do not touch the metal framework during the thunderstorm (golf carts are not safe vehicles).

What to do if you have a lightning problem?

Do NOT seek shelter under a tree. Lightning strikes the tallest objects. If you can, move to the clubhouse or another building near your location to find shelter indoors. Avoid contact with electrical devices and metal.

How many spectators were injured in the Tour Championship?

Six spectators were injured following two lightning strikes at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, USA. Sadly, this is far from an isolated incident. In 2017, one of our policyholders, 60-year-old Philip Shard, lost his life after being struck by lightning while on the course. Philip was the fifth golfer since 1999 to die on a UK golf course ...

How hot is lightning?

The temperature of lightning reaches 30,000 °C. To put this into context, that’s five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Approximately 5 per cent of annual lightning deaths and injuries in the US happen on the golf course, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Even golf pros have been struck by lightning.

How long after a lightning flash can you play?

Avoid water and find a low-lying open place which is far from trees and metal objects. Don’t rush back out onto the course straight away. Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning flash before resuming play, as over half of lightning deaths occur after the storm has passed.

How hot can a golfer get in a lightning strike?

Some facts you might not know about lightning: Air in a lightning strike can be heated up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is the lightning detection system on golf courses?

Many golf courses are now equipped with a lightning detection system that sets off a horn when lightning gets within a certain set distance from the course. Others have both a detection and prediction system.

How to get away from a golf cart?

You must get away from your cart and away from your golf clubs quickly. Stay away from water. If you are old-school and have metal spikes on, take them off. If stranded in the open, go to a low place such as a ravine or valley, or the lowest spot you can find.

When does lightning strike?

Most lightning incidents occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening (between 2:00-6:00 p.m.).

Can lightning and golf mix?

Lightning and golf do not mix. Taking a chance and hitting a few more shots or going one more hole could prove deadly. As a golf coach and instructor, some may say that I am, on occasion, over cautious.

Is it safe to stay outside during lightning?

No place outside is safe if lightning is in the vicinity. Partially enclosed shelters are not safe. If no safe shelter is available ... stay away from the tallest objects (trees, light poles, flag poles), metal objects (fences or golf clubs), standing pools of water, and fields.". Stay safe this summer, and remember, golf, ...

Know Your Threats

The first item on any severe weather safety checklist is to know your threats.

Develop An Action Plan

Once you have a list, it’s time to take action. When severe weather threatens your golf course you have to act quickly to protect property, people, and finances.

Fetch Reliable Weather Data

The most important thing that all weather safety plans need is reliable weather data. You can’t make life-or-death operational decisions with faulty or free weather information.

Notify Everyone

Once you have the right data to make decisions with you need to notify everyone and get them out of harm’s way. There are a couple different ways you can receive weather alerts. We’ll go over some tried and trusted ways.

Identify Shelters

Once everyone knows of an incoming severe weather threat, they must seek shelter. Unfortunately for those on golf courses, sometimes shelters can be few and far between. Most of the time, golf courses need more lead time to warn guests about incoming weather because of this reason.

Know Who Activates the Plan

Your severe weather safety plan can’t start until someone or something activates it. You can take care of all the previous items on this list, but if you don’t have a system for starting your plan, it can’t do you any good.

Practice Your Plan

Practice makes perfect for both golf and severe weather safety. One of the most important items on the severe weather safety checklist for golf courses is to practice.

How to stay safe from lightning?

Crouch down in the sand with your head tucked between your knees and your feet together. Doing this will reduce the likelihood of being struck and your vital body parts are protected. So there you have it, some easy-to-use safety tips you can implement to stay safe on the golf course if thunder and lightning come out of nowhere.

What happens if you use lightning?

If you’re using it when the lightning begins to strike, you could draw it towards you with severe effects. A 15-year-old was struck by lightning when making a call out on the golf course and she was instantly placed into cardiac arrest - so stay silent.

How to tell how close a thunderstorm is to a golf course?

There is a certain number of tell-tale signs that help you can estimate how close a thunderstorm is to a golf course. The first is the number of times lightning occurs and the proximity of how far away the storm is. Counting between the initial lightning flash until you hear the thunder tells the distance.

When it rains and there's lightning, do you need to get off the course?

Golf course safety shouldn’t be a throwback to the caveman days. When it’s raining and there’s lightning, you need to get off the course as soon as possible. But understandably this might not be so easy in a sudden downpour. Always keep a note of where the lightning safety areas are located at your golf course.

What is the siren rule for golf?

In an immediate sense of finishing around right away without question is three shorts siren blasts. Most of the standard golf courses have adapted to this siren rule. In areas where there are last-minute warnings for a lightning storm, these three siren blasts will sound-off.

How many golfers die from lightning each year?

The number of golfers killed each year in the US now represents 27 golfers per year. With the popularity of golf reaching a younger audience, the age group of fatalities is getting younger.

Why do golfers die from lightning?

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.

How does lightning travel?

It’s obvious that most lightning comes from a cloud by an electrical build-up and discharges to the ground. It can also travel from could to cloud alternatively. In rare cases, it can travel horizontally from a cloud over 2-3 miles until it reached its target.

What are the rules for golf?

According to the golfing rules in 6 through 8, the golfer has the opportunity to finish their game at their own risk. They may also discontinue if they feel there is danger involved. This is where many golf courses have special waivers that don’t leave them at fault in case of wrongful death. This is possibly where the expression of play at your own risk’ comes from. But to be fair to players, each official golf course must supply safety zones for lightning.

What are the hazards of a course?

Gas, mist and fumes from hazardous chemicals are all contaminants that may be present at your course. Solid surfaces could also become hazardous when welded or ground. If exposed to these respiratory hazards, you and your crew can suffer dire medical consequences. The effects could be instant, or they could take years to take effect

Why do I get heat cramps?

Heat Cramps. Heat cramps are muscle cramps which are caused by the loss of fluid and body salts due to excessive sweating. The best way to treat this illness to rest and hydrate by drinking water or electrolyte beverages.

How to protect workers from heat stress?

Everyone should be able to recognize heat illness symptoms in themselves and in others. They should drink plenty of fluids (5-7 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes) and avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.

How to treat heat stress?

The best way to treat heat stress is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Many prevention measures are under your direct control, like providing heat illness training, limiting the amount of time employees are required to work under hot conditions, assigning staff to less strenuous work or work in shady areas during ...

How to lower body temperature?

You should try to lower the victim’s body temperature by applying a cold compress or water on their head, face, and neck. Heat exhaustion is very dangerous, so someone should stay with the victim, and call 911 immediately if symptoms worsen. Even if the victim’s conditions improve, they should receive a medical evaluation.

What to do if you notice a cold?

If you notice these symptoms, you should call 911, and attempt to reduce the person’s temperature by bringing them to a cool area, wet them with cool water or ice, and cover them in wet towels, blankets, or sheets.

Where to put powder for heat rash?

A victim of heat rash should move to a cooler, dryer area. They may also apply powder, but they should never apply any creams or substances that may make the skin warmer or moister.