where did lightning strike golf course

by Cortney Dicki MD 8 min read

On Friday at a Topgolf venue in San Antonio, 18-year-old Tomas Gomez was hitting golf balls with his brother, sister and some friends while a storm was building in the area. While hitting balls from a ground-level bay, Gomez launched a ball that, while in mid-flight, got struck by a bolt of lightning.Jul 10, 2021

How long does a lightning strike last on the golf course?

 · WEST VALLEY, Utah – Employees at the Stonebridge Golf Club in West Valley cleared the course late Monday afternoon when they saw a storm brewing, and around 5:30 p.m., a large bolt of lightning ...

How do golf courses protect players from lightning strikes?

 · WESTAMPTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) — Storms turned deadly Wednesday when a man was killed by a lightning strike on a New Jersey golf course. It happened at Burlington Country Club.

Did lightning create a spider-like pattern on a Texas Golf Course?

The sky above the Atlantic City Country Club was overcast and misty, but that didn’t stop Spencer Van Maussner and his friends—Michael McHugh, Robert Dusz and Peter Costanzo—from …

Who was killed by lightning bolt on New Jersey golf course?

 · A New Jersey man died after he was struck by lightning while playing golf at a local country club, authorities said. Lt. Brian Ferguson of the Westampton Township Police …

Where was the golf ball struck by lightning?

The one-in-a-million moment happened at Topgolf in San Antonio, Texas. SAN ANTONIO — It's a moment you have to see to believe. One teen was hitting some shots at Topgolf San Antonio with his friends over the weekend when one of his golf balls was struck by lightning — mid-air.

What happened to golf ball hit by lightning?

Jensenius explained that, if lightning had struck the ball, the electric channel wouldn't terminate in midair at the golf ball; instead, it would continue to the ground. That's typically the case with airplanes, and would certainly be the case with a golf ball. Lightning exists to balance or redistribute charge.

Did lightning strike golf ball?

SAN ANTONIO, TX (NBC) – Most golfers dream of the perfect strike on the ball. In Texas, that strike was electrifying. The golfer was at a San Antonio driving range hitting into a storm that was in the area.

Where was Lee Trevino struck by lightning?

He won the first of two PGA Championships in 1974, but misfortune struck him the next year when he was hit by lightning at the Western Open in Chicago. Trevino continued playing, but months later suffered back pain and underwent surgery in 1976.

What are the chances of getting struck by lightning while playing golf?

The odds of being struck by lightning on a golf course is 1:3,000. The odds of becoming a lightning victim in the US is 1:700,000. Lightning can kill people or cause cardiac arrest, severe burns, permanent brain damage, memory loss, and personality changes.

How does TopGolf know where you hit the ball?

The ball dispensers are equipped with RFID readers that can tell when you wave a club over the sensor. The ball also contains an RFID chip that tells the Topgolf system that it's you who's about to hit.

What golfer has been hit by lightning?

When a bolt of lightning struck Lee Trevino on a golf course. During the 1975 Western Open at Butler National in Oak Brook, Illinois, Lee Trevino was standing on the 13th green.

Does Topgolf stay open with lightning?

Unless it's an extreme weather event, nothing can stop a good time at Topgolf, not even rain or snow. Our venues are all-weather facilities with covered hitting bays that are fitted with fans for the summer and heaters for the winter.

Can you play golf in lightning?

Golfers know that the USGA Rules of Golf (Rule 5.7) allow players to discontinue play if they believe there is a danger from lightning. Golf and Frisbee Golf are the only sports with regulations relating to lightning.

Who said even God can't hit a one iron?

Lee TrevinoAfter being struck by lightning in 1975 at the Western Open, Lee Trevino advised golfers caught in storms to hold up a 1-iron because "not even God can hit a 1-iron."

How many times was golfer Lee Trevino 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.

Who was the Merry Mex?

Lee TrevinoHe is one of only four players to twice win the U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship. The Masters Tournament was the only major that eluded him....Lee TrevinoNicknameThe Merry Mex, SupermexBornDecember 1, 1939 Garland, Texas, U.S.Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)Weight180 lb (82 kg; 13 st)27 more rows

Where did Michael Florence get caught?

It happened at Burlington Country Club. Officials say 70-year-old Michael Florence was on the golf course when he got caught in a pop-up storm. Storms have the ability to become a lot more serious than they first appear. This happened just about 500 yards away from the course’s clubhouse.

What happened to Michael Florence in New Jersey?

It happened at Burlington Country Club. Officials say 70-year-old Michael Florence was on the golf course when he got caught in a pop-up storm. Storms have the ability to become a lot more serious ...

When a golf course takes steps to protect players from lightning strikes, it must implement safety precautions properly.?

When a golf course takes steps to protect players from lightning strikes, it must implement safety precautions properly. It added that a jury should decide whether the club did so in the way it posted evacuation notices and monitored dangerous conditions, and if it should have built shelters and provided an audible signal.

Who was the caddie that rushed to the clubhouse?

Robert Dusz rushed to the clubhouse, about 300 yards away, while a caddie ran to the nearby police station for help. Meanwhile, McHugh, who had taken first-aid courses, determined that Maussner had no pulse and wasn’t breathing. McHugh also saw that Maussner’s jaw was locked.

What happened to Costanzo's legs?

Seconds later, lightning ran up Costanzo’s legs, blowing keys and change out of his pockets and into the air, where a glowing halo of electricity circled them. McHugh ran first to Costanzo, who had also been knocked to the ground. “It’s my legs, it’s my legs,” Costanzo moaned, but otherwise he seemed stable.

Why did Maussner sue Atlantic City Country Club?

Maussner sued the Atlantic City Country Club, claiming it didn’t have proper safety procedures in place to protect patrons from lightning. The bolt that Maussner first spotted had been perhaps 15 miles away, and an expert witness reported that there was technology available at a reasonable price that could detect lightning up to 40 miles away.

Why did Maussner walk across an open field?

The judge noted that Maussner chose to walk across an open field when he could have sought shelter or lain down. Maussner appealed to a higher court. The Superior Court of New Jersey said injuries through acts of God don’t exempt courses from liability.

Did the country club have signs posted about its evacuation plan?

Maussner further argued that the country club did not have signs posted about its evacuation plan, nor did it begin telling players to seek shelter at neighboring houses until after his accident. If the club had had proper precautions in place, Maussner said, he would not have suffered the injuries.

What happened to the tree that was hit by lightning?

John Amis/AP. Several people were wounded after lightning hit a tree at the East Lake Golf Club on Saturday. PGA Tour added that officials who were brought in to assess the tree struck by lightning determined that it was safe.

What happened at the 16th tee of the PGA?

Nearly 30 minutes after organizers suspended activities, dual lightning struck a maintenance area and a tree near the 16th tee and the driving range, Mark Russell, PGA’s vice president of rules, competition and administration, told reporters on Saturday. Russell said organizers encouraged everybody to leave the course and take shelter.

How many people were treated at the scene of the PGA Tour?

Five were taken to hospitals and were released on Saturday night, PGA Tour said in a statement on Sunday. A sixth person was treated at the scene.

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.

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.).

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 much electricity does a ground strike produce?

A ground strike can produce somewhere between 100 million to one billion volts of electricity.

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, ...

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