USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I was playing golf away this weekend, at a hotel with a golf course attached. I had never been there before, and had had a few sat nav issues so wasn’t in the best mood on arrival. The name of the Hotel is Donnington Grove golf and country club (which is a bit of a clue that there may be golf balls flying about). Just inside the gates is a sign warning drivers that golfers are approaching from the right. I kind of ignored it, and just drove across, trying to keep a look out, but it’s not immediately obvious where to look (ok, to the right, but it’s not easy to see where, not really knowing the lay out).
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The golf car park isn’t the easiest to find either.
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I was in the first 4 ball out, with no one in front of us, although some of our group had played here before.
The first is a long par 5, the second a tight par 4 dog leg. The third is another dog leg par 4. I hit a poor tee shot, which blocked me out on the right side. I hit a low cut 5i at the green, and when I looked up, a car whizzed along the drive in front of me, and my ball put a titleist sized dent in the body work from about 130 yards. They had not stopped at the sign to look for golfers, and none of my playing partners had waved them across. When I hit the ball, I had no idea there was a car coming.
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Not having played there before, I had no idea that the driveway passed this particular hole, or that cars could suddenly appear in front of you. I didn’t see any signs for golfers playing the hole to look out for cars.
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I gave the driver my details, but was not sure who was at fault, me for hitting the ball, or them for driving along without a care in the world. The course ranger turned up and said it was her fault for ignoring the signs, and not stopping until it was clear to proceed. The driver was not happy with this at all. In all the confusion, I forgot to get her details, or the car registration. I didn’t really see why I needed it any way, she could always get in touch with me, although what I would do about it remained unsure.
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I blobbed the hole, as my ball had pinged off into deep rough, and I don’t get a shot on the 3rd.
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We next saw the ranger on the 8th, where he asked me to fill in one of those one day insurance forms, that are apparently part of the green fee and hotel stay package. This should cover me for any liabilities, although he was still adamant that it was her fault, but that she was ranting at the hotel receptionist.
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I have read the small print today, and I need to report the incident within a week to be covered, so I now need to phone the insurers up, and report the accident, but can’t really tell them much, as I don’t even have a name! Idiot.
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On the Sunday, playing this hole we were all a bit more alert, and looking out a bit more for cars. (especially me, as we had a standing joke going that I would hit the same car on the way out). All the cars we saw, and there were about 7 (rush hour?), stopped at the signs, and waited to be waved across.
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This has made my mind up about golf insurance though. My course has footpaths which cross it, and quite often walkers, or cyclists appear after you have hit the ball. We also have a driveway from the club house to the tenth tee, which is within range of any one playing the 18th.
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As an aside, the course didn’t suit my eye particularly. Some internal out of bounds, dog legs to the right, with slopping fairways to the left (what are you supposed to hit to stay on the fairway?) etc. *The greens were very nice, often with large contours, but the tees and fairways were a bit scrappy. It was poorly signed, so easy to get lost. There are also some massive walks between tees, so we had buggies. I’m not a fan of buggy golf.
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They also didn’t have any nice beers in the bar, although that didn’t stop me from being in there from 3 in the afternoon until one in the morning.
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*
The golf car park isn’t the easiest to find either.
*
I was in the first 4 ball out, with no one in front of us, although some of our group had played here before.
The first is a long par 5, the second a tight par 4 dog leg. The third is another dog leg par 4. I hit a poor tee shot, which blocked me out on the right side. I hit a low cut 5i at the green, and when I looked up, a car whizzed along the drive in front of me, and my ball put a titleist sized dent in the body work from about 130 yards. They had not stopped at the sign to look for golfers, and none of my playing partners had waved them across. When I hit the ball, I had no idea there was a car coming.
*
Not having played there before, I had no idea that the driveway passed this particular hole, or that cars could suddenly appear in front of you. I didn’t see any signs for golfers playing the hole to look out for cars.
*
I gave the driver my details, but was not sure who was at fault, me for hitting the ball, or them for driving along without a care in the world. The course ranger turned up and said it was her fault for ignoring the signs, and not stopping until it was clear to proceed. The driver was not happy with this at all. In all the confusion, I forgot to get her details, or the car registration. I didn’t really see why I needed it any way, she could always get in touch with me, although what I would do about it remained unsure.
*
I blobbed the hole, as my ball had pinged off into deep rough, and I don’t get a shot on the 3rd.
*
We next saw the ranger on the 8th, where he asked me to fill in one of those one day insurance forms, that are apparently part of the green fee and hotel stay package. This should cover me for any liabilities, although he was still adamant that it was her fault, but that she was ranting at the hotel receptionist.
*
I have read the small print today, and I need to report the incident within a week to be covered, so I now need to phone the insurers up, and report the accident, but can’t really tell them much, as I don’t even have a name! Idiot.
*
On the Sunday, playing this hole we were all a bit more alert, and looking out a bit more for cars. (especially me, as we had a standing joke going that I would hit the same car on the way out). All the cars we saw, and there were about 7 (rush hour?), stopped at the signs, and waited to be waved across.
*
This has made my mind up about golf insurance though. My course has footpaths which cross it, and quite often walkers, or cyclists appear after you have hit the ball. We also have a driveway from the club house to the tenth tee, which is within range of any one playing the 18th.
*
As an aside, the course didn’t suit my eye particularly. Some internal out of bounds, dog legs to the right, with slopping fairways to the left (what are you supposed to hit to stay on the fairway?) etc. *The greens were very nice, often with large contours, but the tees and fairways were a bit scrappy. It was poorly signed, so easy to get lost. There are also some massive walks between tees, so we had buggies. I’m not a fan of buggy golf.
*
They also didn’t have any nice beers in the bar, although that didn’t stop me from being in there from 3 in the afternoon until one in the morning.
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