Closing the course

[louise_a]

Today was a lady's competition, I was due out at 12.30 and there was thunder and lightning around, but the course was still open. We played the 1st and then had a discussion with some others and decided we didn't fancy the lightning and came in. There were others out on the course still playing. Some time later while we were having a drink in the clubhouse, the klaxon sounded. The pro had set it off.
I was interested why he hadn't done so earlier and he said he only did it because the lady's competition secretary, who was not at the course and phoned in and asked him too.

Is closing the course part of a competition secretary's remit? I would have though that if the course hadn't been closed and some people had decided to continue despite the lightning, then the comp secretary shouldn't have intervened.

Thoughts?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If lightning is around then it becomes a H & S issue and the club needs to bring people off sharpish. I don't know who makes the decision at our club but in this instance is it possible that one of the players rang / messaged the comp secretary and questioned whether they should really be out there?

People can not continue 'despite the lightning' as the club could be seen as failing in its duty of care.

 

[IanM]

Crikey... surely it must be done by someone on site? Sounds very dangerous.

Both clubs I'm a member of have the manager and/or pro primed for this.

 

[Imurg]

Interestingly, we don't have a klaxon or warning when lightening is around..
It's left up to the individual as to whether they deem it safe enough to continue and they do so at their own risk...there's a notice to this effect on the way to the tees.
It's not so thing I agree with...if there's dangerous weather conditions, whether it's Lightening, very high winds etc, the club should close the course.
When we had the England Golf Seniors down last week they had an hour break due to lightening and, I believe, a klaxon was sounded to bring everyone in.
Must have been theirs as we don't have one.....

 

[D-S]

If there is lightning around and you don’t stop your round and get to shelter immediately then you really are an idiot. It shouldn’t need the club to blow klaxons etc. it is good if they do but really would you really wait until you heard a klaxon before taking yourself out of immediate danger?

 

[HampshireHog]

Not sure why the comp secretary would close the course. Their responsibility would be surely limited to what to do regarding restarting or abandoning the comp.

There should be a protocol in place for the club to act regardless of whether a comp is being played.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Seems like the pro or senior club official that makes the decision to close the course hasn’t done their job properly. You made the right call to walk in and though people should not need to be told in those circumstances to leave the course. the club still have a responsibility or duty of care surely to sound a horn/klaxon to tell people to get of the course.

 

[jim8flog]

I was listening to the chairman reporting on an incident on Sunday.

Major event involving players from other clubs which went forward but one of the players wants the manger sacked for not closing the course.

I wrote the rules for fog for our course (wording as suggested by the R&A) but was chastised by one new manager for the way they are written. He was a stickler for H&S and would sound the klaxon immediately in the event of lightening or fog ( although no one can hear it on a large part of the course) When it turned foggy he would drive around and make sure everybody got off the course.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Our course is closed by theoffice/manager or the club pro in the event of fog or lightning. They don't have to be asked, regardless who is on the course.

 

[Tashyboy]

Bottom line, Tashyboy was massively bogged off today. On our signature hole( Hallam Heights) you can see for miles.you could see the heavy showers about. It’s a par three 190 ish and we teed off dry. We got less than halfway to the hole and it was biblical. Brolley up waterproofs etc etc. we got halfway to the green and then the hail started. Soddin eck. It thunderclapped and lightening at the same time, it was overhead and not good at all. We looked at one another re what to do. No Klaxons nothing.
We putted out and it seemed to be moving away. We played our second shots on the next hole and started it again but worse. I putted out and said “ stuff it, am not waiting for a Klaxon”. We went in and there must of been 50-60 in the clubhouse. I asked re the Klaxon and apparently it’s broken. seriously get the bloody thing fixed.
Some of the fuddle carried on, but some came in. Personally I think it don’t look good with 50,000 volts going through your Tash.
On a positive, I joint won the front nine

 

[Arthur Wedge]

The club should have an adverse weather policy

For us it’s monitored by the pro shop and the course manager ( plus deputy) if they are on the grounds

They will make the judgment on the locality of any lightning risk

It’s always worth remembering that thunder doesn’t automatically mean there will be a lightening risk and if you can hear it doesn’t mean it’s in the local area

But you can always make your own judgment call

Happy to provide a copy of ours that I did , it also includes fog

 

[Backache]

We don't have a klaxon and I would certainly stop for lightning.
I have played in fog by walking forward to check that all was clear before playing.

 

[rulefan]

We have 2 klaxons. One at the clubhouse and one at the greens sheds at the other end of the course. Both are tested regularly.
We also have a PC based lightening proximity system.
Any of the manager, his deputy, pro, head green keeper and his deputy can set them off if and when they think fit.

If a particular tree on the 18th fairway can't be clearly seen because of fog, the course is closed.

 

[srixon 1]

I was listening to the chairman reporting on an incident on Sunday.

Major event involving players from other clubs which went forward but one of the players wants the manger sacked for not closing the course.

I wrote the rules for fog for our course (wording as suggested by the R&A) but was chastised by one new manager for the way they are written. He was a stickler for H&S and would sound the klaxon immediately in the event of lightening or fog ( although no one can hear it on a large part of the course) When it turned foggy he would drive around and make sure everybody got off the course.

I was there for that. Not playing but supporting our team. The opposition in one of the 4somes matches walked in, whereas everyone else from both sides deemed it OK to carry on. After a discussion between both captains it was agreed that the opposition would concede that point. The morning 4somes finished 2-2. We won the afternoon singles 5.5-2.5.

Didn’t play in the final but still got a medal as I had played in previous rounds. My 4th winners medal in that competition

 

[louise_a]

At our course the decision lies with the pro who rightly or wrongly kept the course open, which is why I wondered about the comp secretary ringing up to tell him to close it because they wanted to cancel the comp.