Golf Insurance and golfers

[drdel]

So I'm pretty lucky as I live next to a course. Over the weekend I gained 2 balls in the front lawn which is across a public road - its not unknown but not that common and the trees kill the power of most wayward shots.

I happened to see a ball pitch in the road arriving from a tee - it bounced off the road and came across the drive. A few seconds later the same golfer send down another slice which followed almost the exact same path across the road.

When he strolls up looking for his ball(s), while studiously trying to avoid eye contact. Eventually I asked if he was going to see if he'd caused any damage. He had an extensive range of expletives and when I asked if he knew he was responsible for any damage his ball might have done and did he have golf insurance - I think the next string of mostly Anglo Saxon words would translate in a 'No'.

He blamed me for living next to the course - I'm translating the words for you again !!

Sometimes I'm ashamed of my fellow golfers.

Just wondering how many Forum members would check out where their ball landed and do you have insurance?

 

[backwoodsman]

If I played a shot that went oob in that kind of situation, then yes, I would check. And yes, I have insurance. S'wot it's for.

 

[c1973]

Did he get his balls back though?

 

[drdel]

Hi c1973 - He was generous to a fault as he said I could keep the ****ing balls !!!

I must look at the "Ball Marking" thread I may be able to identify their owner :thup:

 

[c1973]

Hi c1973 - He was generous to a fault as he said I could keep the ****ing balls !!!

I must look at the "Ball Marking" thread I may be able to identify their owner :thup:

Two new balls and some light entertainment from a clown, interesting day then. I hope they were Pro v's.

On topic though, I don't have insurance and keep forgetting to look into it. Think it's on the must do list now.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If you are getting this on a regular basis I would be getting in touch with the club. As a fellow golfer you may be more tolerant than non golfers and able to work towards a compromise but you have a right to protect your own property and it could be dangerous. It only takes one ball to cause a nasty injury to you or a loved one and you can never say never.

 

[LinksTurf]

Would agree with Homer there. One of the 3 courses at Carnoustie has a tee that is close to new housing and balls were landing in the gardens of the houses. They had advisers out to discuss options such as moving the tee and putting up fences following a risk assessment using ball flight simulation and analysis software. Can't remember what conclusion they came to and what they did, as I don't play that course, but they took it seriously.

 

[CliveW]

Would the Club's insurance not cover third party claims? I know my previous club did. They had an issue with a neighbour who recently moved in to a large house behind one of the greens, but the courts ruled that because the green was there more than 100 years before he moved into the house, the club wasn't liable.

 

[ManinBlack]

Two new balls and some light entertainment from a clown, interesting day then. I hope they were Pro v's.

On topic though, I don't have insurance and keep forgetting to look into it. Think it's on the must do list now.

You not heard about the golfer who injured another player & got sued for £400,000? I wouldn't set foot on a golf course without insurance.

 

[Coatsy79]

Two new balls and some light entertainment from a clown, interesting day then. I hope they were Pro v's.

On topic though, I don't have insurance and keep forgetting to look into it. Think it's on the must do list now.

Good thing to have, I use these guys, no free balls/mags/hats etc but I think I pay £2 a month or something and get all the coverage I need

http://www.eandl.co.uk/golf-insurance

 

[Slab]

Would it be fair to suggest that one of the tasks an insurance company will do if faced with a claim is to look to apportion responsibility/fault back to the insured golfers actions such that their insurance is actually invalidated

I'd imagine the policy has all kinds of small print that a golfer would have to be compliant with

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Would the Club's insurance not cover third party claims? I know my previous club did. They had an issue with a neighbour who recently moved in to a large house behind one of the greens, but the courts ruled that because the green was there more than 100 years before he moved into the house, the club wasn't liable.

That always used to be the case Clive.
Course older than house, householders liability.

However, there has been some recent cases where the changes within the sport made it not so open and shut.
eg Better equipment allowing balls to travel further.

I had a case a few years ago where a new house holder put pressure on the council planners [who granted permission for his new house] to alter the design and safe playing of that hole.

Also a case on IOW where the village cricket green was in close proximity to the houses/shops.
The club used to play a dozen matches a year. The club became very successful and introduced second and junior teams so the green was used about 60 times a year. They now have to put up extensive netting to continue to play on their ancient green.

 

[Airsporter1st]

Good thing to have, I use these guys, no free balls/mags/hats etc but I think I pay £2 a month or something and get all the coverage I need

http://www.eandl.co.uk/golf-insurance

I just followed that link and I am now fully insured - thanks.

Be aware that if you elect to pay by credit card there is an additional £6 on top of the annual fee. however, this still only brings it to just a shade over £26 for basic cover (it was the all-important liability cover that I wanted) which is small price top pay for peace of mind.

 

[cookelad]

We're under 'strict' instruction to report any balls hit into the houses neighbouring our first, the club is insured for any such occurrences, so far I've not seen it happen but I guess it has at some point!

For the amount of golf I play there's no way I'd be without insurance, especially now I'm on pretty tight layout as well!

 

[Airsporter1st]

As with any insurance policy it is up to the insured to exercise a level of diligence. E.g. locking up the house when you go out - if you didn't and were robbed, you wouldn't really expect the insurer to cough up would you?

Reading through the small print of the policy I've just purchased, there is nothing in there in the way of the 'get-out' clauses that you are suggesting or that would worry me.

Bottom line is I think any golfer is better off with cover than without, especially at such a modest cost - less than a typical round of 18 holes, once a year.

 

[ManinBlack]

Would it be fair to suggest that one of the tasks an insurance company will do if faced with a claim is to look to apportion responsibility/fault back to the insured golfers actions such that their insurance is actually invalidated

I'd imagine the policy has all kinds of small print that a golfer would have to be compliant with

Unlikely. If you sliced it through someone's window what are they go in to do, ask to see evidence that you had some lessons to try & cure your slice? I recently negligently left my rangefinder on a tee & it wasn't handed in. The insurers paid out without a quibble, despite a number of members of the forum telling me they shouldn't pay.

 

[Martin70]

My course covers its members but I have my own insurance anyway. 20 odd quid is nothing for peace of mind.

 

[Slab]

Unlikely. If you sliced it through someone's window what are they go in to do, ask to see evidence that you had some lessons to try & cure your slice? I recently negligently left my rangefinder on a tee & it wasn't handed in. The insurers paid out without a quibble, despite a number of members of the forum telling me they shouldn't pay.

Agree but I'd still lay a wager that if I had a couple of pints with lunch in the clubhouse pre-round and then stood on the 1st tee where my wayward shots hits someone on the noggin who claims £400k in damages... I think my insurance company will be interested in those two pints

Just having insurance doesn't always mean you're insured

 

[Airsporter1st]

Unlikely. If you sliced it through someone's window what are they go in to do, ask to see evidence that you had some lessons to try & cure your slice? I recently negligently left my rangefinder on a tee & it wasn't handed in. The insurers paid out without a quibble, despite a number of members of the forum telling me they shouldn't pay.

I think the forum members were right to say that they shouldn't pay - because you were negligent as you say.

However, insurers will look at all the facts and will often make ex gratia payments in such cases. (I know this, because back in the dim and distant past, I worked for a spell as a Loss Adjuster.)

 

[ManinBlack]

Agree but I'd still lay a wager that if I had a couple of pints with lunch in the clubhouse pre-round and then stood on the 1st tee where my wayward shots hits someone on the noggin who claims £400k in damages... I think my insurance company will be interested in those two pints

Just having insurance doesn't always mean you're insured

Well, everybody knows you shouldn't drink & drive.