Thinking about golf insurance?

[haplesshacker]

What's the general view on here?

Is it essential, a luxury, everyone should have it regardless?

I only ask as a colleague of mine has recommended that I should get some through The Golfers Club. www.thegolfersclub.co.uk

Can anyone recommend a good (cheap) scheme, what do you have, or not and why.

Should I be responsible and get insurance or just not waste my money?

Does whether someone has insurance or not make a difference as to whether you'd play with them?

Any advice suggestions?

As an extra, I'll add 2 questions.

 

[markwarne]

I have just got some insurance through Golfcare (www.golfcare.co.uk). I paid £22 for a Bronze package which pretty much gives everything I need.

I specifically wanted it as I have just taken a locker at my club and want ot make sure that everything is covered when in the locker (which this policy gives me). I am also covered for Personal Indemnity (hopefully I will never need it) as well as (I love this one) Hole in One Bar cover.

End of the day, its £20 that I am not going to miss, but its a small price for piece of mind

 

[haplesshacker]

Maybe an articule in this for GM? Analysing the golf insurance pro and cons. What you need, what you don't need, costs etc.

 

[terryb]

I have just renewed with Golfcare. Tried to take insurance through Golfers' Club last year but got little joy from them and none of the other benefits they advise despite numerous calls and promises

Definitely believe in it given the litiginous nature of this country (my son used to work for an "ambulance chaser" and his stories worried mr even more than before)

 

[medwayjon]

Golf insurance is very flawed in my eyes.

Yes the liability thing is good but the problem for me lies with equipment cover.

When my clubs were chored they sent me a claim form and the small print said that they would basically counter-claim against my home insurance so they would essentially be doing jack and paying out for jack whilst cocking up my claim-free house insurance policy.

The hole in one bar cover was ok but this only included official club comps so if I had an ace on a society day I wouldnt be covered.

My current club includes liability cover in the membership however my 2nd club and the one I am looking at joining do not so I will be forced into cover again. I am going to go with golf-plan as the boys at the range I use are in a partnership thing with them and there is a bit of bunce in it for them and the cover/prices are good.

 

[MVP]

I should get insured really cos if i hit someone in the face or smash a car window etc etc i would need to pay the damages

 

[cm_qs]

I looked into this in a fair bit of detail a while back and there was a long thread about it on the forum.

In summary - in principle I believe insurance to be a necessity but only for liability against injuring other people or damaging other peoples property. This can only be a good thing.

As for insuring your gear against theft and replacement costs, I looked at most of the policies I could find in a bit of detail and the exclusions to the policies would, for me , render them virtually useless.

Before you buy golf insurance, you may also want to check out any pre-existing cover through either a club policy which extends to members and visitors or your house insurance which may well include some level of cover.

I seem to remember that Chubb signed up at for insurance at the time. Maybe he can give the forum a bit of feedback?

 

[Parmo]

I signed up for the E&L I think they are called. First impressions weren't too good, it took them 10 weeks to send the policy but only due to be remembering it and sending an email stating in no uncertain terms that if I didn't get a response I would be forced to look for alternative insurance and inform the FSA, within the hour I got a call and got it all sorted, they changed my cover, amended the clubs insured and within the week I got my policy.

I really didn't take insurance against them being nicked, I go to the club and home again with them and the T&C on all of the policies make it clear that it will take a chav to have forced either the lock off the locker door or someone broke into a car and stole them when they where covered and locked in the boot. My main concern was the type of Yank attitude that seems to be becoming a problem over here, and that was against people suing me over damages if I hit them or property with a ball, whereas before it was accepted as part of the game. I also needed travel cover on them, though if they would pay up is a different thing.

Do you currently have golf insurance?

Yes, to cover my backend.

Do you think golfers should have insurance?

No, due to the nightmare culture it brings.

 

[viscount17]

my current golf insurance is the unexpired portion of 60-days free cover courtesy of AG. my clubs are also currently covered by my home insurance. I also have sitting at home, a leaflet offering a reduced rate 12 months insurance, which coincidently is valid to the end of my free period.

I am extremely dubious about these golf cover insurances paying up on a claim for clubs unless you have every receipt in triplicate. (my son has his baggage lost by an airline, no pay unless he had receipts for every item - still got yours for your shirts and socks?)

As craig, my primary reasoning is self-protection against a third party claim (and of course the hole-in-one!) but it would appear that you can't get just that - or not at least as a general policy, which automatically means a higher premium as a special policy even though covering less!

insurance and guarantees are probably the most profitable (legal) scams in being.
how many of you, when buying anything electrical, audio, video, photographic, etc have had the packaging opened at the point of sale and the guarantee card signed and dated? if you read the wording failing to do this invalidates any claim against the manufacturer.

 

[Parmo]

Total scam as you said Vis

 

[heronsghyll]

I have claimed for stolen clubs twice in the last 25 years. Both times my clubs were stolen from my car which was parked in a GC car park. (2 seperate venues by the way). The last time was 6 years ago. I claimed on my home contents insurance which I have, which has a section for cover "away from home" all risk. I specify the clubs as a specific item with a value, which costs almost nothing extra.

Both times the company paid out - no problem. Maybe others should review this an an option.

Regarding 3rd party cover - injury and damage from me playing - my golf club provides this for a small mandatory premium, paid with my annual subscription.

You may want to check whether your club provides this as well.

 

[medwayjon]

A note regarding the 3rd party liability cover.

Many clubs do provide members cover but this only applies when playing at your own course so be careful.

I have heard that some other courses inclued liability cover in visitor/guest green-fees but this is sparce.

 

[Parmo]

Isnt it inc with your union fees?

 

[Barney]

Golf Insurance has SOOOOOOOOOOO many hidden pitfalls !!
It is never as good as it seems. Put it this way once you read the very fine print on most policies you will be like me and think why bother !!

 

[Parmo]

Golf Insurance has SOOOOOOOOOOO many hidden pitfalls !!
It is never as good as it seems. Put it this way once you read the very fine print on most policies you will be like me and think why bother !!

I know what you mean, but you just don't know what plonker takes a bouncing ball on the leg and does an Cronaldo and sues you, for me the cost could be devastating to say the least. I hate the fact that we live in a day where people are suing each other though it could be just as easy for the injured person to hit someone else, the chances are remote but we all have close calls and that piece of mind does help in not distracting you from your game, if you hit someone, it would be awful but least you know (hope) you are covered if they want to take the legal option.

 

[DCB]

I think that if you venture onto a golf course to play golf or just to walk the dog, you have to accept that the environment you are in has certain inherent risks. by voluntarily entering the environment you accept those risks.

No-one stands on the tee and deliberately aims at hitting a fellow member. Accidents happen and unless someone is playing with complete disregard for thise around him, then that is what it is, an accident.

Unfortunately, we now have the ambulance chaser law firms only too willing to take a case to court ( or arbitration) to get a slice (no pun intended) of the action.

 

[Smiffy]

I should get insured really cos if i hit someone in the face i would need to pay the damages

Does it cover 4 putting then?

 

[viscount17]

Sorry DCB, but the line that if you're on a golf course you know the risk has already been overruled by at least one court.

It goes with most other things in today's society, accept no personal responsibility and someone else is always at fault

 

[Imurg]

Here's a thought.

Is the rise in Golf Insurance partly to blame for the (apparent) reduction in the number of shouts of "Fore!"?

Is there a view that "I'm insured so who cares if I hit someone"?

 

[viscount17]

no, it's more to do with 'if I shout Fore I'm admitting liability' - something your insurer always tells you not to do.