Thunder and Lightning - what does your club do?

Imurg

Imurg

The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
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Was out solo this morning (CVG is basking in Barbados and Fragger's hurt his hand) and some huge black clouds came over.I was on the 8th, so not far from the Clubhouse.
All of a sudden the was a loud clap of thunder.
I picked up and started off for the Clubhouse.
Everyone else kept on playing.
No hooter/horn/siren to call people in - nothing.
Several more flashes on booms and a squall too....

I was out of there.

What happens at your place?
 
Only an idiot keeps playing if there are electrical storms nearby! I've known 2 - 1 of whom got away with it, the other 'got tickled'! I've been caught a long way from shelter twice. Once was particularly hairy!

All clubs I've been at say take shelter - if available - but not under a single tree, if you can't get safely back to Clubhouse.

Stay away from Clubs or anything else metal. If absolutely no shelter (links), then lying prone (in bunker) is better than standing up as a 'target'!

Clubs have klaxons for warning, but unlikely to be heard over entire course - and normally in Pro Shop which is often last place to notice weather!
 
Had the horn go off at my place a couple of times to call people in if there is thunder and lightning or if the rain is so heavy that it is making the course unplayable.
 
We have an electronic activity detector (or some such) and the hooter will go if it is less than a certain distance away (I think 3 miles). A couple of years ago, our 36 hole club champs was suspended during the second round as thunder and lightning was rife and the hooter had gone two or three times during the round to start and stop play
 
We had a big storm pass through last year, luckily just as we were walking off the 18th. Told the clubhouse manager that he might want to sound the airhorn to call people in....he told me they didn't have one. Hmmmmmmmm

You're a complete moron to stay out there in storms, I've run in a few times from storms, quite fortunate that I've always been near the clubhouse when the storm has hit.
 
Hooter for us too - although it being heard out at the 9th green/ 10th tee would be unlikely.

On the same type of subject, we do not shut the course when visibility is low, due to fog or mist - I know plenty that do.
 
Hooters. but we had someone die a number of years ago, he was playing twilight and the pro shop had closed etc by the time the storm hit, I read he was struck while returning to the club house for shelter. Storms are not to be messed with!
 
11 Posts and nobody's suggested holding a 1 iron in the air??? I feel let down! :whistle:

Depends which part of the course I'm on, near the clubhouse get the hell outta there, if it's a long way back try to make a judgement on how long the storm's in for then either hunker down somewhere "safe" or get the hell outta Dodge!
 
Many years ago a local football match was in progress at Caerleon in Monmouthshire when Thor started to chuck his lightning bolts around. Seven or eight players were hit all at the same time -
three of whom died as a result.

You shouldn't need a golf club's rule book to tell you when it's dangerous out there ... you should know instinctively when it's time to run for cover if you've got any sense at all.
 
The horn is the one we use to start shotguns and so can definitely be heard to all parts of the course. Depends who is working usually as to whether it gets sounded. As for whether anyone bothers I can't say. I do!!
 
We have an airhorn. I got caught in a storm when playing at La Moye in Jersey. The lightening was on us so quickly that we only managed to get back to a hut by the nearest tee, and then spent the next two hours waiting for it to pass. I had thrown the clubs to the ground and ran for it,not taking any chances. We were only one hole from the clubhouse, but no chance of getting in. The electricity in the air was amazing, and also very frightening. The lightening was hitting all around us. When it finally passed, the course was completely flooded, and the clubhouse was locked up.:(

I blame my mate as we were only going to play 9 holes, but as he had played them in level par he wanted to continue. I have never seen a storm come in so quickly before or since. Reason I never hang around at the slightest sign of lightening. Don't mess with nature.
 
Not sure as pro is away and yesterday my first such experience at the club. Hit our drives (ladies match) and just got to the first ball when the lightning flash followed by the loudest crack of thunder I've ever heard, scared the holy out of us. I was seriously scared as it sounded so close that I looked around to see what it hit. Brollies down and quick trot back to the clubhouse although was tempted to leave my trolley where it was! Lad in the pro shop thinks it struck the flagpole but no klaxon or anything was sounded. David was playing the 14th and his pal John was fishing for his ball in the river - they got in as soon as they could as both felt it almost struck John. Scary stuff.
 
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