Thunderbolt & Lightning, very very frightening...

[JohnnyDee]

Following on from the insurance and injury threads, here's something similar.

Last Summer 20 of us went to a course (remaining nameless) in deepest Surrey for an away day. It was one of those midsummer days when it was hot and humid interspersed with heavy showers - the whole scene changing every half hour or so.

As we teed off the starter said that the club would leave it to us to decide what we should do in the event of any thunder and lightning storms. There would be no klaxon. I was astounded and queried this, but being, by and large a bunch of blokey blokes, I was told by some of the group not to be a wimp and man up. "We'd be fine..."

My argument that people get struck by lightning on courses around the world year-in-year-out so what makes our group immune form a similar fate was laughed off... (blokey blokes as I said :mmm

In the event we played through quite a few heavy thunder storms, in particular when we were well out into the country. I'm sad to say that we all (like fools IMO) stuck it out and played the entire 18 holes, but there was plenty bravado mixed with many quite worried faces out on the course as thunder thundered and lightning... err...lightned all around us, and when we all got into the clubhouse the sense of relief that no-one had been hurt was palpable. Particularly among some of our blokiest blokes; the general consensus being that perhaps wimpy kid Johnnydee might just've been right.

I know we were complete wazzocks for stupidly carrying on but here's the thing. Was the club negligent in its duty to us as customers in allowing us to "call it" on the day ourselves?

Personally I think it was, as had one, or indeed all of us been struck by lightning, would it not have failed in its duty of care by not stopping us using its facilities. To my mind it's like a fairground operator allowing a roller-coaster to continue to operate in the knowledge that a faulty car might be in danger of leaving the tracks. Offering as a the get-out "Yeah, have a go if you like, but just understand that you might get hurt if the car plunges off the track."

I hate the litigious society we have today, so the question is being posed from a standpoint of common sense and correct practice, nothing else.

Now at our place it's pretty simple. If there are electrical storms in a vicinity then klaxons are sounded and there is no option but to come in.

 

[jamielaing]

I'd have thought they had made you aware and you chose to continue so no liability for the club. Proving that they had or indeed hadn't may be difficult though.

 

[Rooter]

Ask the guy that got hit by lightning at my course his opinion? oh, you can't. he's dead.

 

[fundy]

Are you not able to think for yourself and actually decide its dangerous but need someone to tell you?

I hate this "are they neglible, are they to blame" attitude. You're all grown men able to decide to leave a golf course if theres lightening, if you arent able to make this decision properly (which you clearly werent!) dont try and palm the blame off on someone else imho

 

[bladeplayer]

Id expect as ye were adults and the thunder & lightening was close to make a decision for your own safety ,

ive played in thunder a few times but it was not that near , came in off course a few times as it was overhead ,

This negligent thingy bugs me , surely if its bad enough ye have enough sense to do whats right ..

 

[bladeplayer]

Are you not able to think for yourself and actually decide its dangerous but need someone to tell you?

I hate this "are they neglible, are they to blame" attitude. You're all grown men able to decide to leave a golf course if theres lightening, if you arent able to make this decision properly (which you clearly werent!) dont try and palm the blame off on someone else imho

Snap ..

 

[Dan2501]

This was posted on GolfWRX the other week. Seems a good time to share it. What happens when lightening strikes the top of a flag:

 

[JohnnyDee]

Are you not able to think for yourself and actually decide its dangerous but need someone to tell you?

I hate this "are they neglible, are they to blame" attitude. You're all grown men able to decide to leave a golf course if theres lightening, if you arent able to make this decision properly (which you clearly werent!) dont try and palm the blame off on someone else imho

I agree with you but it's not the point I'm making. Read my 2nd last paragraph.

A collection of 20 grown men is an odd thing and doesn't behave sensibly as a whole unit all of the time. I think that's why a lot of places take away the guesswork and think for us and also their own reputation.

Twenty blokes might well divide into several schools of thought - we were stupid - we won't get hit - peer pressure of not wanting to look a wimp etc. - but also crucially and despite them being stupid in carrying on, some would undoubtedly seek to blame anyone but themselves.

It's yer eumin nature squire, so were I running a course I'd eliminate the edjit factor and blow a hooter.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

This was posted on GolfWRX the other week. Seems a good time to share it. What happens when lightening strikes the top of a flag:

Flippin Nora substitute the flag for an iron on the back swing, not good

 

[fundy]

I agree with you but it's not the point I'm making. Read my 2nd last paragraph.

A collection of 20 grown men is an odd thing and doesn't behave sensibly as a whole unit all of the time. I think that's why a lot of places take away the guesswork and think for us and also their own reputation.

Twenty blokes they would divide into several schools of thought we were stupid - we won't get hit - peer pressure of not wanting to look a wimp etc. but also crucially and despite them being stupid in carrying on some would undoubtedly seek to blame anyone but themselves.

It's yer umin nature squire, so were I running a course it's eliminate the edjit factor and blow a hooter.

Thats your opinion, doesnt matter if Im playing on my own or in a group of 20 or 100 blokes, if theres lightening about I will make the decision to remove myself from the course, whether i hear a klaxon or not, and have done on several occasions (including in a medal when there had been no klaxon)

You're basically saying you need them to decide for you because you got pressurised by your mates into staying out there, Im saying thats your choice, what they decide to do ultimately is there choice not yours, if they want to be stupid let them be so but make the right decision for yourself, rather than trying to find someone else to blame if the worst were to happen

 

[JohnnyDee]

You're basically saying you need them to decide for you because you got pressurised by your mates into staying out there, Im saying thats your choice, what they decide to do ultimately is there choice not yours, if they want to be stupid let them be so but make the right decision for yourself, rather than trying to find someone else to blame if the worst were to happen

No I'm not. I'm saying that notwithstanding edjits (self included on the day) who will sometimes play on - some golf courses, to wit the one in this tale, are businesses are leaving themselves open to potential lawsuits by not adopting a common sense no grey areas policy. I'm pointing out furthermore that groups of men will not always behave in a rational way.

 

[fundy]

No I'm not. I'm saying that notwithstanding edjits (self included on the day) who will play on - golf courses who are businesses are leaving themselves open to potential lawsuits by not adopting a common sense no grey areas policy. I'm pointing out furthermore that groups of men will not always behave in a rational way.

But you want someone else to be blamed for their stupidity and not themselves if something happens. Personally think this is hogwash and they should take responsibility for their own actions. But then about 5% of lawsuits would succeed if I was involved in making/enforcing the laws lol

 

[JohnnyDee]

But you want someone else to be blamed for their stupidity and not themselves if something happens. Personally think this is hogwash and they should take responsibility for their own actions. But then about 5% of lawsuits would succeed if I was involved in making/enforcing the laws lol

There's a lot in what you say but read what I'm saying not what you think I'm saying. People daft enough to stay out in a thunderstorm have no-one to blame but themselves should they get hit. They are 24 carat numpties - end of! :cheers:I know, I allowed myself to be one that day as did many others in our group.

But just look at what happens on most courses and indeed on the tours around the world. Klaxons blowing at Augusta etc. is just putting down sensible ground rules and saving people from themselves.

 

[Green Bay Hacker]

Ask the guy that got hit by lightning at my course his opinion? oh, you can't. he's dead.

Almost lol'd at that thinking what he was going to say and then I read the last bit.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Anyone who stays out with lightning in the immediate vicinity is an idiot - nature would take care of them

People need to take responsibility of their own actions

 

[Imurg]

Anyone who stays out with lightning in the immediate vicinity is an idiot - nature would take care of them

You say that but I once got caught at the far end of the course in a thunderstorm. None was forecast, OK there were dark clouds but there was no indication that it would do anything but rain.
Almost as soon as the first drop hit the ground the lightning began. I was a mile or more from any shelter other than trees. Obviously I didn't stay under them but left my bag on the tee and ran out to the middle of the fairway and sat down as low as possible.
It was pretty scary.
Probably came closer to drowning than getting hit but I had no alternative

 

[Deleted member 15344]

You say that but I once got caught at the far end of the course in a thunderstorm. None was forecast, OK there were dark clouds but there was no indication that it would do anything but rain.
Almost as soon as the first drop hit the ground the lightning began. I was a mile or more from any shelter other than trees. Obviously I didn't stay under them but left my bag on the tee and ran out to the middle of the fairway and sat down as low as possible.
It was pretty scary.
Probably came closer to drowning than getting hit but I had no alternative

That's a bit different from choosing to continue to play whilst in the middle of a thunderstorm

 

[Farneyman]

Only ended up out playing in lightning once..it doesn't half add 10/20 yards to your shoots with the fear. Thankfully my playing partner was about 6'5 so my reasoning was he was getting it first.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I know Paul Stewart on here was hit (and got away with it). Personally I will stop playing and take suitable refuge if possible or return to the clubhouse. I don't think it's worth the risk and having been on the next cricket pitch to one struck (and a player killed) it has only reaffirmed my actions

 

[Hacker Khan]

Strangely enough my company offers a lightning detection system and we may start selling the data to golf clubs in the future. But as someone who knows a bit about it the best policy is to get off the course as soon as possible. And definitely not do what the PGA did with caddies in a lightning storm at a recent PGA championship, put them in a metal shack to shelter.