Winter Golf

[clubchamp07]

Just thinking about some states courses are in at this time of year.
Frozen greens, fairways and paths. Where do (if any)clubs stand in regards to H&S? My club is private members club, our neighbouring club is council owned. This time of year the other course is closed for saftey reasons. On the other hand our course opens as often as possible.
Last Sunday was the 1st our course opened in over 2 weeks, to me it was maddness, but that was my opinion.
My point, if the course is open and someone either member or visitor goes out and falls causing serious injury, would the club be held responsible? Or is it a case or at own risk?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I don't know where they officially stand, but, my club has signs up all over the place stating that "the ground can be very slipperey at this time of year and as such players go out onto the course at their own risk".
Or words to that effect.

 

[Lawrence22]

I played greenacres on Sunday morning and it was pretty rough. I slipped many times on my way round. The problem was that the frost was freezing to the soft spikes in my shoes and every few holes I had to remove accumulated ice.
I think they opened the course too early in the day and didn't give it a proper chance to thaw, by the end of our round the frost had lifted and things were not so bad.

 

[viscount17]

I have a suspicion that irrespective of any warnings that you put up (including Gill_Emotts) if someone wanted to sue they would, and someone, somewhere would win thereby setting a precedent.
Being responsible for one's own actions, especially when supposedly adult, doesn't seem to be a universally held belief. How often are people awarded damages when the correct response should be ' who let you out without a minder?' (the silly b in the MacDonalds case springs to mind, and the (possibly apocryphal) total idiot who used a microwave to dry her poodle).

 

[ScienceBoy]

I think golfers should have the right to play if the greenkeeper things the course is playable without lasting damage but then they are responsible if anything happens.

I do not want my golf time taken away because somebody MIGHT slip up or trip somewhere!

 

[goldenbare]

I think that a problem is we all want the best of both worlds. To play the course in any conditions when 15st of middle aged man and his bag are wreaking havoc with pathways, creating unrepaired pitch marks and large divots which wont repair in the cold weather.
We then moan like mad when there are problems on the course in the Spring as it has been abused so much in the previous 3 months

 

[THJahar]

I'm all for adults taking responsibility for their own actions, even if I slipped on a patch of un-gritted footpath, I wouldn't sue.
I know it's Icy.
I know that I could slip.
Hence I take responsibility for the injury.

the silly b in the MacDonalds case springs to mind

Btw. You shouldn't use the McDonalds coffee case as an example
True facts of the MacDonald Case

 

[viscount17]

I didn't know that. the version I had seen had her half that age, on her way to work, driving, in shorts etc - spoils the story somehow

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I guess its a question of where does the responsibility lie. If the greenkeepr tells the club the course is fit (albeit with ice on the paths) does he become soley liable for making the decision or is the club (his employer) become liable. It's not really something I'd like to worry about but sooner or later someone will sue, get paid and ruin it for everyone (higher fees, more closures etc)

 

[fundy]

I played a couple of days ago, as I stepped onto the small bridge at our 17th my left foot skidded on the bridge, me going A over T, my right leg smashed into the bridge and I split my hand open trying to break my fall.

I joking went into the clubhouse afterwards and told one of the staff Id be sueing on H&S grounds. He went a very pale shade before I told him I was only jesting, my own daft fault for not paying attention and stepped half on a bridge from a strange angle. His reaction was of pure relief as clearly there are plenty out there who would pursue it.

Im very old school with things like this, I know the risks and if I hurt myself tough, hate this compensation and blame culture weve inherited from the states.

 

[19th]

We had a raised tee with five small wooden steps going up to it.

H & S decided that the treds were too steep/narrow/shallow or something and their answer?? Take them away and let the members slide down the slope!!

Life is sad!