What does a horn mean on a golf course?
Play will continue until the air horns are sounded indicating play is suspended: ONE PROLONGED NOTE, for an immediate suspension (imminent danger, such as lightning). THREE CONSECUTIVE NOTES, for a normal suspension (such as for darkness or when the course is unplayable). TWO SHORT NOTES, signal resumption of play.
Can you play golf when it's lightning?
Golfers know that the USGA Rules of Golf (Rule 5.7) allow players to discontinue play if they believe there is a danger from lightning. Golf and Frisbee Golf are the only sports with regulations relating to lightning.
Is it safe to golf during a thunderstorm?
And in a typical year, lightning kills more people than tornadoes or hurricanes. A golf course is an especially dangerous place during a thunderstorm because it has isolated, tall trees and wide-open spaces where golfers can be the tallest target.
Are you protected from lightning in a golf cart?
If a substantial building is not available, enclosed motor vehicles can provide shelter as long as patrons do not touch the metal framework during the thunderstorm (golf carts are not safe vehicles). No place outside is safe if lightning is in the vicinity.
What do you do in a golf course during a thunderstorm?
How To Stay Safe In A Thunderstorm On The Golf Course1 - Don't get your golf umbrella out. ... 2 - Leave your mobile phone in your bag. ... 3 - Stay away from any water hazards. ... 4 - Avoid standing under trees. ... 5 - If all else fails, crouch.
How many golfers have died from lightning?
12He died at the golf course. John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist at the National Lightning Safety Council, said there have been 12 golf-related lightning fatalities in the U.S. since 2006.
How many people get struck by lightning on a golf course a year?
Since 2006, there have been 12 golf-related lightning fatalities in the nation, including two this year, according to John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist at the National Lightning Safety Council.
What are the odds of being struck by lightning on a golf course?
1:3,000The odds of being struck by lightning on a golf course is 1:3,000. The odds of becoming a lightning victim in the US is 1:700,000. Lightning can kill people or cause cardiac arrest, severe burns, permanent brain damage, memory loss, and personality changes.
Are golf clubs lightning rods?
You can get struck by lightning while holding up a golf club on the fairway because it acts like a lightning rod, making you a tall object on the course.
How many coulombs are in a lightning bolt?
An average bolt of negative lightning carries an electric current of 30,000 amperes (30 kA), and transfers 15 C (coulombs) of electric charge and 1 gigajoule of energy.
How many times has Lee Trevino been hit by lightning?
Thing is, despite lightning being about five times hotter than the sun, according to NASA, most people struck by lightning survive, up to 90%. Lee Trevino, winner of six major championships and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, was struck by lightning three times on the golf course and survived.
Where do you go on golf course during lightning?
Swinging a golf club or holding an umbrella (metal or graphite) can make you the tallest object and a target for lightning. Seek shelter in low-lying areas such as valleys, ditches and depressions but be aware of flooding. Find a dense wooded area: If you are far from shelter find a dense wooded area.
What are the odds of being struck by lightning on a golf course?
1:3,000The odds of being struck by lightning on a golf course is 1:3,000. The odds of becoming a lightning victim in the US is 1:700,000. Lightning can kill people or cause cardiac arrest, severe burns, permanent brain damage, memory loss, and personality changes.
How many people get struck by lightning on a golf course a year?
Since 2006, there have been 12 golf-related lightning fatalities in the nation, including two this year, according to John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist at the National Lightning Safety Council.
How hot can a golfer get in a lightning strike?
Some facts you might not know about lightning: Air in a lightning strike can be heated up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the lightning detection system on golf courses?
Many golf courses are now equipped with a lightning detection system that sets off a horn when lightning gets within a certain set distance from the course. Others have both a detection and prediction system.
How to get away from a golf cart?
You must get away from your cart and away from your golf clubs quickly. Stay away from water. If you are old-school and have metal spikes on, take them off. If stranded in the open, go to a low place such as a ravine or valley, or the lowest spot you can find.
How much electricity does a ground strike produce?
A ground strike can produce somewhere between 100 million to one billion volts of electricity.
When does lightning strike?
Most lightning incidents occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening (between 2:00-6:00 p.m.).
Can lightning and golf mix?
Lightning and golf do not mix. Taking a chance and hitting a few more shots or going one more hole could prove deadly. As a golf coach and instructor, some may say that I am, on occasion, over cautious.
Is it safe to stay outside during lightning?
No place outside is safe if lightning is in the vicinity. Partially enclosed shelters are not safe. If no safe shelter is available ... stay away from the tallest objects (trees, light poles, flag poles), metal objects (fences or golf clubs), standing pools of water, and fields.". Stay safe this summer, and remember, golf, ...
When a golf course takes steps to protect players from lightning strikes, it must implement safety precautions properly.?
When a golf course takes steps to protect players from lightning strikes, it must implement safety precautions properly. It added that a jury should decide whether the club did so in the way it posted evacuation notices and monitored dangerous conditions, and if it should have built shelters and provided an audible signal.
What happened to Costanzo's legs?
Seconds later, lightning ran up Costanzo’s legs, blowing keys and change out of his pockets and into the air, where a glowing halo of electricity circled them. McHugh ran first to Costanzo, who had also been knocked to the ground. “It’s my legs, it’s my legs,” Costanzo moaned, but otherwise he seemed stable.
Why did the caddie master set off in a cart with the club pro?
At about the same time, the caddie master learned of lightning in the area and set off in a cart with the club pro to get players off the course. For about 40 years, the club had followed an evacuation plan of driving the course to warn players at the first sign of dangerous weather. One of the group’s two caddies suggested going to a nearby house for shelter, but the men decided against it.
How many times did McHugh restart his friend's heart?
The lightning was coming so fast, he felt like he was behind bars. He had to restart his friend’s heart three times before medics finally arrived and Maussner was rushed to the local hospital. The doctor gave Maussner a fifty-fifty chance of living.
Why did Maussner sue Atlantic City Country Club?
Maussner sued the Atlantic City Country Club, claiming it didn’t have proper safety procedures in place to protect patrons from lightning. The bolt that Maussner first spotted had been perhaps 15 miles away, and an expert witness reported that there was technology available at a reasonable price that could detect lightning up to 40 miles away.
Why did Maussner walk across an open field?
The judge noted that Maussner chose to walk across an open field when he could have sought shelter or lain down. Maussner appealed to a higher court. The Superior Court of New Jersey said injuries through acts of God don’t exempt courses from liability.
Who was the caddie that rushed to the clubhouse?
Robert Dusz rushed to the clubhouse, about 300 yards away, while a caddie ran to the nearby police station for help. Meanwhile, McHugh, who had taken first-aid courses, determined that Maussner had no pulse and wasn’t breathing. McHugh also saw that Maussner’s jaw was locked.
How to stay safe from lightning on golf course?
The first step in staying safe from lightning on the golf course is awareness of weather conditions and expected weather conditions during your round. If you know that thunderstorms are possible, then you know to watch out (and listen out) for trouble.
What does it mean when you hear thunder on a golf course?
If you hear thunder, it means that lightning is within striking distance.
What is the scariest thing to see on a golf course?
Lightning strike near a golf course - what every golfer fears. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. Lightning is one of the scariest and most dangerous things golfers will ever encounter on the golf course.
What to do if you are caught on the golf course?
If caught on the course and unable to get off, do not stand under tall trees or sit in a golf cart. Do not stand under a lone tree, even a small one. Do get away from the cart and away from your golf clubs. Stay away from water. If you have metal spikes, take them off.
How far away is thunder?
It is recommended that you seek shelter if the time between the lightning flash and the rumble of thunder is 30 seconds or less (6 miles).
How to avoid lightning strikes?
Go to large permanent buildings or get into a fully enclosed metal vehicle (car, van or pickup truck). Avoid trees since they attract lightning. Avoid small, on-course shelters: They are intended only for sun and rain safety. Don’t wait around for the next strike, please.".
What does it mean when you have a tingling sensation when you stand up?
This is a scary and incredibly dangerous situation: A tingling sensation, or the hair on your arms standing up, during a lightning storm is a warning of an imminent, nearby strike.
What percentage of lightning deaths happen on golf courses?
Lightning is arbitrary, random and unpredictable. Some five percent of annual USA lightning deaths and injuries happen on golf courses. Everyone associated with the game should participate in lightning safety.
How to avoid lightning?
Go to large permanent buildings or get into a fully enclosed metal vehicle (car, van or pickup truck). Avoid trees since they "attract" lightning. Avoid small on-course shelters: they are intended only for sun and rain safety. Don’t wait around for the next strike, please.
What is the USGA rule for lightning?
Golfers know that the USGA Rules of Golf (Rule 5.7) allow players to discontinue play if they believe there is a danger from lightning.
Where to put lightning stickers?
Place USGA lightning stickers on all operating machinery, pump house, employee bulletin boards, rest room mirrors, and other visible locations.
Is lightning hazard preventable?
Comply with Duty To Warn issues and avoid a negligent posture. Remember: Lightning incidents may not be preventable, but a best effort defense is a prudent thing to do. Education about the lightning hazard is everyone’s job.
Does the Superintendent of Golf provide lightning safety assistance?
Golf course operations in the Superintendent’s office, the Pro Shop and the Head Office can provide lightning safety assistance too. We suggest the following measures be adopted:
What is a lightning warning system?
Many golf courses have lightning warning systems consisting of a detector and horns or sirens to warn golfers of approaching lightning. The detector – manufactured by Course Alert, ThorGuard and WxLine – is usually located on the pro shop roof and monitors cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning. Horns/sirens are located throughout the course.
Where is the lightning detector located?
The detector – manufactured by Course Alert, ThorGuard and WxLine – is usually located on the pro shop roof and monitors cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning. Horns/sirens are located throughout the course. An 18-hole course may have two to five horns/sirens depending on layout and topography. The system can sound an alarm automatically when lightning is detected – some have a 20-mile range – or manually triggered by the pro shop staff. Wires installed throughout the course, or less-expensive and more-convenient solar panels, power the horns/sirens.
Can you use lightning detection on irrigation?
Warning systems have been around for decades and are well-proven for golfers, but you can also use lightning detection systems to protect your irrigation system from electrical damage.
Is lightning protection good for irrigation?
If lightning is frequently damaging your irrigation system and your parts budget is out of control, a lightning detection/protection system may be a solid investment. And if your course doesn’t already have one, you get the added benefit of a lightning warning system.
What happens if wind moves your ball?
If wind moves your ball before you address it, play the ball from its new position. No penalty.
How to get free relief in golf?
If either your stance, swing or ball is interfered with by casual water from heavy rains and your ball isn't in a water hazard, you get free relief. Take a drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief that's not closer to the hole.