Playin' Golf in the Lightening!

[jtdraig]

We live on a golf course with a long, expansive view. It is nothing short of amazing the number of golfers who will continue to play when air-to-ground lightening is behind them or, not far from them. I don't understand a mentality that keeps them out there, making their shots, while thunder is rumbling and lightening bolts are dropping. :ohdear:

[DonH57]

I'm amazed as well. I find the crack of lightning or rumble of thunder distracting enough let alone the possibility of getting quick fried.!

[John_W]

My neighbor and I were on the 4th hole of Jacaranda at Cane Garden last Saturday about 1:30. It became real windy and light rain began to fall, so we waited by the 5th tee. After about ten minutes we heard thunder and saw some lightning. We headed in to the clubhouse and every hole in front of us had golfers out in the open playing.

[2BNTV]

My guess it's the mentality that it "can't happen to me".

If it happens, "too late"!!!! Oh well!

[redwitch]

I've always thought of golfers playing in the thunder and lightning as potential recipients of the Darwin Award.

[villagetinker]

Redwitch, you beat me to it, definite candidates for the Darwin award. Just hope that I am not the one that needs to report the results......

PS Twice I have been very close to lightning strikes, once about 100 to 150 feet away from a 75 ft pine tree that was struck (it was reduced to a stump), and once when I was walking toward a metal building when it was struck. Both times I heard, saw, felt the lightning stroke at the same time, very scary. I would not tempt fate again by even thinking of golfing during a storm.

[OpusX1]

Not my monkeys not my circus.

I don't play when there is thunder in the distance

[Shimpy]

The thought is "I've done this before and nothing happened..............The cow died last night, she never did that before.

[justjim]

I have heard it said many times "let's just finish this hole or even more foolish, let's play one more hole and we will go in". When I see lightning, I'm definitely gone and I tell my group that right up front. With smart phones and radar, it's not rocket science.

At PGA Tournments they get you off the course at the first sign of lightning in the area.

[golfing eagles]

During today's storm, based on the time difference between the lightening and thunder, there were frequent ground strikes from 700-1200 yards SSE of my house. The 7th hole of Egret is about 250 yards away in the same direction, leaving 450-950 yards between the hole and the ground strikes. Yet, I watched as 3 groups just continued to play 6,7 and 8 like it was a sunny day. Definite candidates for the Darwin award. I was struck by lightening on a golf course when I was 19, you won't find me tempting fate again.

[Sandtrap328]

During today's storm, based on the time difference between the lightening and thunder, there were frequent ground strikes from 700-1200 yards SSE of my house. I was struck by lightening on a golf course when I was 19, you won't find me tempting fate again.

Wow, I bet you got a "charge" out of that! You should carry a 2 iron in your bag. Not even God can hit a 2 iron.

Seriously, as soon as I hear thunder, I just say there will be many more days to play golf and I am off the course.

[Jima64]

Got to get all that free golf in.

[Barefoot]

Not my monkeys not my circus.
I love that expression!

I have a friend who got hit by lightening on a golf course.
It's very sad. He has a lot of health problems and hasn't been able to hold a job for 25 years.

[YouNeverKnow]

Remember the classic scene from Caddy Shack!
Caddyshack Lightning Scene - YouTube (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BJmXc1Vz8A8)

[kcrazorbackfan]

Stupid dumbs**ts. I watched a couple one day on Southern Star #4 huddle up under an umbrella with a torrential downpour falling and lightning dancing all around. You can't fix stupid and its apparent that you can't teach common sense.

[The Mountaineer]

Why in the world would anyone stay out on the golf course during lightning when you have 14 lightning rods in your golf bag? I'll play in rain when others don't. But never when I see the first lightning flash in the distance. I know you can count the time between lightning and thunder and know approximately how far away it is. But there's always another day to play golf ... unless your 14 lightning rods make you a southern fried shiskabob. Stupidity.

[rubicon]

The fact that a thread is created to even discuss this topic alone speaks volumes

[perrjojo]

1st sign of lightening and my husband is off the course. Many of his team mates think he is over reacting until he tells them about his friend who was struck by lighten while playing. The friend died.

[NYGUY]

You can't fix stupid!!

[DonH57]

Wow, I bet you got a "charge" out of that! You should carry a 2 iron in your bag. Not even God can hit a 2 iron.

Seriously, as soon as I hear thunder, I just say there will be many more days to play golf and I am off the course.

Oh. I thought it was a 1 iron!:a20:

[justjim]

OP, I have seen the same thing as you from my (use to be) home on the golf course. Because they have stayed on the course before and never were hit by lightning, golfers don't feel vulnerable. "We were all born ignorant, but we must work hard to remain stupid." Benjamin Franklin

[billethkid]

In a water safety class the best guideline I ever heard in answer to the question how can one tell how far away the lightning is that caused the thunder?

IF YOU CAN HEAR IT....FEAR IT!!

As for the dolts who play when they can hear and see it. They are most likely the same ones that do not fix ball marks on greens or rake sand traps or sand divots. The rules are for others crowd.

[rubicon]

Oh. I thought it was a 1 iron!:a20:

I thought it was all irons

[charmed59]

The country clubs I'm familiar with in California and Atlanta have sirens if the lightening is close. I now live on a golf course in Charlotte and have heard that siren exactly once. Though we get lightening storms all the time. Do they not have warning sirens on the Village courses?

[photo1902]

The country clubs I'm familiar with in California and Atlanta have sirens if the lightening is close. I now live on a golf course in Charlotte and have heard that siren exactly once. Though we get lightening storms all the time. Do they not have warning sirens on the Village courses?

No. There are no sirens here. Everyone can hear thunder and see lightning. Everyone here is also a big boy and girl, and can decide when and if to leave the course. Those that stay, do so at their own risk. To my knowledge, everyone made it home safely yesterday, despite all the drama and name calling in these posts.

[2BNTV]

"When thunder roars, go indoors". That's the saying of the lightning rod people.

You can always play golf another day.

[kellyjam]

The golfer Lee Trevino has been hit 3 times by lighting. In 1975 at the Western Open Lee and Jerry Heard were sitting on a hill during a play stoppage with an umbrella. The lighting came along the ground and entered through their metal spikes and exited through their backs. Both suffered severe back injuries. Lee was able to come back but it all but ended Jerry Heard's career. It was then Lee came up with his famous quip about God and a 1 iron.

[57ChevyFI]

Maybe becasue its not that dangerous, I bet a google search will reveal more people killed in automobiles than struck by lightning in The Villages. But people still drive or ride in cars.

[Chi-Town]

I have wondered why there are no sirens or warnings to seek shelter during lightning on TV golf courses. I was told that it was a liability issue. That makes no sense, because it would seem that no warning would be more likely grounds for a lawsuit.

[Nucky]

It must be the competitive spirit that keeps them out there. We were in the car during the storm two days ago and observed people lining up their putt when the lightning was reaching the ground. I always thought these stories were exaggerated until my own eyes witnessed it. I'm still learning my way around and have missed my turn two days in a row because of people sitting in chairs at the foot of a pond. I'm in amazement of their actions. My life is enough to live for me so for now I will not pass judgement on those poor soul's. I just hope their life insurance policy is paid in full. My watch is over.

[golfing eagles]

I have wondered why there are no sirens or warnings to seek shelter during lightning on TV golf courses. I was told that it was a liability issue. That makes no sense, because it would seem that no warning would be more likely grounds for a lawsuit.

Apparently there have been some lawsuits filed against golf courses that use sirens as a warning. The plaintiffs' argument, convoluted as it is, goes something like this---"If the storm is dangerous enough to warrant a warning to golfers on the course, then a siren is not sufficient---the golfer may be hearing impaired, or distracted and not hear it, or think it is a fire station horn. So management was negligent in not doing more to clear the course"
So much for personal responsibility. By not sounding any warning, there is no proof that management was aware of a weather threat and therefore not negligent.
Personal opinion---only a litiginous society could come up with this one, but I don't fault TV for trying to avoid a lawsuit

[outlaw]

*According to statistics from 2006 until 2013, fishermen accounted for more than three times as many lightning fatalities as golfers. Camping and boating each had almost twice as many deaths as golf.

*Soccer is the deadliest sport when it comes to lightning. Of the sports activities, soccer saw the greatest number of deaths with 12 (golf had eight). Around the home, yard work, including mowing the lawn, accounted for 12 fatalities. For work-related activities, ranching/farming topped the list with 14 deaths.

[Boomer]

I have seen this lightning/golfers scene many times. I always wonder what those guys are saying to each other...........Probably nothing.............

Human nature being what it is, I bet it often boils down to nobody wanting to say it first............

[outlaw]

Some people are willing to accept more danger/less safety more readily than others. It's like motorcycle riding. Conventional wisdom would say to never ride a motorcycle. Still more would say to always wear a helmet when riding. Others would say not to ride a bicycle on BV or MB because it is just too dangerous. Some people won't venture out on New Years Eve because of drunk drivers. It's not necessarily about being smart or stupid. Everyone has their own tolerance for danger. It's about weighing the risk against the reward.

[Chi-Town]

Apparently there have been some lawsuits filed against golf courses that use sirens as a warning. The plaintiffs' argument, convoluted as it is, goes something like this---"If the storm is dangerous enough to warrant a warning to golfers on the course, then a siren is not sufficient---the golfer may be hearing impaired, or distracted and not hear it, or think it is a fire station horn. So management was negligent in not doing more to clear the course"
So much for personal responsibility. By not sounding any warning, there is no proof that management was aware of a weather threat and therefore not negligent.
Personal opinion---only a litiginous society could come up with this one, but I don't fault TV for trying to avoid a lawsuit

As I come to think about it I can see that argument being made. A damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. Thanks for the explanation.