Safety
Storms can ruin your round of golf, but they can have far greater implications. Your partners may persuade you to finish the last few holes with the storm approaching, but you must remember that ignoring the signs of a storm can lead to tragic circumstances.

Many choose not to take the threat of a storm seriously, but more than 300 people lose their lives to lightning strikes every year. More deaths occur from these strikes than by other storm factors including floods, tornadoes, or hurricanes. Lightning tends to strike golf courses because of their openness with individual trees. Therefore, attempting to finish a round when a storm is rearing is extremely risky.

In the event of a storm, follow these instructions to ensure your safety and the safety of others:

• Seek shelter away from water immediately.
• If your shoes have metal spikes, remove them immediately.
• If the course’s warning system sounds, take cover.
• If possible, get off the course and find a designated lightning shelter.
• Stay away from your golf car, clubs, and surrounding water.
• Do not stand under a lone tree. This is a hazard.

• Avoid close contact with others. Spread out 15-20 feet apart.
• Avoid open spaces.
• Seek ditches, trenches or the low ground.
• Seek clumps of shrubs or trees of uniform height.
• Seek a low, crouching position, feet together with hands on ears to minimize acoustic shock from thunder.
• Keep a high level of safety awareness for thirty minutes after the last observed lightning or thunder.