EXTREME WEATHER POLICY
The Kingaroy Golf Club’s Extreme Weather Policy has been developed to reduce the risk of harm to members and guests and damage to the course as a result of extreme weather.
This policy provides procedures and guidelines to minimise the risk of harm and damage due to extreme weather. This Policy addresses three categories of extreme weather, as well as the procedure that applies if a competition round has been impacted by extreme weather. The three categories of extreme weather are:
1. Lightning
2. Weather other(Heavy rain, high winds & fog)
3. Heat
1. LIGHTNING
a) When lightning is within 15 kilometres of the Golf Course, a siren will be sounded (one prolonged burst of the siren). The authority for the siren to be sounded will come from a club committee member or Clubhouse Staff. A Lightning Tracker app will be loaded on the ipad situated at the clubhouse.
b) If no siren has sounded, a player may stop play if they reasonably believe there is danger from lightning, but must report to the Committee as soon as possible (Rule of Golf 5.7a)
c) When the siren is sounded, players are to stop play immediately. Mark their ball if it is in play.
d) Players are to make their way back to the Clubhouse and exercise caution whilst doing so. Pump shed, halfway house and the greenkeepers shed are not considered safe structures for lightning events.
e) Players who continue to play after the siren has sounded will be disqualified and do so at their own risk. The Club does not accept liability for personal injury.
f) The authority to resume play is the same as above (see 1a). When it is deemed safe to resume play, the siren will be sounded - three short bursts.
2. WEATHER OTHER (Heavy Rain, High Winds, Fog etc.)
a) A siren will be sounded (one prolonged burst of the siren) if a weather event occurs that has the potential to cause personal injury or damage to the course. The authority for the siren to be sounded will come from a club committee member or the Clubhouse Manager.
b) When the siren is sounded, players are to stop play immediately. Mark their ball if it is in play.
c) Players are to make their way back to the Clubhouse and exercise caution whilst doing so.
d) Players who continue to play after the siren has sounded will be disqualified and do so at their own risk. The Club does not accept liability for personal injury.
e) The authority to resume play is the same as above (see 2a). When it is deemed safe to resume play, the siren will be sounded - three short bursts.
3. HEAT
The committee has agreed to align with the Golf Australia Hot Weather Guidelines. Golf Australia consider the risk of heat related injury to be extreme at an ambient temperature of 36 degrees or higher. This document is appended at the back of this policy.
A general summary of these guidelines are:
a) Maintain adequate hydration
b) Wearing appropriate lightweight clothing
c) Wearing hats and sunscreen
d) Playing golf in the coolest part of the day
e) Make use of an umbrella and natural shade
f) Cease playing if you feel unwell
The course will remain open, however, any decision to play will be the sole responsibility of each player. The Club does not accept liability for personal injury
Competition Affected by Extreme Weather
Should the Extreme Weather Policy be activated by any of the above conditions the following guidelines may be followed.
• If an event hasn’t commenced. The event may be postponed if possible or cancelled. This decision is made by the representatives of the Match Committee.
• Once an event has commenced and more than 75% of entrants have completed the event before Extreme Weather has caused the cancellation of play, the event can be deemed to be a “live” event where a result can be declared.
• If fewer than 75% of entrants have completed the event then it shall be postponed (or cancelled) to a date to be determined by the Captain. Completed rounds for the day on which a postponement occurs will not count towards the event, but may be handicapped
• If the elapsed time for the playing conditions to be deemed safe exceeds 60 minutes, then no further competition play will be allowed.
•The Match Committee may modify the above guidelines to best serve the interest of Golf for the event.
