Home / About / Safety Guidance

Course Safety

FOG & LIGHTNING

In the event of an electrical storm, suspend play immediately & taken appropriate action. (Rule 6-8a applies).

Shelters do not provide adequate protection from lightning. Do not continue play in fog / poor visibility, when you cannot see the clear distance of your intended shot.

GREENS STAFF

Have priority at all times. Players should always alert greens staff nearby or ahead when they are about to make a stroke that might endanger them and wait for staff to move out of range.

PUBLIC FOOTPATHS

Paths run alongside and cross several holes on the course. Priority must be given to members of the public. Players must not play shots until footpaths in range are clear. Tee signs have been erected at effected holes.

BUGGIES

To ensure the safety of all golf course users, buggy drivers are required to comply with the Club’s Buggy Policy and follow designated buggy routes at all times. Take particular care on slopes and around ditches and deep-sided bunkers.

THE COURSE, ITS STEPS AND SURFACES

may be slippery when damp or wet. Golfers must ensure to wear appropriate footwear to meet the prevailing conditions. Wherever possible, keep to covered areas of footpaths and steps. Take care on steep banks and when entering & leaving deep-sided bunkers.

DEEP WATER

There are several ponds across the course. Players are advised not to attempt to retrieve golf balls from ponds. Players enter water hazards at their own risk.

FIRST AID

Assistance is available in the Clubhouse. ALL ACCIDENTS MUST BE REPORTED TO THE OFFICE

PLAYERS ARE REMINDED OF THE NEED TO SHOUT "FORE!” IF YOUR BALL GOES OFF LINE

Players should not play until the players in front are out of range.
Players should ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club, the ball or any stones, pebbles, twigs or the like when they make a stroke or practice swing.
If a player plays a ball in a direction where there is a danger of hitting someone, they should immediately shout a warning. The traditional word of warning in such situations is "FORE!”
On hearing "FORE!” - Crouch, cover your head with your arms and count to 10.

You are advised to carry a mobile phone with the ring tone set to zero to summon assistance in an emergency.

RING 999 FOR AN AMBULANCE

AMBULANCE ACCESS POINT:

Main Entrance Door Front Of The Club House or 3rd Hole.

Rule 6.8 Golf Pace of Play Manual

1.0 Horsforth Golf Club consider the safety of its Members and Guests the top priority during inclement weather. Weather reports and local conditions are monitored during storm warnings. If it is decided that it is unsafe to continue to play golf as a storm approaches, the Professional Shop will sound a klaxon to call all golfers off the course and into the clubhouse.

1.1 If there is a risk of lightning play MUST be discontinued. Horsforth Golf Club is not responsible for the safety of any golfer on the course and it is therefore your responsibility to remove yourself from any situation which you deem dangerous.

1.2 If you see lightning or hear the air horn (three short blasts) the following will apply:

Proceed immediately to the clubhouse.

Do not continue to play golf and do not seek shelter under trees. Trees do not protect you from lightning.
During competitions, if there is a lightning risk, play will be suspended and players must leave the course.
Where play is automatically suspended on the sound of the air horn, a player may not override the Policy decision to evacuate the course.
Players should stop play and seek shelter any time they believe lightning threatens them, even if the air horn has not been sounded.

1.4 Although the Club will take every precaution to ensure the safety of players during a thunder storm, it is a player’s own responsibility to discontinue play when in his/her opinion lightning is a threat. It is not always possible to monitor conditions on the entire course and players have a duty of care to themselves. They should therefore familiarise themselves with both the Club policy and the Rules of Golf.