INTRODUCTION
These notes record the key health and safety issues for golfers, as identified in the Club’s risk assessments and procedures. A Hole-by-Hole Risk Assessment, which assesses risks on the course in some detail, is available for members to view on the Club’s website.
REPORTING
Any golf ball struck beyond the course boundary should be reported to the Professional or the Office in every instance.
Any incident resulting in personal injury MUST be reported to the Club (Club Steward, Professional or Office).
GOLF BALL HAZARDS
As a general rule, players should not strike a golf ball until the players in front are out of danger, or when others could be put in danger. If a player plays a ball in a direction where there is a danger of hitting someone, he/she should immediately shout the traditional warning of FORE!
Blind Tee Shots: Eaton does not have any tees where the normal landing areas cannot be seen from the tee, but there are a few areas where people could be in danger from stray shots without being visible from the tee. Any such stray shots should be accompanied by an immediate shout of FORE! – don’t just assume there is nobody there.
Examples include but are not limited to the following:
• From the 1st tee – players on the 14th fairway or green
• From the 2nd tee – players on the 14th fairway
• From the 3rd tee – players on the 13th green or, exceptionally, the 4th green
• From the 8th tee – players on the 11th green
• From the 12th tee – players on the 5th fairway
• From the 14th tee – players on the 15th fairway and bridge and the 2nd fairway/ 1st green
Blind Fairway Shots: From the 16th fairway shots to the left could endanger people on or approaching the 17th tee. Any such shots require a shout of FORE! Players leaving the 16th green for the 17th tee should also minimise the risk of being struck by keeping well to the right (as directed by a sign on the small copse).
Elsewhere, whenever shots are played towards or from adjacent holes, trees could be obscuring people (e.g. on 10th green from 8th fairway). If in doubt shout FORE!
Practice Area: Players must exercise care when using the practice area and adhere to the rules displayed on the signage there. For the safety of people on the 16th green, players must not play shots beyond the end of the range, 190yds and must select their clubs accordingly. It is a Practice Area, NOT a Driving Range. Players are also not permitted to retrieve balls from the Practice Area.
PRIORITY ON THE COURSE
Greenstaff have priority over golfers at all times. You should make sure that they are aware of your presence before you play your shot. This includes those times when greenstaff on adjacent holes could be in danger from a wayward shot e.g. working on the 14th when players are teeing off from the 2nd. The greenstaff are instructed to signal to players when it is safe to play.
A Public Footpath crosses the fairways of 9th, 10th and 18th holes. You must ensure that the public are given right of way.
DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATIONS
The procedure for Suspension of Play is displayed on the Club’s Notice Boards. This covers both dangerous situations (lightning, fog etc), and non-dangerous situations that may render the course unplayable.
Lightning: The golfing authorities encourage players to take care of their own safety, and Rule 5.7a(ii) permits a player to discontinue play if he/she thinks there is a danger from lightning, even though the Committee may not have authorised it by sounding the siren.
At Eaton we use a lightning detector as an aid to decision-making but this is an indication rather than an absolute authority. This calculates the proximity of the storm, in bands extending up to 40 miles, and helps us to decide if it is moving towards, away from, or parallel to our location. Our policy is to sound the siren to suspend play whenever lightning is within or approaching 8 miles as shown on the detector. We signal a resumption of play when the storm has passed beyond 8 miles as shown by the detector, or more than 30 minutes in the absence of any indication from the detector. The latest radar weather apps available to download free on mobile phones and tablets (e.g. The Met Office app) are a useful supplement to predicting the path of rainstorms.
The signal for an immediate suspension of play is 1 blast of the siren. During the day, until the Pro shop closes, the golf professional is responsible for the decision to suspend and for the resumption of play. After closure of the Pro shop the Bar Staff will be responsible for the decision making in the event of a potential threat of electrical activity in the vicinity. On hearing the siren, players should suspend play immediately (marking and lifting their balls if appropriate) and are advised to return to the Clubhouse. If the clubhouse is closed, you should return to your own vehicle.
| column header | ||
|---|---|---|
| Procedure for the Suspension of Play | ||
| Action | Signal | Comments |
| Discontinue play immediately | One long prolonged note of siren. | For dangerous situations, particularly danger from lightning, fog etc. Play must be discontinued immediately. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF CONDITION: Disqualification. Note to rule 6-8b. |
| Discontinue play | Three blasts from the siren repeated. | For non-dangerous situations (e.g. course unplayable). Competition play may continue until hole is completed. Rule 6-8b. |
| Resumes play | Two short notes of siren, repeated. |
Fully enclosed and substantial buildings such as the Clubhouse, provide the best protection against lightning strikes. The Greenkeepers Equipment Sheds may provide the closest safe refuge. A fully enclosed vehicle could provide an alternative safe shelter, but golf buggies and small rain shelters (e.g. the half-way house) or the Woo Woo do not. You should avoid tall trees, large open spaces, elevated or wet areas, and metal objects like golf clubs, trolleys, umbrellas etc. It is better to get soaked than to risk being struck via an umbrella.
Even if you have not heard the siren, when lightning threatens your first consideration should be to seek the safe shelter of the Clubhouse. If sudden, close-in lightning does not permit a safe evacuation to the Clubhouse, and there is no other safe shelter available, your best protection may be to spread out from your group and crouch down in a bunker with your feet together, hands on knees, and your head tucked in. This technique keeps as much of you off the ground as possible and makes you as small a target as possible. Then head for the Clubhouse as soon as the immediate threat passes.
Fog: Play should be suspended immediately when fog presents a significant risk to safety. The signal for this situation is one prolonged note of the siren.
SLIPS AND TRIPS
The golf course is “open countryside, there are slipping and tripping hazards, particularly in wet or icy conditions, or due to the activity of burrowing animals The club’s policy is to deal with these as soon as these are reported but the primary responsibility lies with the player. Risks can be minimised by taking care.
Footwear: Ensure golf shoe spikes/cleats etc. are in good condition.
Ponds and the brook: Players are advised to use ball retrievers, from a position at the top, to retrieve balls from the ponds and the brook. Ball retrievers have been provided in some key areas, e.g. the 12th, where the sides of the brook are steep and slippery.
Wooden bridges and steps: Wooden bridges and steps are liable to be slippery when wet. The bridges have not been a significant problem in practice but caution is advised, and any problems should be reported.
DEEP WATER
Players must not enter the ponds, and care must be taken in retrieving balls from the sides. No lifebuoys have been provided, other than at the pond near the car park.
USE OF BUGGIES
Ride-on buggies must be operated in accordance with the Club’s Golf Buggy Safety Policy and Safe Working Practice documents, which are available to view on the Club’s website. Use of the Club’s buggies, or privately owned buggies, is not allowed unless authorised by the Club, and requires signing an Acknowledgement Form.
POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO HEALTH
Notice Board: The sign on the wall of the Pro Shop provides clearly visible and permanent information for all golfers, regarding the potential hazards, described below, which may be encountered on the golf course.
Pesticides and Chemicals: A notice on the 1st and 10th tees will advise of any use of potentially harmful pesticides or chemicals. Players should take heed of the warnings and protect themselves. Do not lick golf balls or fingers, and wash hands effectively with soap and water after play.
Water-borne Diseases: We consider the risk of water-borne diseases, such as Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), to be low, but it is prudent to avoid exposure where practicable, and wash effectively after any exposure.
Bird Droppings: The Club has a policy to deter Canada Geese - their faeces contain harmful bacteria, which could be a health risk if ingested. Take care to wash effectively (soap and water or antibacterial wash) if exposed to droppings.
MACHINERY HAZARDS
Players are not permitted to enter the maintenance sheds, unless they are the closest available safe haven in the event of lightening. Golfers should keep away from machinery on the course.
COMPRESSED AIR
A compressed air shoe cleaner is available for players to use as they leave the course. Compressed air is potentially very hazardous and must be used with caution – observe the safety notice posted at the shoe cleaner.
FIRST AID
First Aid assistance may be called, if required, via the Clubhouse (Office, Pro Shop or Bar). A list of First Aiders is available on the Notice Board.
The Club has a defibrillator for use in the event of a cardiac arrest; it is kept in the Spike Bar, readily available for use. Most of the Club’s staff are trained in its use. Ideally it would be used by one of the trained staff, but time is of the essence and anyone may use it if necessary. A mobile phone, switched to silent, can be a useful aid in case of emergency on the golf course.
ACCIDENTS AND INSURANCE
All accidents on the club’s premises, and any incidents involving people or vehicles being struck outside the confines of the club must be reported to the Office.
Although specialist golf plans and many household insurance policies provide insurance for personal liability in the event of an accident, it is difficult to guarantee that everyone has the appropriate cover. The Club has therefore taken the prudent step of arranging such insurance for members through its own insurance providers.
This insurance does not cover use of buggies; buggy users therefore need to ensure their own insurance cover is adequate. Individual cover for buggy users can be arranged via the office through our insurance provider if required.
Martin Cawson
Health and Safety Director
Revised April 2025