PROCEDURES FOR SUSPENSION OF PLAY / COURSE CLOSURE DUE TO BAD WEATHER
The Head Greenkeeper may decide at any time to close the course due to bad weather conditions and will immediately inform the Golf reception.
The Greenkeeper will inspect the course before the scheduled start of play and if unplayable due to frost, snow, water or fog it will be closed.
If there is fog, the guiding principal will be that play cannot start until the fairway bunkers on the 1st fairway are visible from the tee. Inspections will then be taken regularly by the Greenkeeper to ascertain if play can commence.
The course siren will be sounded to warn players of the imminent danger of lightning strikes and the suspension of play due to adverse weather.
The use of the siren will be as follows:
- To suspend play – three signals with a three second gap between each signal.
- To restart play – two short signals of three seconds each with a three second gap between each signal.
- To abandon play – one long signal.
On the suspension of play, players must immediately mark / retrieve their ball and seek appropriate shelter at the nearest available location, preferably returning to the Golf Lodge. Failure to stop play immediately on hearing the suspension of play siren or the abandon play siren will lead to disqualification if playing in a competition.
On the resumption of play, the player will recommence from that point where the ball is marked.
These procedures are in place in order to:
- Protect golfers in dangerous weather
- Protect the golf course from long term damage
- Keep the course open for golfers for as long as possible
- Staff to assist in clearing the course