Aug 14, 2008 8:06 am US/Mountain
Lightning Warnings Not Equal At Colo. Golf Courses
DENVER (CBS4) ―
A CBS4 Investigation found golf courses in Colorado have vastly different approaches to how they protect golfers from potential lightning strikes. Colorado has long been known as a lightning prone state, second only to Florida in the number of strikes.
On average, five to ten people die every year from lightning. One or two of those deaths usually occur in Colorado.
Green Gables Country Club is like many other private courses. It pays for a sophisticated service that warns of approaching danger.
"So if we have lightning that's within 7 miles, say seven or six, they will call us and give us a caution, tell us we need to be on the alert," said John Phillips, the Green Gables Golf Pro.
If the lightning gets closer, players are told to get off the course and seek shelter. Course managers are then called when it is safe to let play resume.
Cherry Creek Country Club, Denver Country Club and the Boulder Country Club all subscribe to similar services. They are all private courses.
Municipal and public courses generally rely on less scientific methods to protect golfers.
The South Suburban Parks and Rec's Lone Tree Course simply watches the sky.
"When it gets to a position where we feel that it's becoming a dangerous situation, then we would go ahead and sound a horn to notify golfers to evacuate the golf course," said Bill Ramsey, the department's manager of golf.
Ramsey said lightning has hit the course and a nearby home. He added the department feels using common sense is good enough.
Aurora's public courses don't pay for an outside service and most Denver municipal courses also don't pay for a warning system.
The best way to find out if a course has a warning system is simply to call or ask at the club house.
Both private and public courses said they can only warn golfers to get off the course when lightning is close. They can't force anyone to stop play.
Golf managers said there are always golfers who disregard the warnings and keep playing.
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