Health and safety

for golfers

INTRODUCTION

Please always act responsibly to ensure safety on the course. Players have a duty of care to behave in such a way that others are not injured by their actions.

They also have a duty of care to ensure that they do not injure themselves. All players play at their own risk and should do nothing to jeopardise the safety of themselves or others.

To help with the on-going review process of our safety procedures all members, guests and visitors are kindly requested to bring to the attention of the Club Manager any incidents that happen on the golf course, or hazards they feel have not been addressed.

ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

First Aid Assistance: In the event of an accident, first aid boxes are located in reception, behind the bar, and in both greenkeeping workshops. There is also a defibrillator available on the wall on the outside of the building facing the Car Park. You will need to dial 999 in order to obtain the code to open this box.

If there is a serious accident phone the Emergency Services on 999 (the post code of the Club is B97 4PB). Please then call the Clubhouse on 01527 541054.

Accident and Incident Reporting: All accidents must be reported to the Club Manager at the main reception for entry into the Accident or Incident Book.

SAFETY ON THE COURSE AND PRACTICE AREA (together referred to as “the course”)

To help minimise the risks from the hazards that have been identified it is your responsibility as a golfer, caddie or spectator on the course to ensure you adhere strictly to the following:

Players must be alert to their actions and the actions of their playing partners that may cause danger to themselves, their partners and other persons in the vicinity of their swing and hitting range.

You must exercise caution at all times on the course in respect of identifying areas where you may be at potential risk of being hit by another golfer’s ball, or where your ball may hit someone else on the course, especially on those holes where the landing area is not clearly visible from the tee and areas where parallel fairways are played in opposing directions.

Particular care should be taken at the following holes:

• 1st Hole – Wait until all the players in the game in front are visible on the upslope towards the green and then decide if they are out of range before teeing off.
• 5th Hole –Be aware of players on the 6th tee directly ahead, who may also be crossing over the 5^th fairway when teeing off. Players teeing off the 6^th, have priority and must play first.
• 7th Tee – Be aware of players who are on the 8th Hole on the right-hand side.
• 8^th/17^th On holes number 8 and 17, players must wait until the green has cleared before teeing off, and to ring the bell at the back of the green when finished playing that hole.

Practice Nets – When using the practice nets, only strike the ball from the tee mats provided. Do not hit the ball from the grass area into the nets.

If a shot is heading in the direction of other people, you must shout “FORE LEFT!” or “FORE RIGHT” in a loud voice to alert them of possible danger. If “FORE!” is heard when playing, please take evasive action if possible.

Course Signage: Must be observed at all times. Ropes and stakes protecting areas of the course must not be removed or crossed over.

Greens Staff:  Please ensure that they are in a safe position before playing your stroke. Under no circumstances must a stroke be played towards a machine, which is within hitting range. The Greens Staff are regularly working on the course when golf is in progress. Please be careful and courteous to them and ensure that they are aware of and have acknowledged your presence prior to playing in their proximity.

Animal Holes: Pitcheroak Golf Course endeavour to fill in holes created by animals. However, it is inevitable that there will be holes made by burrowing animals that can lead to sprained ankles or worse. The Club cannot be held liable for any injury so caused and it is your responsibility to be observant and aware of possible danger. These holes are particularly prevalent on the fairway bunkers where drainage lines are regularly burrowed by animals.

Fertiliser and Insecticides: Do not lick golf balls or fingers at any time. A notice on the 1st Tee will advise of days that chemicals have been used on the course when particular care should be taken. Players are advised to take heed of the warnings and protect themselves.

Out of Bounds: You are strongly advised not to attempt to retrieve balls that are hit over any boundary fence.

Steep Banks, Slopes & Paths: Pitcheroak Golf Course does have many steep banks, slopes and paths but at all times players should take care when walking up or down these.  Golf shoes must be worn on the golf course as they help with avoiding slips.

Ponds and Ditches: Players should only attempt to retrieve their own ball if it is safe and easy to do so. Trolleys should be kept well away from the edges of ditches and ponds.

Steps & Bridges: There are astro-turfed wooden sleeper steps to the outside mats on the driving range. There are also brick steps around the clubhouse and changing room entrances. You are advised to use all steps on the course and around the clubhouse and changing room entrances with caution, particularly in wet or icy conditions.

Wildlife: Players should be aware that there is a potential threat from wildlife such as crows, wasps, bees and other biting insects on the course. Adders are also present on the golf course, and urgent medical attention should be sought if you suffer a venomous bite.

IS IT SAFE TO PLAY?

Whilst the course may remain open, we would like to remind players that weather is changeable, and you have a duty of care to protect yourself. When the course is open the decision whether to play is the sole responsibility of the player. This applies especially to weather conditions such as thunder and lightning, poor visibility and extremes of temperature. During inclement weather or conditions, the fact that the course has not been officially closed does not warrant that it is fit for play. Therefore, members, guests and visitors should themselves determine whether they consider it safe to play.

FOG & DARKNESS

The club has a duty of care to all users of the course and as such has a clear policy regarding the discontinuation of play due to lack of visibility. This will be typically due to either fog or darkness.

• The decision regarding play when visibility is poor, first and foremost, lies with the individual golfer, as they are putting others at risk
• Wherever a golfer is on the course, they must assess whether they can see the clear distance of their intended shot; whether it is safe to play. If the clear distance of their intended shot cannot be seen, the player must not play
• Do remember that fog cover can be patchy and may even worsen when play is in progress and it is the golfer’s responsibility to play safely
• Golfers may wait to see if conditions improve. If visibility does not improve, golfers must cancel their round, and if applicable, their participation in a competition, citing dangerous playing conditions as the reason
• If you are in any doubt about the conditions and your safety, you should discontinue play and return to the clubhouse

ELECTRICAL STORMS

It is the player’s own responsibility to discontinue play when, in his/her opinion, a danger from lightning exists. In this case play should be discontinued and possibly resumed, if practicable, once it has passed. Pitcheroak Golf Course does have a Claxon Horn which will sound should we deem it unsafe for play. Upon hearing the claxon, player should return to the clubhouse immediately and consider the course closed.

The following advice is designed to be of help and assistance and is given by the English Golf Union who are not liable for any damage or injury caused by the following of this advice.

In the event that a player is out on the golf course when lightning is about then the following safety actions are advised:

Do not shelter under trees or on any high ground

Keep as low as possible and ideally crouch down in the nearest bunker/hollow

Leave your golf equipment where it is and stand away from it

Do not use a mobile phone and make sure it is switched off

Do not put up an umbrella in any circumstances