Lightning on the Golf Course, Your Life

I was gone yesterday afternoon on some Mom business and arrived back at the course after the storm had passed through in the early evening. I went down to the lakes to see if I needed to disperse some geese. Yes that time of year to moving the nesting geese along whenever possible.

I first saw a smaller splintered limb jammed into the bank next to the fairway nursery between 10/16. I then saw about a 3" in diameter limb jammed into the bottom of the lake and sticking out of the water.

As I looked across the lake to #10 I saw the Pin Oak where the lower part of the tree was blown off. As I mentioned to the green committee a couple of times already, this tree is not in good shape due to some damage in the crown area of the tree and is on our watch list. I did mention in an earlier posting that we intend to put a tree just past this tree due to the ultimate demise of this tree in the future. At least the lightning struck an already injured tree.

We monitor radar as we see storms approaching. We also monitor the lightning indicator to see the amount of lightning in storms and once the lightning strikes enter the 10 mile zone, we will bring everyone in.

As demonstrated from the damage to this tree, being on the golf course during lightning events are not a good idea. I always error on the side of caution and bring staff in quickly because the grass can be mowed a few minutes later. We alert staff and request that they alert members who are out in the same area. That second shot out of the trees can be made 30 minutes later but Your Life cannot be replaced. Please remember that when we call you off the course, sitting underneath trees only makes you a more attractive target. Also, not coming off the course and staff having to chase you down also endangers the life of staff members so when you hear the horn, be forewarned please come inside or go to the field bar if you cannot make it back to the shop for further instructions. Also, if you've not heard a horn and lightning is close, their is a possibility that staff is not aware of the issue or just became aware of it like you. The safety of our members, guests and staff first and foremost when it comes to protection from storms.

https://youtu.be/773b8QUUEkM

The strike on  the base of the tree with the shrapnel across the lake on #10.

Lightning, The Safety Of Our Members, Guests and Staff

I was going through a social media site the other night and saw a great post from AccuWeather regarding Lightning Safety. The link gives you the full article but thought I would pass along our procedures we follow at Glen Echo.

We use a service from DTN which supplies us with on-time lightning strikes. It does not determine if lightning can potentially occur but that lightning has actually been identified. It has a standard radar map with  a 20 and 8 mile radius from Glen Echo.

The pro shop and maintenance staff work together when a forecast calls for the potential of thunderstorms which can carry lightning. The maintenance staff are on the outside watching the sky for visible lightning or hearing thunder. The pro shop is monitoring the incoming storm to determine if lightning strikes are being detected inside the alert areas. I usually receive a call or text from the staff alerting me that strikes are moving into the 20 mile area. Working outside gives us a jump on quick hitting storms that are not expected. We will contact the pro shop requesting they look at the radar to see if something is happening when cloud formations appear to be severe.

Usually a storm will show its true colors before it arrives to our location and its pretty obvious everyone should move to a protected site. There are situations when lightning does not occur until it forms overhead and no advance notice is given. There are also occasions when the storm approaches us and dissipates or loses its energy. We are sorry for the inconvenience this may create when you are pulled off the course and then nothing happens but lightning rarely gives 2nd chances. Our jobs are to protect the welfare of members, guests and staff.

Once lightning moves into the 20 mile range, notification is given to myself and staff. I will usually move my staff closer to the maintenance building since some of their equipment is slower. The site is monitored for strikes up to the 8 mile range. Once the 8 mile border is breached, the pro shop will sound a long horn blast from an air horn to evacuate the course. The blast is not the okay to evacuate the course once your finish the hole. The blast is to proceed to safety immediately because lightning strikes have been located within the kill zone which is less than 8 miles for a majority of lightning/human strikes.

The best site to evacuate would be the pro shop and or clubhouse. A secondary/last resort facility would be the Field Bar if you are on the far end of the course. Usually a second horn is sounded at a further area out onto the course so those of you at the far end can here as well. We make every attempt to pick up walking members who are out on the course. If you do not see someone coming to your aid, call the pro shop to make sure someone is on their way for you. Maintenance members in carts on the course are able to pick up members as well. I usually send a group text or we come out and find each individual employee to insure that they are coming in. You might assist our staff as well if you hear the blast and they do not appear to react. They might not of heard the horn sound. All individuals on property are treated the same when it comes to lightning safety. We want everyone safe.

All members, guests and employees should proceed to the closest shelter. Shelter does not include tall trees as this could become a target for lightning!

Once the lightning has cleared and the course is deemed playable, another horn blast will be given to begin play. Bright sun on the back of a storm is not the go ahead to begin play. Please do not place yourself, guests, and staff in danger by beginning play before an all clear is given.  

We usually wait until at least 15 or 20 minutes since the last bolt of lightning and or thunder occurs. Thunder does not occur without lightning, allow me to repeat this in bold letters.

THUNDER DOES NOT OCCUR WITHOUT LIGHTNING BEING PRESENT!

Just because you do not see it does not mean it is not there. A cloud to cloud lightning bolt can become a cloud to ground in the blink of an eye.

Also, remember if heavy rain occurs, the course usually will not open once lightning has passed.  It will reopen when the water has drained down enough so that our playing surfaces are okay for play. Heavy rain will usually close the course for a minimum of 45-60 minutes depending upon amount of rain. This would be another reason if at all possible that golfers should come back to the pro shop but sometimes that is not possible.

Another excellent link for Severe Weather 101. Great questions and answers regarding lightning to help you understand the severity of this deadly force. Over 50% of lightning deaths occur on golf courses and a majority of all lightning deaths are men. Do we not listen, are we too stubborn, nah that can't be it could it? There are more men participating which probably increases our chances.

I tend to be more on the cautious side of lightning and incoming storms.  Large trees, metal objects such as golf clubs and equipment are big targets in attracting lightning and wind which can snap limbs and endanger all of us as well. We appreciate your cooperation during these events.

Lightning strikes on property

Over the past 3 to 4 days, we have had at least 3 lightning strikes on property. I will display a few pictures of some of the damage but Nash and I felt it would be good to remind our members about the procedures during a halt in play because of too much rain and or lightning.

The pro shop has a paid weather service that provides lightning detection on a radar screen. Once the lighting gets within the 8 mile zone on the radar, a horn is sounded manually by the staff for all golfers including workers to come off of the golf course.  The staff will drive out away from the pro shop to sound the horn again for any golfers that are on the corner of the property. 

Golfers can either go to the Field Bar(Halfway House) or the pro shop for shelter. Once lightning has cleared the area, players will be notified either verbally or through the sound of another horn that play may resume. If you are at the Field Bar, it would probably be wise to go into the structure and not park your cart underneath tall trees and remain in the cart.

All practice must stop as well including both ranges and the putting green.

The top of the 1/2 dead Catalpa tree on the short range took a direct hit yesterday.  This tree is on our Tree Management list for removal this winter. 

You can see pieces of the tree were blown 30 yards away from the tree.

I had left yesterday afternoon and had to make a cat food run to Petsmart.  While doing my shopping, Nash called and said there was a head running between #17/18.  I figured it had to be a lightning strike which cause a sprinkler head wiring to short out and turn on.  I got back to the facility and we got the water off and then found our second lightning strike. 

A beautiful large healthy Red Oak beside 17 cart path took a direct hit.

Here is a closer view of the damage.

I was standing out in the middle of the fairway taking this picture.  You can see a piece of wood to the lower left of the date stamp.  It was probably 40 yards from the tree.

We also believe our clubhouse took a direct hit this week.  Tiles from the roof were blown off onto the patio area.  As some of you are aware, it knocked out a transformer that helped to power the swimming pool pumps.

In the end, lightning is dangerous business.  Please do not put yourself in jeopardy once the horn has sounded to come in.  Mark your spot, pick up your ball and you will have time to resume play once it is safe to do so.  Lightning does not usually give second chances.  Here is a link to a story about a lightning strike at the U.S. Open  in 1991 which killed one person and injured several others.