Stonebrooke Golf Club Lightning Strike
A golfer in England died of cardiac arrest earlier this spring after he was struck by a bolt of lightning while clutching a golf club. A few weeks prior, a Minnesota golf course putting green was completely redesigned after a lightning bolt made a direct hit on a flag stick – the unlucky 13th hole no less.
These examples of lightning’s potential devastation should scare every golfer right off the course when thunder is heard. The flash-to-bang theory is a good rule of thumb to remember. According to the Emergency Medical Services Authority, this is the accepted method for estimating the distance of an approaching thunderstorm. The flash-to-bang theory measures the time from when you see lightning to the time you hear the associated thunder. A measure of five seconds from flash-to-bang means lightning is one mile away. Ten seconds equals two miles; 15 seconds equals three miles, etc. When the flash-to-bang count is 30 seconds or less, it’s time to seek safe shelter.
The National Weather Service recorded 39 lightning casualties in the U.S. in 2016, while to date in 2017 there have been just three deaths caused by lightning. Four percent of all lightning deaths occur on a golf course.
Though your chance of dying from a lightning strike is one in 600,000, there’s no need to tempt the gods. Safety is the first concern on a golf course. In fact, golf is the only sport that offers regulations related to lightning. The United States Golf Association Rule 6-8 allows players to discontinue play if they believe there is a danger from lightning. The USGA also makes available stickers and posters to inform players about lightning safety tips.
Lightning Myths and Facts from the National Weather Service:
Myth: If it’s not raining or there aren’t any clouds overhead, you’re safe from lightning.
Fact: Lightning often strikes several miles from the center of a thunderstorm, far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud. In fact, “bolts from the blue” can strike as far as 25 miles out from the parent thunderstorm. That’s why it’s important to seek shelter at the first indication of a thunderstorm and stay there until 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
Myth: If caught outside during a thunderstorm, you should seek shelter under a tree.
Fact: Seeking shelter under a tree is one of the leading causes of lightning-related fatalities. Remember, no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area. If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, keep moving toward a safe shelter.
Lightning awareness guidelines from the National Lightning Safety Institute:
• When you hear thunder, lightning is near!
• Immediately head indoors. Seek a large permanent building, or fully enclosed metal vehicle (cars, vans, or pickup trucks), or head to the lowest elevation in the immediate area.
• Avoid the following: Tall objects (like trees and poles), large open areas or wet areas, elevated areas (hilltops), small sun or rain shelters, and all metal objects like golf clubs, golf carts, fences, metal spikes, and the use of cell phones.
• If sudden close-in lightning doesn’t permit immediate evacuation to a safer place, spread out from your group at least 15 feet apart, squat down, tuck your head, and cover your ears. Head for safety once immediate dangers have ceased.
Rick Stedman is an avid golfer, RVer, and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Rick writes a golf column, “The RV Golfer,” which is published every month in rvlife.com. He can be reached at rstedman@gmail.com.
The “one in 600,000” figure is highly misleading: most areas of the country get very few lightning strikes, these are concentrated in Tornado Alley and Florida. Death rates (deaths per million people) are highest in the Rocky Mtn states. In other words, if you are outside during a thunderstorm your chance of being killed goes way up. And only one in ten die from a lightning strike: the others all suffer from some kind of permanent disability. Last year 20% of all fatalities were people taking shelter under, or near, a tree during a storm (http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/fatalities/fatalities16.shtml). Nearly a third of the deaths occurred in Florida, a favorite state for RVers.
I was in my house ,in cellar , my man cave,sitting in my lounge chair with my laptop on my lap which was plug in to AC and watching 100 inch wide screen with projector when lighting hit. Immediately I felt a surge of power go up both arms. I threw my laptop to the couch which I believe broke the path of electrical current. The lightning destroyed my surround sound and printer plus my treadmill but the surge protector was not triggered ? My arms felt heavy for a few days .That week before I was given my first chemo treatment and was told to relax which I was when the lighting hit. So much for going in door. Now when lighting comes about I avoid anything electrical. O by the way two squirrels were kill they were in the large pine tree in my front yard plus a power transformer was destroyed next to our driveway. I believe the Lord was definitely watching over me. Thank you for your article Sweetie in upstate ny