Adverse Weather and Fog Policy

Every golfer has a duty of care to ensure that golfers, WHGC staff and members of the public are not endangered by their actions.

No golfer should commence or continue to play when a decision to cease has been taken by a Club official.

If you ignore the policy as stated, you do so entirely at your own risk and the Club will not accept any responsibility or liability for your actions.

Klaxon Policy

In the event of thunder and lightning, each person is responsible for ensuring their own safety. 

Each golfer has a personal responsibility to stay safe on a golf course and to be aware of the Club’s Policy relating to adverse weather conditions in terms of general play and under competition circumstances. 

Rule 5.7 of the Rules of Golf (2019) clearly sets out the golfer’s responsibilities when they may, or must, stop play.

Wrotham Heath Golf Club Limited recommends that if lightning is imminent, all play MUST be discontinued immediately. 

Wrotham Heath Golf Club Limited accepts no liability for any injury to a golfer (member or visitor) who fails to comply with the requirements of this Policy and its Procedures and who continues to play when…

• there is a risk of lightning
• play is suspended
• the course has been closed due to adverse weather conditions

At no time during an episode of thunder and/or lightning will anyone be expected to leave the safety of a building to go outside in order to sound a klaxon.

The Club, when safe to do so, may at times operate a klaxon from the Professional Shop / Office (during opening hours) when severe weather prevails and / or we have been made aware that lightning is in the vicinity of the course.

The following klaxon soundings apply…

a) One prolonged note of the klaxon – players must cease play immediately and return to the Clubhouse

b) Three consecutive notes of the klaxon - players may complete the hole they are playing and take shelter on the course.

c) Two short notes of the klaxon – all clear to resume play

A golf buggy does NOT provide protection from lightning. Golfers must not seek shelter under trees.

Important: there are areas on the golf course where a sounded Klaxon will not be heard. Golfers are advised to act as outlined within this policy.

Fog Policy

Player Responsibility: The decision regarding play when visibility is poor, first and foremost, lies with the individual golfer, as they are putting others at risk.

In the event of severe FOG, all play will be suspended until the white marker attached to the tree adjacent to the 9th green is visible from the Clubhouse patio. If the disc is visible but there is fog on the course, play may still be suspended at the discretion of the Head Greenkeeper, Golf Professional or Pro Shop Assistant, Club Manager, Course Marshalls or the Director of Golf.

Note, that the above only closes the course to new golfers, it does not bring players off the course. 

• 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.
• Golfers must stop on reaching the 1st & 10th Tees, should the course remain closed.

The above policies will be administered during such times that the Office and/or Professional Shop are manned. At other times any decision relating to play during adverse weather conditions as described above is entirely at the players’ discretion and no responsibility or liability will apply to the Club.

Please note that the on-course shelters do not provide adequate protection from lightning.

17/12/2021