The following policy is designed to clarify Oxley Golf Club’s adverse weather procedure including use of motorised carts on course.

Motorised Carts On / Off Course / Course Closure / Competition Abandonment

On arrival to the club at 5am, the course superintendent / senior greenskeeper reviews the rain gauge and conducts a course inspection with the head professional / senior proshop staff member. Together the decision is made.

Based on the condition of the course, wet areas, water on course, weather forecast, etc. a decision will be made on the use of motorised carts. For Honour Board events a decision will be made in consultation with the Club Captain.

General Procedure

Check Rain Gauge and do an inspection of the course.
Check course conditions – Where possible the following are to review the course condition: Superintendent/representative, Head Professional/representative, Club Captain/Vice captain, Management.
Make and implement a decision on the daily course conditions – Communicate decision to members via email, update information website.

A review of the decision will be conducted at 10am and as practicable preceding that time each day as appropriate. I.e. the course may be reopened and use of motorised carts reinstated.

Lightning

The following outlines the club’s procedure to protect players from the threat of lightning.

When a lightning strike is detected within 10km of the club, play on the course and the use of the practice facilities will be immediately suspended. Including TopStroke mini golf facility.
The staff will sound the club siren for a 30 second period, which will indicate a suspension, and all players must mark their ball and return to the clubhouse immediately and await further information. Staff will be required to drive a motorised cart on course to ensure all players have been notified of the suspension of play.
Play will only resume when there have been no lightning strikes within 10km of the club in a period of at least 30 minutes.
Once staff are satisfied there is no longer a threat of lightning, there will be two short blasts from the clubhouse siren to signify resumption of play.

The Club is currently using a software program called UBIMET.

Wind

Play is to be suspended following three readings (each 10min apart) of wind speed and gusts exceeding 65kms per hour. The wind speed and gust readings from the Bureau of Meteorology (specifically Oxley) will be used.  In circumstances when wind gusts are less or more than 65kms per hour, however considered dangerous, discretion to suspend play rests with the most senior manager of the Operator present. Resumption of play will require three consecutive wind speed readings below 65kms per hour.

Competition Play – Additionally, play will be suspended should wind strengthen to the point it becomes impossible to bring balls to a stop / come to rest on several the greens.

Suspension to All Play – In the unlikely event that extreme winds cause the course to be considered unsafe and/or dangerous, the siren will be used to notify players that play is suspended, and players should return to the clubhouse immediately and await further information.

Staff will be required to drive a motorised cart on course to ensure all players have been notified of the suspension of play.

Play will only resume once the wind has dropped to a level where play is no longer affected and conditions and deemed safe by club staff.

Heat

The following takes into account the general fitness and health of players when playing golf in hot and/or humid conditions. In general competitions (excluding Monthly Medals and Honour Board Events) members are requested to play with great care when heat and humid condition are extreme.

Monthly Medals and Honour Board Events

On days when the Bureau of Meteorology forecast, as at 5 p.m. the preceding day, is for the temperature to be 38 degrees or more, the following policy will apply:

The competition will be cancelled, and re-scheduled if required by the Match Committee unless the event is conducting in morning prior to conditions becoming extreme.

Fog

For the safety on staff and players, the following guidelines maybe used when a heavy fog is present on the golf course limiting visibility.

As determined by staff, starting times to be delayed until visibility is approximately 200 meters.
Play will commence once fog has lifted enough to ensure clear vision to hitting zones.

On course, golfers are to ensure the group in front are clearly visible before playing shots.

Adverse Weather – SMS Bookings

Suspension of Play

1. Mi Golf > Bookings > Select Timesheet > Edit Rows > Select Times > Utilities > SMS Bookings (or select individual cells)

2. Cut and paste the following text.
3. Adverse weather – Lightning – Play suspended as per the club’s policy. Please return to the clubhouse.
https://www.oxleygolfclub.com.au/adverse-weather/

*change text for Lightning, Heat, Fog, etc

Resumption of Play

1. Select the same timesheet and row used for the suspension of play.
2. Cut and paste the following text.
3. Play can now resume as the course has reopened. Kindly make your way back to your previous location on the course.