Extreme Weather Policies

Extreme Weather Procedure

At Geelong Golf Club the safety of our staff and visitors is our top priority. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, we have established clear policies and procedures for responding to extreme weather conditions, including lightning, high winds, fog, and extreme heat. These guidelines are designed to keep all patrons safe.

Please take a moment to review the information below to understand how we manage these situations and what actions may be required during your visit.

Extreme Heat

This procedure sets guidelines for staff and visitors at Geelong Golf Club when operating in heat wave conditions, this procedure is designed to avoid any heat related injuries or incidents.

Ambient Temperature

Golf Course

Practice Range

40+
  • Golf Course Closed
  • Practice Range Closed

35-39
  • Reschedule of golfers to cooler times of day.
  • All golfers must be paired.
  • Use of cart encouraged.
  • Adequate sun protection and fluids are used.
  • Regular course checks completed by GGC staff. 
  • Some hole restictions may be enforced.
  • Reschedule of golfers to cooler times of day.
  • Adequate sun protection and fluids are used.
  • Regular checks completed by GGC staff.

30-34
  • Adequate sun protection and fluids are used.
  • All golfers must be paired.
  • Regular course checks completed by GGC staff.
  • Adequate sun protection and fluids are used.
  • Regular course checks completed by GGC staff

25-29
  • Adequate sun protection and fluids are used.
  • Adequate sun protection and fluids are used.

High Winds

This procedure sets guidelines for staff and visitors at Geelong Golf Club when operating in high winds. This procedure will minimise risks associated these conditions. The Beauford Wind scale is utilised to determine the course of action at Geelong Golf Club.

High wind risk is from level 6 on the Beauford Scale (40-50 kilometre per hour winds) onwards If wind gusts exceed 62kilometers per hour (level 8 of the Beauford Wind Scale), immediate suspension of on course play will occur. Staff will use the emergency siren installed at the facility to alert visitors to return to the facility. Play will resume once wind gusts move below this level on the scale. 

Beauf Scale.

Term

Units in Knots

Units in KPH

Description

0

Calm

0

0

Smoke rises vertically.

1-3

Light winds

10 knots

19 kph

Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; ordinary vanes moved by wind.

4

Moderate winds

11-16 knots

20-30 kph

Raises dust and loose paper; small branches are moved.

5

Fresh winds

17-21 knots

31-39kph 

Small trees in leaf begin to sway; crested wavelets form on inland 
waters.

6

Strong winds

22-27 knots

40-50 kph

Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telephone wires; 
umbrellas used with difficulty.

7

Near gale

28-33 knots

51-61kph

Whole trees in motion; inconvenience felt when walking against.

8

Gale

34-40 knits

62-74 kph

Twigs break off trees; progress generally impeded.

9

Strong Gale 

41-47 knots

75-87kph
Slight structural damage occurs -roofing dislodged; larger branches break.

Lightning Storms

This procedure sets guidelines for staff and visitors at Geelong Golf Club when a lightning storm occurs, this procedure is designed to mitigate serious injury or death to staff and patrons.

Geelong Club uses 30/30 Rule when a lightning storm occurs: 

  • When 30 minutes has passed since the last sighting of lightning. The course will reopen for play.
  • Where the flash to bang count is 30 seconds, indicating that the lightning is 10km away. This is associated with significant risk that the strike could be in the area. 
  • Immediate suspension of on course play will occur. Staff will use the emergency siren installed at the facility to alert visitors to return to the facility and wait indoors.

Heavy Fog

This procedure sets guidelines for staff and visitors at Geelong Golf Club when a for occurs, this procedure is designed to mitigate serious injury from golf ball impact.

  • If a fog delay is required, no player is to tee off until the fog had suitably cleared. Visibility of 250m plus is an appropriate amount to restart play.
  • Once play can resume, the amount of time remaining until the afternoon field will be calculated. If practicable, a shotgun start may be considered to clear the backlog of players (18 groups maximum). There should be no changes to the PM field post fog delay.
  • Staff will monitor Bureau of Meterology forecasts to communicate potential fog delays in advance where possible.