Inclement Weather Policy
Greens
Temporary greens are generally only used when a penetrating, deep frost is thawing from the ground.
Greens begin to thaw from the surface down, and as a result any thawed moisture in the surface cannot penetrate and drain through the frozen layers below, this results in an unstable surface that is easily damaged by foot traffic and pitchmarks. Temporary greens are used as a means of alleviating these effects.
The Greenkeeping team will monitor the situation daily and if temporary greens are required, they will notify the pro shop as part of their daily course condition debrief.
It is most likely that any temporary greens implemented will remain so for the remainder of the day.
Fog
The course will be closed when the fairway bunker on the 1st hole is not clearly visible from the first tee.
If the fog comes down once play has already commenced, the claxon should be sounded, and the course closed until visibility improves. Greenstaff will monitor this situation when on site, but at all other times e.g. weekends after greenstaff have left, this should be monitored by the proshop staff.
In this unfortunate situation we ask golfers to accept that their tee time is lost. We will do our best to rebook golfers onto another time later in the day or at a future date if none are available.
Course Closure
The course will be closed if it is deemed unplayable or unsafe due to weather conditions. The main responsibility for this lies with the Greenstaff and their decision is final. We always endeavour to have as much of the course open and in play as possible, even if it means closing individual holes, or playing just the back 9 for instance. The course will be inspected daily, and the pro shop will be informed as soon as a decision is reached.
The website will be updated daily, and push notifications sent to members and visitors. Play may need to be suspended first thing in the morning while this inspection is carried out. In this instance a sign will be placed on the first tee.
Course closures are mainly implemented due to waterlogging but may also be used for other inclement weather conditions such as excessively high winds whereby players may be endangered by falling trees etc.
It is always a difficult decision for the person charged with the responsibility of closing the course but ultimately it is a Greenkeeping decision backed by management. Any decision is made with as much consideration as possible, and the course is only ever closed when absolutely necessary.
Lightning
If lightning is seen or reported then a decision will be made as to if the course should be temporarily closed and play suspended. This decision is the responsibility of on-duty pro shop staff/Management.
Thunder/lightning should be closely monitored and if it is deemed to be in close vicinity of any part of the course then play should be suspended immediately. The claxon will be sounded in one long continuous burst towards both the front 9 and back 9 areas. Players are advised to put their safety first, mark their ball and leave the course immediately.
Once conditions improve, and the threat has passed. 3 short blasts of the claxon indicate that play may resume.
Buggy Usage
The use of buggies is reviewed daily and will only be restricted if ground conditions are deemed to be unsuitable in line with the Clubs Health and Safety policy. This may be due to waterlogging, frost, or ice.
This is a generalised policy that will be adhered to as closely as possible, but it doesn’t cover all eventualities and there may be certain circumstances when we need to deviate from the stated procedures.
Greenfee Refund Policy & Utopian Points Policy
It is the policy of Gaudet Luce Golf Club that if inclement weather impacts upon a round before play is begun to rebook that round at a mutually acceptable date, or to issue a voucher to be used if an acceptable date cannot be first decided. As we offer a discounted greenfee during the winter then rounds curtailed by inclement weather will not be part refunded although a voucher may be offered at the discretion of the member of staff on duty in the shop. If some holes are closed as discussed above then a voucher will be given for a return round either Free of charge or at a discounted rate, at the discretion of the staff in the shop that day.
Members using Utopian points will be refunded points if the round is lost before play begins and if it is curtailed during the round will be reimbursed for 9 holes. If some holes are closed, then the staff on duty in shop may use their discretion in whether to charge for 18 holes of points or 9 holes of points.
Course Condition Communication
The course condition of the day will be communicated via two means,
- Via our web site – Go to the Home Page and find our ‘Course Status’ module
- Via push notification from our Course Mate App. (Go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for Gaudet Luce App, then download either the Members App or the Visitors App – make sure you allow notifications)
