BMGA Members,
We have had back-to-back weeks with inclement weather, bringing to attention the need for some clarity on how the BMGA handles severe weather. The Board met with Brookview and had an in-depth discussion about how to handle league play and wanted to share what we learned and how we have decided to move forward to ensure member safety, which is our top priority.
First, we learned about Brookview’s siren and how it works. In the old building, there was an alert system (siren) that required the staff to decide when to manually turn on. When the new building was being planned, the city decided it was best to take the human element out of making this decision, so they installed the current system – an automatic lightning detection system. This is NOT a severe weather detection system; it only detects lightning when there is a lightning strike within a 3-mile radius. The sirens on top of the clubhouse and on a post on the #8 tee box should sound once when lightning is detected, alerting players to take shelter. The system will sound 3 times when lightning is clear of the area. There are lights on top of the sirens that will blink until the all clear is sounded.
Last week, 5/11, there was clearly lightning in the area and the siren did not sound. Brookview has been testing the system, and it should have worked but it did not. Again, Brookview staff are unable to manually sound the alarm – they are able to send a message to golf carts, but not every group has a cart. A staff member did go out to try and alert golfers, which is against protocol for the staff’s protection, but obviously takes time. Once everyone was inside, the Board collected cards and found all but 12 matches had finished completely, so they discussed options and ended up voting to halve any remaining holes resulting in a full week of scoring.
This week, 5/18, a band of weather moved in quickly and the lightning detection system did work and sounded the siren just after the 4:20 groups had started their round. Most, if not all, groups made their way back to the clubhouse after the siren sounded to wait for a decision if play will continue. The Board members present met, and after learning all clear would not be given in time for us to complete league play, the decision was made to cancel the week. We have one week available for makeup at the end of the season – September 7th – that will be used either for this week or if a future divisional week gets cancelled.
Now we want to share how we want to handle future weather events. First off, each week that has potential inclement weather in the forecast, the WNL Director works with Brookview to determine potential issues with playability or the possibility of severe storms interrupting play. We do not have a meteorologist on hand, so we use the radar the best we can and try each week to get play in.
If severe weather does pop up during play, we should not be relying on the lightning detection system only – it is up to each player to assess and make the call to stop play if they feel they are in danger. USGA rule 5.7a states:
“Individual Player Stopping Play Because of Lightning: A player may stop play if he or she reasonably believes there is danger from lightning, but must report to the Committee as soon as possible.
- Leaving the course is not, by itself, stopping play. A player’s delay of play is covered by Rule 5.6a, not by this Rule.
- If a player stops play for any reason not allowed under this Rule or fails to report to the Committee when required to do so, the player is disqualified.”
In this case the “committee” you should seek out is the WNL Director, a Board member, or Brookview Staff. You and your opponent do not need to agree on this, you can make your own decision – again, player safety is top priority, and we can figure out scoring once everyone is safe. Both players
should report to the committee and a determination will be made if play should continue or not. As mentioned in USGA rule 5.7.c, once the committee has determined play is to continue, all players must return to the course. If you leave or are delayed on returning to the course, you can be disqualified. The best course of action is to wait at the clubhouse until either an all-clear or cancellation notice is announced.
Each week the WNL Director is in communication with Brookview if there is any kind of weather issue forecasted. They use the information they can via radar, forecasts, and experience to determine if league should be cancelled before we start, but if there is a good chance, we can get everyone in we will play. If there is rain and the course is deemed playable, we play. But if severe weather moves in, again we want players to feel safe so please make that determination and stop play if there are any safety concerns.
The Board will determine how to handle scoring on a case-by-case basis, as there are too many scenarios to have written rules for, and we appreciate your patience and understanding during these last two weeks.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to myself (bradleyejordan@gmail.com) or a Board member.
On behalf of the BMGA Board, thank you.
Brad Jordan
BMGA President
