Golf courses should expect an influx of players following a sensational Masters Tournament
A spellbinding all British final hole playoff at The Masters at Augusta this year captured golfers all over the world. The moment permeated news headlines, and now every adult with a half-decent set of clubs wants to get out in the sun.
Dubbed the Augusta effect, viewers see a beautifully cared-for golf course in Florida and think; “Maybe I could hit a 7-iron 209 yards around a tree for birdie just like Rory McIlroy.” They then rush to their local golf course to enjoy the rapidly improving weather and try their hand at getting back into our national sport.
Golf memberships are shown to spike immediately following the Masters tournament, as do guests and visitors paying green fees. Although many clubs rely on membership numbers, the valuable income from green fees can make all the difference to funding prospective improvements and maintenance of the course and clubhouse.
To get your golf course ready for the busier months ahead, at Club Insure we’ve put together a list of emerging risks golf clubs should be aware of.
Did you know?: There is a little-known trick the greenkeepers of Augusta utilise to make the fairway look all the more beautiful and inviting. The fairways are mown from green to the tee. Mowing in one direction takes longer, but pays off aesthetically. Mowing in one direction from green to tee will get players hitting into the grain. Visually, looking down from the tee box, the grass will have a deeper shade of green. Of course this also depends on the shade of grass, but a well-watered course should be able to adopt this aesthetic. Hitting into the grain also makes the holes feel longer, less prone to running, adding at most a couple club lengths to reach the greens. Perhaps you could adopt this groundskeeping method at your club this season.
Emerging Risks all golf courses need to be aware of?
Fire incidents – A flurry of high-profile fires on golf course premises in recent years have garnered the attention of insurers. High risk areas include clubhouses, warehouses, trolley storage areas and golf cart parking garages.
Arson has always been a risk, however the emergency and popularity of electric lithium-ion batteries needs to be considered. E-trolleys and electric golf carts are posing increased risks to golf clubs.
Battery-powered equipment is also increasingly being used for golf course maintenance. Procedures need to be in place to manage the charging and storing of batteries. This should be documented, with instruction provided to all employees – guidance of which is available from a specialist insurance broker.
Fire risk management also requires a dedicated fire safety marshal, fire alarms, and extinguishers. Many clubs have an immediate callout to fire emergency services readied.
Discrimination or Offense – Golf clubs attract a wide array of people from a variety of backgrounds and ethnicities. People can be opinionated and clash unexpectedly. It is important the manager of a golf club understand how best to deal with disagreements.
In some cases, the club can be found liable for damages or injury resulting from political or racial arguments. This could either be on behalf of Board Members or staff. To resolve claims, the club need to evidence that they have made efforts to prevent these scenarios from happening. Providing mandatory inclusion and diversity training for employees is crucial.
The golf club’s Directors & Officers policy typically pays for legal defences and settlements resulting from lawsuits. Scenarios include alleged defamation of character, slander, the club suspending a membership, retaliation. Whereas, Employers’ liability insurance protects the club from claims made by members of staff – such as unfair dismissal claims following a breach in the code of conduct.
If a member of staff is particularly at risk of infringing on the Equality Act 2010, management should have disciplinary and rehabilitation protocols in place to rectify and reduce this risk. All businesses are obligated to understand discrimination, be able to process grievances, and move toward a fully inclusive workplace.
Club Insure clients have access to Sentient, our HR services provider partner. Sentient offer training and guidance, as well as a library of documents and email templates. Contact us to access Sentient’s services today.
Staff Shortages – Labour shortage is a growing issue. With continued VISA issues and experienced employees leaving the sector, golf courses are finding themselves with a shortage of qualified staff. The adequate and thorough training needed can be expensive, yet is a compulsory investment golf clubs must make in their individuals to remain compliant. Due to the very complex risk profile and responsibilities present at golf clubs, training apprentices can take months. Clubs are straining to retain staff, hire knowledgeable individuals and recruit experienced leadership.
Cost Increases – Everything integral to a golf club’s operation seems to have shot up in price. Fertiliser, machinery, equipment hire, fuel; even food ingredients and bar stock including wine and beer. Sourcing American-made golf brands has increased, as has the cost of paying staff with the national insurance increases. Clubs are having to find ingenious ways of funding projects without compromising on course quality. Some groundskeepers have turned to making their own fertilisers and borrowing older local machinery.
Sustainability efforts can go a long way to reducing costs. Introducing long term projects such as solar farm on fields, and water retention equipment, may help to save the club money. By storing water better, clubs will be able to better manage the risk of droughts or dry episodes, and essentially move toward becoming self-sustainable.
