Golf Clubs and Lightning Don't Mix!

Did you know that lightening kills more people than any other weather condition in the USA.

Lightning can kill and if you're swinging your golf clubs during a storm you are in prime territory for being struck. Humans are 65% water which is a good conductor for lightning, so if you're on an exposed golf green holding metal golf clubs than you are in danger.

If you're in the UK , the danger isn't as high as America , where golfers are most likely to be hit. In 1975, American golfer Lee Travino was hit in 1975. He thought his number was up. But in fact only a tenth of people hit die.

Britain doesn't have as much extreme weather but British golfers have been hit � about 25 every year are struck, and around five of those will die, whereas in America there are around 66 deaths per year. Golf clubs and umbrellas can be dangerous in a lightning storm.

Despite the risk, it's important to keep it in perspective. Many golfers will drag out their golf clubs regardless of the weather - but it is a small percentage who will get hit by lightning. The health benefits far outweigh the risk.

You could start swinging your golf clubs in glorious sunshine but be caught unexpectedly by a storm. And lightning can actually hit ten miles out. If you are worried there are precautions you can take.

•  Seek shelter as soon as you hear thunder � many modern golf courses have lightning stations for this purpose.

•  Stay away from water � lightning is attracted to water.

•  Don't shelter under a tree, lightning often aims at the highest point in a flat surface.

•  If you have your golf clubs with you, drop them. Stay away from any metal object including the spikes on your golf shoes, golf carts and of course, golf clubs.

•  If there is no shelter than try and get as low on the course as possible � if there is a ravine or valley say.

Lightning facts

•  It's not just people wielding golf clubs who get struck by lightning, Jim Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus in the film The Passion of the Christ, is reported to have been struck twice by lightning during shooting.

•  Roy Sullivan has the record for being the human who has been struck by lightning the most times � he was struck even times.

•  Singapore has more lightning than anywhere else.

•  You're more likely to be struck by lightning than hit the jackpot in the lotto.

•  About 1800 thunderstorms are in progress at any one time world-wide, with one hundred lightning strikes every second.

Remember the chances of being struck by lightning are about one in three million. It's worth being aware of the danger, but golf is on the whole a very safe game!