Hopeman Golf Club

SAFE WORKING PRACTICE Use of 2 or 4 Seater Buggies

1. General

The hirers and owners of 2 and 4 seater golf buggies have a duty of care to all people on the golf course and the club’s premises. This duty of care includes the safe operation of a golf buggy by the operator to ensure the safety of him or herself, other buggy users, other golfers and the golf club’s staff.

The topography of certain areas of the course is such that extreme caution and prudence must be shown by the buggy operator.

To assist with the safe use of buggies all operators (members and visitors) should comply with the following general conditions:

 1.1 Buggies must be operated with the utmost courtesy, care and consideration for the safety of other people on the golf club’s premises. People on foot must be afforded the right of way at all times. Buggies hired from the club should not be operated outside of the golf club’s premises.

1.2 The signs and instructions shown on the course (including roped and hooped off areas) or communications relayed to buggy users by the shop to warn buggy users of areas to be avoided because of the potential to cause injury, damage to or unacceptable wear and tear of hired buggies or damage to the course, must be followed at all times. Different rules may be applied to 2 and 4 seater buggies in inclement weather and/or poor conditions The main considerations here are the safety of all golfers and secondly the risk of course damage, eg. tyre and skid marks from buggies.

1.3 Buggies must be operated and parked in such a way that they do not impede or interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular flow on roadways, car parks, ramps, pavements or other areas in the vicinity of the clubhouse.

1.4 Operators of hired buggy users will be responsible for the security of ignition keys for the duration of the hire period.

1.5 No buggy should be operated in excess of 15km per hour. Any speed limits must be observed.

1.6 Buggies should only be used during daylight hours.

1.7 Operators must stop the buggy at any blind intersections and proceed with caution.

1.8 The consumption of alcohol and/or the improper use of drugs when using a buggy is strictly forbidden.

1.9 Only those that are aged 17 years or older and hold a full, valid driving license can operate a buggy. Minors can be passengers in a buggy providing the above stipulation is met.

1.10 Buggies should only be used for the number of occupants it was designed to carry and only by people who are authorised to use one.

1.11 For days with a hard and/or white frost buggies will not be allowed on to the course until the frost has cleared. As a guideline this may be around 11am. The Head Greenkeeper will inform the  shop or the Manager when buggies are allowed.

1.12 The Club Manager has the authority to immediately prohibit any individual from using or being carried on a buggy.

1.13 Hopeman Golf Club accepts no responsibility or liability for ensuring the safe operation of buggies on the golf club’s premises or beyond its boundaries. The Club also accepts no responsibility or liability for injury or damage caused by buggy operators or passengers.

2. Before Use

 A buggy shall only be used for the number of occupants it was designed to carry and only by people who are authorised to use one.

3. During Use

3.1 Do not move off until the occupants are seated.

3.2 Always remain seated and hold on while the vehicle is in motion.

3.3 Hands, feet and head must be kept inside the buggy at all times while the vehicle is in motion.

3.4 Buggies must not be driven in prohibited areas and should use paths where provided.

3.5 Buggies must be used to progress the game and must not be driven up and down excessively, eg. when looking for golf balls.

3.6 Buggies must not be driven on to tees, greens, the slopes leading up to them or between green side bunkers and greens.

3.7 The vehicle must not be used within 2 metres of any bunkers, ditches or slopes leading to them.

3.8 Check the area behind the vehicle before reversing.

 3.9 Set the parking brake before leaving the vehicle.

3.10 Always consider the terrain as well as the environmental factors that may affect your ability to operate the vehicle safely:

- Drive the vehicle only as fast as the terrain and safety considerations allow.

- To avoid tipping over, drive the buggy straight up and down slopes.

- Slow down before corners with reducing speed for any turns.

- Avoid sudden stops or changes in direction that may result in loss of control.

- Be extra careful when the course is wet and muddy.

4. After Use

4.1 Return and park the vehicle as instructed, turn the operating key to the off position and engage the parking brake. Remove and return the key to the shop or as directed.

Club Manager 9th March 2023

ADVERSE WEATHER PROTOCOL - ELECTRICAL STORMS

IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF PLAY

During Shop hours an immediate suspension of play for a dangerous situation (such as when there is imminent danger of lightning) will be signalled by One prolonged note of a Claxon. Members, their Guests and Visitors are advised to leave the course immediately – Rule 5.7b (1)

Outwith Shop hours - Players may also stop play on their own when they believe there is a danger from lightning (see Rule 5.7a).

If the Match & Handicap/Shop Staff declares an immediate suspension of play during a Competition, all players must stop play at once and must not make another stroke until Match & Handicap/Shop Staff resumes play.

NORMAL SUSPENSION OF PLAY

During Shop hours normal suspension (unplayable course due to Fog/Haar, Unplayable Course or Darkness) will be signalled by Three consecutive notes of a Claxon.

If the Council/Shop Staff suspends play for normal reasons during a competition, what happens

next depends on whether a group is between two holes or playing a hole – Rule 5.7b (2)

- Between Two Holes: If all players in the group are between two holes, they must stop play

and must not make a stroke to begin another hole until the Council/Pro Shop resumes play.

- Whilst Playing Hole: If any player in the group has started a hole, the players may choose

either to stop play or to play out the hole.

When play is suspended during a competition, a decision on the resumption of play will be made after 30 minutes, with a final decision on resuming play being made up to a maximum of 60 minutes from the initial suspension.

Match & Handicap/Shop Staff will evaluate if players should be left in position on the course or brought back to the clubhouse. After this, if play is unable to be continued, then completed rounds will stand as the result of the competition if 70% of the field have completed their round. This ruling would apply to all Medals/Stablefords as well as the Spring & Autumn Meetings.

Whether a suspension is immediate or normal, the Match & Handicap/Pro Shop Staff will resume

play when it is possible to do so. Players will resume play from where they stopped – Rule 5.7c

MULTI-ROUND EVENTS

These will be treated differently to the above, if 100% of the field cannot complete a round due to adverse weather conditions then the event will be reduced by the number of rounds not completed.

In the event a 36-hole event is affected on both days the event will be rescheduled to the next available weekend.

APPROVED SIGNALS

Immediate Stop: Three consecutive notes of the Claxon

Normal Stop: One prolonged note of the Claxon

Resume Play: Two short notes of the Claxon

Player’s Responsibilities

If the Claxon is not heard and you or your playing partners reasonably believe the conditions are dangerous, please check the Club Website, Intelligent Golf  or call the Club for any course status updates.

Club Manager 29/4/25