Check the preventive measures and guidelines for competition organizers, players, and caddies during thunderstorms in competition to ensure everyone's safety.
Updates on the lightning incident during a thunderstorm at a golf course in Don Koka Subdistrict, Bang Nam Priao District, Chachoengsao Province, on 1 Nov 2026, which seriously injured female youth golfers and caddies.
This incident serves as an important warning about risks in open spaces like golf courses. The key safety prevention measures for golf courses, golfers, and users are as follows.
1. Measures for golf courses and competition organizers
- Weather alert system: Install electrical charge detection or weather radar systems with a 10–15 km range, along with sirens to warn of risks.
- Mandatory immediate stop: When the warning siren sounds or lightning/thunder is observed/heard, organizers or the course must immediately halt play, disallowing continuation until the hole is finished.
- Provide shelters: Build roadside shelters or refuge points with standard grounding and lightning rods, distributed throughout the course.
- Prepare golf carts for transport: Have a plan to quickly move golfers and caddies from open areas back to the clubhouse.
2. Guidelines for golfers and caddies during thunderstorms
Follow the 30/30 rule
- If lightning is seen and thunder heard within 30 seconds or less, stop play immediately and seek shelter.
- Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before returning to the course.
- Avoid electrically conductive equipment: Put down golf clubs (especially graphite or steel shafts) and do not open umbrellas with metal frames or tips.
- Avoid hazardous locations:
- Do not stand under isolated tall trees on the course.
- Do not stay near water bodies, ponds, or open golf carts without metal roofs.
- Do not occupy the highest points in the area.
- Actions if caught in open areas without shelter: If you feel hair standing on end or skin tingling,
- Crouch down with feet together, head down, hands covering ears.
- Do not lie flat on the ground to reduce contact surface with the earth.
3. First aid when encountering a lightning strike victim
- Call emergency number 1669 or the emergency medical team immediately.
- Victim safety: Lightning strike victims do not retain electrical current and can be touched and helped safely right away.
- Perform CPR immediately: If the victim is unconscious, not breathing, or has no heartbeat, perform CPR and use an AED (if available) immediately, as sudden cardiac failure is the leading cause of death.