Golf Accidents Happen but Who is to Blame?
Nobody is ever going to argue golf is a ‘high risk’ activity compared to other sports. But however low-risk golf is no activity comes with zero risk. When you’re swinging metal clubs, sending balls flying often in uncontrolled directions and driving around in golf carts, there’s plenty of potential for injury to you and others as well as property damage.
And golfers are playing for anywhere between 2 and 5 hours before heading to the 19th hole for some food and drink whilst leaving a lot of expensive equipment sitting unattended next to the course or in the car.
So there’s always a chance you could hit or be hit by, another golfer, send your ball through a car windscreen or house window, break a club or have all your golf clubs stolen from your car. And while you might think golf ball injuries are not anyone’s fault the particular circumstances may mean differently.
It is estimated about 40,000 people each year end up in the emergency room as a result of an injury on a golf course.
Sure it makes it pretty rare but 40,000 is still a lot of people.
What Does Golf Insurance Cover?
Before anyone can make a decision about golf insurance it’s clearly important to know what protection typical golf insurance policies give you.
In general golf insurance will cover you for:
- Golf equipment – Repairing or replacing damaged or stolen golf gear.
- Public / Third Party liability – Any damage you cause to someone or someone else’s property while you are playing golf.
- Personal Injury – Any injury you suffer as a result of playing golf.
- Membership fees – If you cannot play due to illness or injury.
- Hole in one costs – Your bar bill will be taken care of up to a limit if you are lucky enough to hit a hole in one!
- Overseas cover – an add-on feature on some policies many include worldwide cover as standard when you play abroad.