Another course accident, another lawsuit?

[Jay Flemma]

Golf course worker dies after being hit by drive.

The article says far too little.

http://www.cbssports.com/golf/story/14357556/florida-golf-course-worker-hit-by-tee-shot-dies

[cary lichtenstein]

There certainly will be a lawsuit to follow. Sounds like the worker wasn't trained properly and the golfer shouldn't have hit, especially if he had a history of hitting snap hooks.

[Jim Sweeney]

A very sad situation. I once hit a golf course worker; it is a very scary thing to do.

The article is very short on facts. I wonder if the worker was wearing a hardhat. It is a pet peeve of mine- golf course workers who are on the course but not wearing protective headgear. Yes, it is hot and uncomfortable. But it is cheap insurance when protecting one's life. I have often thought that were I in position to have final say, any one working under me at a golf course not wearing a hardhat while on the course would be separated from his employment immediately.

That probably sounds harsh. Accidents can and will happen even if hardhats are worn. I hope the young man who was killed was wearing one. The golfer is probably not at risk in this case- off kilter shots are normal and expected. If the worker was supposed to be wearing a hardhat but was not, the course owners and his supervisors could have a big problem.

[Bruce Hospes]

Hard hats are for falling debris, not line drives.  If the worker had a hard hat on, it still wouldn't cover his temple and have prevented this horrible accident.
My heart goes out to his family and co-workers.

[Jon Wiggett]

A very sad situation. I once hit a golf course worker; it is a very scary thing to do.

The article is very short on facts. I wonder if the worker was wearing a hardhat. It is a pet peeve of mine- golf course workers who are on the course but not wearing protective headgear. Yes, it is hot and uncomfortable. But it is cheap insurance when protecting one's life. I have often thought that were I in position to have final say, any one working under me at a golf course not wearing a hardhat while on the course would be separated from his employment immediately.

That probably sounds harsh. Accidents can and will happen even if hardhats are worn. I hope the young man who was killed was wearing one. The golfer is probably not at risk in this case- off kilter shots are normal and expected. If the worker was supposed to be wearing a hardhat but was not, the course owners and his supervisors could have a big problem.

Jim,

do you wear a hat when playing golf?

[Steve Okula]

A very sad situation. I once hit a golf course worker; it is a very scary thing to do.

The article is very short on facts. I wonder if the worker was wearing a hardhat. It is a pet peeve of mine- golf course workers who are on the course but not wearing protective headgear. Yes, it is hot and uncomfortable. But it is cheap insurance when protecting one's life. I have often thought that were I in position to have final say, any one working under me at a golf course not wearing a hardhat while on the course would be separated from his employment immediately.

That probably sounds harsh. Accidents can and will happen even if hardhats are worn. I hope the young man who was killed was wearing one. The golfer is probably not at risk in this case- off kilter shots are normal and expected. If the worker was supposed to be wearing a hardhat but was not, the course owners and his supervisors could have a big problem.

Why are maintenance workers presumed to be at risk on a golf course and not golfers, caddies, rangers, and cart girls?

If you go on a construction site designated as a hard hat area, then everyone on site has to put on a hard hat, architects, engineers, investors, everybody, not just the bricklayers.

[Kyle Harris]

Steve Okula:

Maintenance workers are often distracted or preoccupied with a task at hand.

Not to mention those that actually pay attention to play and wait until the danger has passed being accused of laziness.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

The deceased  worker's estate in this case is entitled to Worker's Compensation benefits which are awarded without regard to any negligence. The insurance company  for the employer is responsible for that payment.

If there is any third party claim against the golfer or anyone else for negligence, I'm sure some enterprising plaintiff's attorney will come up with a theory of negligence. Whether or not a jury agrees with that theory is another story. In any event, the posting of this article is premature IMO.

[Don_Mahaffey]

Steve Okula:

Maintenance workers are often distracted or preoccupied with a task at hand.

Not to mention those that actually pay attention to play and wait until the danger has passed being accused of laziness.

Kyle,
I'll agree with your first sentence. However, I take exception with your 2nd. I've always trained my crew to pay attention to where the golfers are and stay alert. Not just for their own safety, but the piece of mind for the player as well. No one wants to hit and possibly injure a golf course worker and most players prefer crew members be aware they are hitting and either get out of the way or be prepared to avoid getting hit.

As for this thread, I find it disturbing that someone loses their life and some here are only worried about a lawsuit. I realize it was started by a lawyer, but still, is the #1 concern here really about if someone sues? That happens everyday. Big deal.

[Kyle Harris]

Steve Okula:

Maintenance workers are often distracted or preoccupied with a task at hand.

Not to mention those that actually pay attention to play and wait until the danger has passed being accused of laziness.

Kyle,
I'll agree with your first sentence. However, I take exception with your 2nd. I've always trained my crew to pay attention to where the golfers are and stay alert. Not just for their own safety, but the piece of mind for the player as well. No one wants to hit and possibly injure a golf course worker and most players prefer crew members be aware they are hitting and either get out of the way or be prepared to avoid getting hit.

Glad you agree. But it happens elsewhere, and that pressure can lead to not paying attention.

[Steve Okula]

Kyle,

Golfers and caddies are never proccupied or distracted? The worst golf ball induced injuries I ever saw happened to golfers. One was hit in the mouth by a duck hook he never saw coming and lost several teeth. My own father suffered a concussion being hit in the head by a golf ball while he was golfing. (Should he have been wearing a hard hat?)

I agree with Dan, that essential training for any golf course worker is learning to respect and give right of way to the golfer, first for safety but also for etiquette. I have never accused anyone waiting for golf to go through of laziness.

A site is either a hard had designated area or it's not.

[Jeff_Brauer]

I recall working on a green at Glencoe Golf Club in 1974 and almost getting hit.  Ball whizzed right under my chin and I didn't hear fore, but then again, a player came up and I was doing something and didn't pay attention either.

And there are the occaisional tasks that demand you stay in the line of play.  One woman fell in the pond over reaching for golf ball.  When I stopped laughing I started trying to get her out of there which took a while and I couldn't let go because she was panicking.  The next group played from the tee just over a hundred yards away, so I hoped for the best.

Currently, I am often amazed when riding a course with the superintendent just how oblivious some can be around golfers, and I am often scared to death. I think its a case of familiarity breeds complacency for some.  They have driven around so long without getting hit they think they won't be.

[Ian Andrew]

Some people are ass%&$#’s.

I was laying out forward tees with a lady professional at one of the clubs I work with. We didn’t hear or see the group approach the tee behind us. The guy could have walked up 75 yards up to us to let us know he was there, but instead drove the ball over our heads from about 75 yards away without warning. It took everything I had inside me not to punch him in the face.

I will never hit a ball with someone at risk. I’ve seen people who have been hit and have been hit myself. We all know better and it’s simply a matter of respecting the staff as we would our children. I either wait, or if I’m in a rush, pick up and go to the side or around.

To finish the story, I reported the incident and the club surprised the pair of us by tossing the member out of the club with no warning.

[Craig Sweet]

It sucks that you can pay attention and still have a golfer sneak up on you.  When I work on the course I am aware of who is hitting....I know where, and how long they typically hit the ball. I position myself accordingly. I pay attention to the groups behind me and plan where I will go next based on the length of time needed to perform the task and their pace of play.  HOWEVER....I often hit the back nine with a good two or three hole gap between me and the golfers behind me only to have golfers jump in front of other golfers and surprise me....or, even worse....leave the practice area and jump in two play a few "warm up holes" before their tee time....Figuring I have a nice cushion from the golfers behind me, I am not looking for these hole jumpers....and the crazy thing is, I could be mowing a green and they will hit to the green anyway!  I think these people are not stupid, but sometimes I wonder!

[Steve_ Shaffer]

More on deaths on golf courses:

http://everythinggolf.blogs.heraldtribune.com/11108/death-by-golf-ball-not-all-that-uncommon/?pa=all&tc=pgall