Course Conditions and Play Suspension Guidelines

Golf on Turkey Mountain, Horseshoe Bend, AR

At Golf on Turkey Mountain, we combine Southern hospitality with a deep love for the game of golf when it comes to handling unpredictable weather conditions and ensuing a pleasant golfing experience. We think Safety always comes first and share with our guests:

Guidelines for golfers seeking to enhance their safety during adverse weather conditions.

If you are concerned, stop playing at any time.

• If you feel weather conditions are becoming a concern, you can stop playing, even if a formal stoppage has not been signaled. .

Signaling: Warning Hooter

• If weather conditions are a concern, a Warning Hooter will sound.

• Upon the sounding of the warning hooter, all players must cease play, mark their balls, or leave them as they lie, and quickly move to the clubhouse or another safe location.

• Play will resume after the warning horn is sounded again.

Lightning: In Horseshoe Bend, lightning can strike unexpectedly, even when storms seem distant.

• If lightning is approaching, suspend play.

• If we learn of approaching lightning we will signal a formal stoppage.

o A warning hooter will sound, and

o our Staff may assist players in returning to the clubhouse.

• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder to resume play.

Dealing with Lightening: When lightning is a concern.

• Proactive Monitoring: Regularly check weather forecasts before and during your golf round. Be aware of sudden changes in weather, especially the development of thunderstorms, which are often accompanied by lightning.

• Spread Out: If you're caught in a storm while on the course, avoid clustering together with other players. Spreading out minimizes the risk of multiple injuries should lightning strike nearby.

• Avoid Tall Objects: Seek lower ground while maintaining awareness of water hazards and other dangers. Avoid tall structures like trees and flagpoles. These objects can attract lightning.

How to Shelter:

• Designated Shelters: Familiarize yourself with designated shelter areas on the golf course.

• Safe Structure or Vehicle: If a safe structure or a vehicle is not available, avoid open fields and high elevations.

• Squatting Position: This position makes you a smaller target and minimizes contact with the ground.

• Open area: use the 'lightning crouch' – squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet, tuck your head, and cover your ears.

Umbrella Caution:

• Do not use umbrellas during thunderstorms.

• Raised umbrellas can act as a lightning rod, significantly increasing the risk of a strike.

• Store them safely during such conditions.

Visibility Challenges: Horseshoe Bend's location in Arkansas, with its humid subtropical climate, experiences regular visibility concerns.

• Summer: Haze. Humid summer months create Hazy conditions.

• Spring and Summer: Thunderstorms appear in Spring and Summer.

• Spring, Fall, and Winter: Fog. Winter:

If visibility becomes unsafe for players, we may call a cessation. Safety always comes first.

How Play Ceases

• Players can stop at any stage of the play.

• If a hole hasn't been completed, may mark your ball and head to the clubhouse.

How Play Resumes

• After the storm has moved sufficiently far away. To ensure the storm has moved sufficiently far away, wait for an appropriate amount of time (typically 30 minutes) after the last sound of thunder before resuming play.

Emergency Planning: Know the emergency procedures of the golf course.

• This includes:

o How to contact emergency services and

o Location of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for cases of cardiac emergencies.

Resuming Play

• Our staff will inform you of applicable resumption procedures, should direction be necessary.

• Typically, a PA announcement and/or hooter sound will announce resumption.

• If you can't determine the exact spot of your original ball placement due to movement during the suspension, estimate the position and place the ball there.

Impact on Competitive Play (ongoing tournaments, matches)

• During Competitive Play, the staff will work with the Competition Committee to make decisions regarding.

o spending or canceling the round,

o resuming from where play stopped or

o scheduling a future replay

Resuming Competitive Play

• In match play, players should resume play from the designated point.

Casual Water

• Heavy rain won't lead to an automatic suspension of play.

• Play may be suspended if the course becomes unplayable or it's unfair to continue due to adverse conditions (e.g., balls frequently moving on putting greens or holes surrounded by casual water).

We’ll always prioritize your enjoyment and safety.

At Golf on Turkey Mountain in Horseshoe Bend, our Southern hospitality extends to ensuring your well-being, rain, or shine.

Thank you for choosing us as your golfing destination, and we look forward to seeing you on our beautiful course soon.