Before anyone can make a decision on golf insurance, it’s critical to understand the types of coverage that are available.
- Third-party / public liability Any damage you do to someone or their property while playing golf.
- Costs of a hole in one – If you hit a hole in one, your bar bill will be covered up to a certain amount.
- Overseas coverage is a provision that some insurance offer as an add-on. When you play abroad, many include international coverage as standard.
Of course, no one wants anything awful to happen when playing golf, but accidents do happen, and golf insurance policies are a method to protect yourself from the hazards that present.
Modern golf clubs have definitely come a long way in terms of technology, especially in the last 30 years or so, but clubs do break from time to time.
Even if the damage occurs on the golf course, a good golf insurance coverage will cover repairs and replacements for most or all of your golf equipment and accessories.
As we can see, the majority of golf insurance coverage is in place to assist when things go wrong.
However, certain insurance will kick in if things go well and there are potentially large charges to deal with.
For example, if you ever score a hole-in-one in golf, you’ll be expected to buy drinks for everyone in your party.
You might even have to purchase for everyone in the bar after you get off the course, depending on who you talk to.
Of course, you can’t be forced to buy, but hole-in-one insurance allows you to utilize your golf coverage to cover your unexpected bar bill for all those drinks, up to a specific amount.
For example, if you’re in charge of a golf outing, this form of inusrance allows you to offer a large prize for a hole-in-one without having to worry about the expense.
All you have to pay is the insurance premium, which is much less than the thousands of dollars, pounds, or euros that many people expect from such awards.
However, like with anything, there is always a price tag, even though golf insurance is generally inexpensive.
A simple policy from a reliable golf insurance company, for example, costs less than $2 per month.
However, as with other types of insurance, the specific cost of each policy will vary, and varying degrees of financial protection will be available at different price points.
According to our study, golf insurance premiums cost anywhere from $25 to $100 per year, depending on the level of coverage and the insurer.
Is it worth getting golf insurance?
Mr Phee sued James Gordon, the golfer who hit the shot, as well as Niddry Castle Golf Club. Mr Phee was granted £397,000 in damages by the Court of Session in Edinburgh, with Lord Brailsford ruling that Mr Gordon was 70% culpable and the Golf Club 30% liable.
“I believe it served as a wake-up call for golfers,” said Colin Whitehead, a director of Golf Care, a renowned golf insurance provider that offers policies with personal liability coverage of up to £5 million. “At the time, we believed that only around one out of every ten golfers was appropriately insured.”
Sean Rowcliffe, a partner at Hegarty LLP Solicitors and a personal injury and litigation expert, discusses the ramifications of being found liable in such a case without adequate insurance.
“There would be costs to both sides in addition to the damages, and in most cases, the winning party would be able to recover them,” he explains. “If the losing party was uninsured and unable to pay the judgment, the victim might get compensation through a Charging Order on the individual’s property. Then there’s the possibility of an Order for Sale, Bailiffs’ instructions, and direct debits from the individual’s bank account and/or earnings from their work. As a result, being held accountable without adequate finances or insurance can have life-altering repercussions.”
Despite the precedent set by Phee versus Gordon, each golfing case that goes to court will be decided on its own merits, with no two cases ever being the same.
“You are extremely likely to be found guilty if you hit a golfer while playing a ball into a green occupied by the group ahead of you,” Rowcliffe explains. “However, if you actually make a terrible shot and have no way of predicting if the wayward hit will collide with other players and cause them to yell ‘Fore,’ the court is unlikely to hold you accountable.”
However, there is a lot of gray space between those two possibilities, and this ambiguity should be a persuasive cause for golfers to get enough personal liability insurance rather than a reason not to. “When you can be covered for just over £30 a year, why take the risk?” argues John Woosey, another of Golf Care’s directors.
The moral justification for providing appropriate coverage is compelling. If you cause an accident at your home club, you’re likely to know, if not be friends with, the person who was harmed. This could be a problematic matter if you are uninsured. Is the injured party pursuing a claim in court, despite the fact that you may face financial consequences? If they don’t, how would you feel if they lost money or had to pay medical bills because of the accident? Such a situation would be lot less problematic if fully covered.
Other than personal liability, there are other reasons to have golf insurance. One of them is to protect your equipment.
“We deal with a lot of damage claims,” John Woosey explains. “There have also been a few incidents of theft. An man who left his clubs in front of a green before going to look for his ball was one of the cases that was settled. Someone came out of the surrounding woods and stole his clubs while he was turned away. A claim of slightly more than £1,500 was settled.” Personal accidents on the course, damage to third-party property (a ball through a vehicle window, for example), and even holes-in-one are all covered by specific golf insurance policies.
“One of our policyholders hit two holes-in-one in the same round at his home club in Leicestershire in December 2012,” explains Colin Whitehead. “Golf Care paid over £150 on the celebratory bar bill.”
Household insurance coverage, it is commonly believed, cover personal responsibility and golf equipment used away from home.
In certain cases, this is true, however in order to keep rates low, “extras” like personal liability have been removed from many household insurance contracts in recent years.
“Many insurers will not cover athletic activities, and adding this coverage to your house insurance could be substantially more expensive than the cost of a bespoke golfing policy,” Sean Rowcliffe adds.
“Personal responsibility may also be linked to the buildings component of an insurance policy, so someone who rents and simply has contents insurance may be unprotected. It’s possible that insurance coverage for loss or theft of golf equipment while away from home isn’t included. Again, you may be required to pay an additional payment to your home insurance, which may be greater than the cost of a separate golfing policy.”
Personal liability coverage on your homeowners insurance may also only apply to occurrences that occur on the insured property (not then on a golf course.)
If you believe your homeowners insurance covers personal liability on the golf course and/or equipment loss or damage, it’s worth double-checking the fine print or speaking with your insurer.
So golfers require appropriate insurance, primarily to protect themselves from potentially life-altering effects if they damage someone on the course, and it should not be assumed that a homeowner’s policy covers this. It’s also worth noting that a golf insurance coverage will pay you if you get hurt on the course, cause damage to someone else’s property, lose or destroy your equipment, or even make a hole in one.
Insurance payments for your house, car, phone, washing machine, and even your pet all be found in your monthly outgoings. We’re accustomed to purchasing insurance to mitigate risk. Golf is just a danger we should be insured for. It may be an additional expenditure, and it may be unappealing, but it is a risk we should be covered for.
Many golfers believe there is an unspoken contract that when you step onto the golf course, you accept the danger of being harmed as part of the game. That is no longer the case in society. People are now significantly more inclined to seek compensation through the courts, even if they are golfers, due to increased awareness of organizations that offer “no win, no fee” claims. As a result, all golfers should obtain appropriate insurance.
Each situation is unique. Each personal liability case will be decided on its own merits in court. There will almost never be any video evidence, and there will almost never be any independent witnesses. The claim will almost always come down to the word of the “responsible” golfer and the injured person. One thing is certain: yelling “Fore” will not free a golfer of blame.
The number of cases that proceed to court and are awarded damages is still quite modest. When they do, and the defendant is determined to be at fault, compensation payouts might be substantial. If you don’t have the right insurance, you could be in serious trouble. Is it worth it to take a chance? Most likely not. Other types of insurance
Some homeowners’ insurance plans may give coverage, however the majority do not. Check the terms of your policy carefully or contact your insurance company if you’re not sure if you’re insured for golf under your homeowners insurance.
Another factor to consider is excess. If you hit someone’s car or property and file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance, you may be required to pay a hefty excess. Furthermore, it is possible that your premium will increase the next year.
With premiums starting at just £30 a year, it seems like a no-brainer to get specialised golf insurance to provide you the peace of mind you need when hitting the fairways.
What does your golf insurance cover?
Aside from the obvious concerns like as golf clubs and trolleys, the Golfsure coverage covers third-party injuries or property damage while playing golf or on the premises of any golf club.
Do I need golf insurance UK?
Frequently Asked Questions about Golf Insurance Although you are not required to have insurance to play golf, it can help cover the costs of damage to your equipment or any damage you do while on the course. Yes, golf insurance covers third-party liability, which can cover the cost of damage you cause to another person’s property, such as their car.
Are golf clubs covered on house insurance?
Many homeowners’ insurance policies, on the other hand, exclude golf clubs and accessories from coverage when they are used outside the home. You won’t be protected if your golf clubs are stolen, lost, or broken while you’re out and about.
Does insurance cover golf ball damage?
A baseball stadium or a golf course sustains damage. If your automobile is damaged at a baseball stadium or golf course, you will almost certainly need to file a claim under your car insurance policy’s comprehensive coverage. You’re unlikely to know who caused the damage, and the stadium or golf course is unlikely to accept responsibility.
Are you liable for hitting someone with a golf ball?
Injuries from golf balls can be very serious. Golf balls are small and heavy, and falling from considerable heights can exacerbate any injuries that occur. This raises the chances of a catastrophic head injury, as well as harm to vital brain functioning. With the increased velocity of the ball falling from a tremendous height, bodily impact can cause welts and possibly break bones.
The subject of liability is complicated if you or someone you know has been wounded by a golf ball or has been involved in a sport-related golfing accident. A delicate line exists between the inherent assumption of danger and factors that are not related to the sport. We’ll help you figure out if your case can be taken to civil court today.
Natural Risk of the Sport
Golf responsibility is governed by the regulations that govern participation in sports. Participants in a shared sport are legally bound to accept the activity’s inherent dangers. Golfers are not allowed to sue each other for things that happen in the course of the game.
Reckless Straying from Game Activity
Golfers are meticulous and precise in their play. Each player may prefer a different club or swing style, but the rules remain the same. Activities that cause injury outside of those defined by the game can be considered irresponsible straying from the game. As a result, these activities are not included in the sport’s estimated risk.
Horseplay and Roughhousing
Roughhousing and horseplay are never permitted in the game of golf. Personal liability regulations apply to any injury sustained as a result of roughhousing or horseplay.
Thrown Golf Balls and Equipment
If you are injured by a thrown golf ball or other thrown object, the person who threw it is accountable for any injuries that occur outside of the typical athletic hazards.
Aggressive Defiance of Safety Protocols
The third form of responsible golf ball injury occurs when someone participates in the game but disregards safety protocols. If the player who tees off did not inspect the ‘zone of hazard’ first, did not declare their swing, or was most likely aiming for people rather than the open fairway, liability can be assumed.
Hitting Balls Toward a Person or Crowd
Even if the objective is not to cause harm, a player who intentionally strikes (or tosses) a golf ball in a direction that could cause harm is accountable for any injuries that occur as a result of that action.
Driving While Golfers are on the Fairway
By disregarding safety rules, a golfer who tees off before the fairway is clear or fails to holler is accountable for any injuries he or she causes.
Injuries Caused by Golf Course Design
When a golf ball injures someone, the golf course must be investigated for culpability. Players may find it difficult, if not impossible, to recognize when they are endangering one another or themselves from a hidden player due to flaws in the course design.
Spectator Safety Areas
In most circumstances, it is the responsibility of the golf course to make sure that spectators at an event know where they can safely stand or sit to watch. Those who leave the specified safe areas, on the other hand, may be releasing the venue from liability.
Holes Too Close Together
Errant balls hit for long flight are significantly more likely to hit someone golfing at a different hole if the course holes are too close together. From hole to hole, there is always some risk, but there are also standards in place to ensure safety.
Obscuring Terrain Hiding Players on Fairway
For course safety, the landscaping design of each hole is also important. A course that intentionally creates dangerously hidden areas of the fairway may be held accountable for injuries caused by this mistake.
Injuries Outside the Golf Course
Finally, golf ball injuries can happen anywhere, not only on the golf course. People wandering along golf courses are frequently unaware that golf is close and/or have not assumed the normal risk of being near the sport. Whether or not the golf course can be held accountable is frequently determined by the legal owner of the way. Players that purposefully hit balls over the edge are very certainly in violation of the game’s rules.
What happens if you get hit by a golf ball?
Golf balls are not the same as other flying projectiles, such as bullets. When you hit a golf ball, it compresses.
The golf ball can compress exceedingly small relative to its initial size depending on the speed at which it is hit. When a golf ball lands, it compresses again, but not quite as much as when it first landed.
When a golf ball comes flying at you, it will compress once more when it hits you. Some people’s lives are saved because of the compression.
The fact that the ball compresses helps to ensure that the full impact of a bad golf stroke is not absorbed by your body.
Terms and Conditions:
Actual 10% savings based on the difference between an AIG Direct quote and an AIG Golfer quote for a 42-year-old Golf Ireland member and accountant, insured only, living in Dalkey, Co.Dublin, 10 year full Irish license, no penalty points or convictions, 6 years no claims bonus, 6 years claims free, annual mileage 10,500 km For Social Domestic and Pleasure with Commuting, I’m driving a 2013 BMW 520, 2.0 L Diesel, valued â10,000. Optional extras are not included. As of October 13, 2021, the example is correct. Quote ref 15073720836 (Direct) â457.44 Quote ref 15073801421 â411.69 (Golfer).
AIG Golfer Car Insurance starts at only â353.10 per year. This pricing includes the fee levied by the government and is applicable to a wide variety of bids. Figure based on comprehensive insurance for a 55-year-old Golf Ireland member and Finance Manager, insured and spouse, living in Clontarf, Dublin 3, with a 10-year full Irish license, no penalty points or convictions, 6 years no claims bonus, 6 years claims free, annual mileage 10,500, and driving a 2020 Toyota Avensis, 1.6 L Diesel, worth â20,000 for Social Domestic and Pleasure only. A minimum premium of â330 is required, plus a 7% levy. Standard features include a protected NCB cover and a windscreen cover. To be eligible for Protected NCB, you must have a minimum of three years of no claims bonus and three years of claims-free service. Quote ref 15073475556 for an example that is correct as of October 13, 2021.
Are my golf clubs insured on my car?
Are my golf clubs covered when I’m driving? Most insurance policies cover your golf equipment in a vehicle while you’re driving to or from a golf game, but not if you leave it overnight.