Members, Guests and Visitors are hereby advised that comprehensive Risk Assessments are regularly carried out on the Course in terms of the Club’s Health & Safety Policy.

In this respect, it is your responsibility as a golfer, caddie or spectator on the course to ensure that you adhere strictly to the following:

• Practicing is strictly limited to the Designated Practice Areas of the Club, which are (a) the Practice Tee to the right of the entrance road as you enter the Club premises; and (b) the Practice Greens, Bunkers and Nets between the Clubhouse and Ha-Ha adjacent to the 18th fairway. Practice is expressly prohibited anywhere near the 1st Tee or on the grass area between the Spike Bar and the 18th Green;

• You are advised to use all Steps on the course with caution, particularly in wet conditions;

• You are advised to approach all trees and spinneys on the course with caution, particularly during windy or other adverse weather conditions. While the Club has an ongoing program which addresses the removal of dangerous branches, even tree professionals have differing opinions on which branches are or are not dangerous;

• You are advised to use caution when going down or up any steep incline on the course, particularly when using golf buggies or trolleys. Adherence to the instructions detailed on directional signage for buggies and/or trolleys is also essential in respect of minimising risks in this respect;

• Climbing onto the Ha-Ha, over boundary walls or fences, into either of the ponds or into the lake is strictly prohibited. You are also advised to avoid climbing into drainage ditches wherever possible and caution is also advised when using the scoops provided to retrieve golf balls from these hazards. Extreme caution is advised when near the edge of the ponds or lake, as these bodies of water are very deep and filled with silt;

• You are advised to avoid oral contact with anything that comes into contact with the golf course (including trees, sand, soil and grass), particularly when caution signs indicate that chemicals have recently been sprayed on the course;

• In the event that you come across any dead wildlife on the course, you are expressly prohibited from any contact with it and requested to advise a members of the Club Staff, who will deal with it accordingly;

• You are advised to exercise caution at all times on the course in respect of identifying areas where you may be at potential risk of being hit by another golfer’s ball and to follow the advice of cautionary notices to this effect that are placed in particularly high risk areas on the course. Particular care should be taken on the Par 3 holes, holes where the landing area is not clearly visible from the tee and areas where parallel fairways are played in opposing directions;

• You are advised to exercise caution when playing to take every precaution to avoid hitting anybody with your golf ball. Particular care should be taken on the Par 3 holes (especially the 2nd and 16th holes), holes where the landing area is not clearly visible (especially the 1st and 8th holes, where teeing off should only commence after the bell has been sounded by the players in front, and the 9th hole, where the steps should be used to ensure that players ahead are out of range) and areas where parallel fairways are played in opposing directions;

• Never play a shot unless the players ahead are well out of range. If a miss hit shot is heading in the direction of other golfers, you must shout “FORE!” in a loud voice to alert players of possible danger. If “FORE!” is heard when playing, please take evasive action if possible;

• Golfers must always stand well back behind the player who is playing his shot, both on the tee and on all other areas of the Course. A swinging golf club can be dangerous and can cause damage;

• All golfers must ensure that they are adequately insured in respect of the risks involved with the playing of golf. It is recommended that golfers should be insured against the unlikely event of them being injured or causing injury as a result of an errant shot.

• The greens staffs are regularly working on the Course when golf is in progress. Please be careful and courteous to them and ensure that they are aware of and have acknowledged your presence prior to playing in their proximity.

All Members, Guests and Visitors are kindly requested to bring to the attention of the General Manager, Steve Smith, any hazards they feel have not been addressed.


Lightning Policy: If Northampton Golf Club considers there is a risk of lightning, it will endeavor to make the following audible warning:
Three long continuous blasts of the klaxon
On hearing this warning you must cease play immediately, mark your ball and take whatever action you consider most appropriate to ensure your safety.
Play will be resumed following two long continuous blasts of the klaxon approximately 20 minutes from last crack of thunder.

N.B. Players should however be aware that it is a players own responsibility to discontinue play when in his/her opinion there is danger from lightning and not wait for the klaxon to sound.

Responsibility For Closure: The General Manager, in the first instance has the authority to close and re-open the Course. In the absence of the General Manager, this authority is delegated to the Senior Greens Staff on duty. When neither Course Staff nor the General Manager is available the action may be authorised by the Club Professional; or Business and Sales Manager.