Kristoffer J Armando said: GM claims that if one is not in place then town is not liable. Any truth to this? Im just looking out for myself and my crew when it comes to lightining. When storms come through he drives the course w an air horn. Dosent seem practical. Thoughts?
Many years ago I remember a case in New Jersey that the course did as your GM currently does and they lost the case. As I understood it, they had provided storm warnings with someone on the course warning golfers, a golfer got struck by lightning before he could be warned, and the course was liable because the warning system in place wasn't adequate. After that ruling most courses did not install anything, or even go warn the golfers. They played at their own risk, and then the facility couldn't be held liable. By your GM going on the course and warning, I believe according to that case, he is making your facility more liable with an inadequate system.
That was the way the county I worked at in New Jersey operated after that. But I do know they now have lighting detection systems throughout the county after kids at a park playing soccer or something were struck.
I don't know where the court case was, but my old county is Bergen County in NJ. You might contact them for specifics to what changed their mind and why they installed the system?
Mel