Accident on Range

furryhead

Hi Folks. I'm pretty new to golf and just looking for advice. I had an accident on a range during the week where my club broke and hit off another car. I have been informed by the club that I am not covered for such a happening. I fully take responsibility and am going to pay the guy, who was very decent about the whole thing, the money for the damage. I just would have thought when I pay a fee to use the course that there would be some type of insurance against these things?

GreeBo

Is there a "cars parked at owners risk" sign anywhere?

cairny

The Club's insurance would cover accidents that were their fault, this one clearly wasn't so I thinks it's fair enough that they shouldn't be responsible for it.

Do you have Golfsure GUI insurance?

If you have a house insurance policy then there is probably a section in it called 'personal liabilty' which may well cover situations like this. Worth having a look, you can always ask them if the amount of the claim would increase next years premium.

furryhead

I am not sure but I wouldn't take that stance to be honest. Wouldn't sit right with me. Just surprised there is no insurance against that sort of thing.

furryhead

@cairny - unfortunately i have neither. Can I take out Golfsure without been a member of a club? I will do this if possible.

superhooper

IMO the Club would have to be negligent in some aspect.

ArielAtom

To my knowledge once you have paid a green fee and are using the clubs facilities you should be covered. Ie if you shank a ball into the car park or over a boundary fence and hit s car, pedestrian or damage other property you are covered. I am not an insurance expert but this was my understanding.

CarefulNow!

ArielAtom wrote: »

To my knowledge once you have paid a green fee and are using the clubs facilities you should be covered. Ie if you shank a ball into the car park or over a boundary fence and hit s car, pedestrian or damage other property you are covered. I am not an insurance expert but this was my understanding.

+1, i was told that by a pro in the early naughties

John Divney

superhooper wrote: »

IMO the Club would have to be negligent in some aspect.

Driving range near the car park seems foreseeable a club head could go AWOL or a ball more likely.

I 'd be insisting the club covered it tbh.

Manach

Not legal advice but, in almost all case due to modern tort law car parks have encompassing terms for anyone who park on their property. Barring complete and utter negligence on their part, these terms will absolve them of blame for any/all events on their premises. So I'd suspect the Club would have similar provisions.

TheDoc

The club will have insurance for their premises and then potentially some public liability insurance, for injuries that may occur on the course.

However this is sometimes a low policy as most clubs will bundle in GUI insurance with the annual fee, or provide it as an option. I know I have insurance bundles in my fee afaik.

Unfortunately don't think the club are in anyway liable for this. What exactly happened? When you say a club damaged a car?

While a golf club is typically private property, and as a customer you are entitled to essentially enter the premises and use the facilities based on that relationship, the golf club arn't held accountable for your actions or mishaps I'm afraid.

I've seen a fair few windows get put in by wild drives on a golf course, and heard the tales of it aswell. Never heard the golf club being held accountable. Doesn't make sense.

Although as with everything in this regard, not sure why people ask these legal questions on boards. You need to speak to a solicitor if you want to enquire as to wether or not the club is liable. You see all to frequent conflicting and rubbish advice coming on boards in general when it gets down to legalities.

Sure the majority of the population dont even know consumer rights correctly, hardly going to know about accountability with regards to damaging property.

furryhead

@the doc - the club snapped on my follow through. The car was parked behind me and the club went into the side of it. I asked the question because someone else might have experienced this and had the answer. I merely wanted to know if the clubs policy covered this type of accident. As it turns out they didn't so I have paid the damage. The guy was very reasonable about it so it did not work out too bad. I am not a member of a club so did not have insurance I was informed.