Anyone besides me have issues with lightning phobia?

[4thand11]

This is probably a random topic, but I have a severe phobia of lightning. I realize, of course, that people DO get struck by lightning on golf courses sometimes, and it is a legitimate danger... however my phobia is to the point where I can't play if there is even a slight chance of storms in the forecast. My nightmare is getting stranded out on the course when a lightning storm blows in.

The issue I run into is that I live in an area where storms are in the forecast regularly during the summer months. And also, my friends who I play with are not afraid in the slightest. They will keep playing until the rain starts coming down in buckets, even with thunder rolling overhead and lightning visible in the distance. So when I do play I spend half the time checking the weather on my phone. On many occasions I've just walked off the course because I see a line approaching maybe 15 minutes away and I don't want to get stuck. Meanwhile the sun is still out and my friends think I am crazy.

I don't really see an easy fix for this besides moving to an area that doesn't get humidity and frequent storms... just wondering if I am the only one who obsesses over the forecast when there is a chance of lightning.

[nogopehrs]

I don't have your phobia, but when the lightning detection siren goes off, I will get completely off the course ASAP. No more strokes and no retrieving balls that are in the opposite direction of the clubhouse.

[golfandfishing]

Are you walking? If so your forethought isn’t out of line. If you are in a cart out can probably wait a tick to see if the weather is going to occur in your area. 15 minutes away could miss you entirely, but if you are on foot heading in is appropriate.

[Celebros]

My wife/in-laws operate similarly.

 

Our annual June vacation to Tennessee is always problematic, as they basically don't want to do anything outdoors if there is a chance of storms (and little pop-up storms happen almost daily there...).

[SixtySomePing]

> @nogopehrs said:

> I don't have your phobia, but when the lightning detection siren goes off, I will get completely off the course ASAP. No more strokes and no retrieving balls that are in the opposite direction of the clubhouse.

I didn't know there were lightning detection sirens? That would be another thing for my town to test and have not work, or else get stuck 'on' in the middle of the night... ha

I typically just keep an eye on a good radar site on the iphone while at the course. You can pretty much tell if a storm is going to come near. Also there is lightning info on the weather sites that tell you in miles how close any strikes are.

But if I hear rumblings I'll get off the course, better to take a ride than get fried...

 

[DivinDave]

Lee Trevino might share your concern, but I don't. I would fit right in with your friends.

[ohioglfr]

It's prudent to be cautious about lightning. If your golf buddies continue to play when there is an impending storm approaching, excuse yourself and walk off the course.

Some years ago my dad and I were on Lake Erie when a sudden summer squall approached. It was easily 10-12 miles off, but we were stunned when a lightning bolt struck the water about 300 feet from us. Our radio antenna whip was up (about 20 ft. above the waterline) so we were fortunite that we weren't hit. Needless to say, full-throttle back to the marina until the low-wake zone.

[naj959]

We've had some freakish weather in California this spring. My buddy and I went out and played in what was forecast to be light showers. Two pop up thunderstorms hit us on holes 7 and 9. It's a very scary feeling to hear a loud blast of thunder directly above you while carrying a bag of clubs down the fairway. I dropped my clubs and bolted to the clubhouse some 500 yards away from the 9th tee. My buddy thought It was a good idea to wait out the down poor under a huge tree. He's a retired math teacher and said the odds of not getting struck were in his favor. I said no thanks. We got pelted with hail and were soaked from head to toe. After that storm passed, there was nothing but sunny skies the entire back 9 and I ended up playing okay. The front 9 I was too busy watching the clouds and radar to really focus on effectively playing the course. I would never do it again.

[LyinEye]

Nothing wrong with respecting an incoming thunderstorm.

[larrybud]

With today's cell phones having instant radar at the tips of your fingers, it's never been easier to avoid the storms or estimate how long of a delay there will be.

I'm not playing with thunder overhead, because that means lightening is overhead.

[LyinEye]

A good rule for everyone is: "If you can see it (lightning), flee it; if you can hear it (thunder), clear it." NLSI

[dlygrisse]

I don't have a phobia, but I was playing once on a clear blue-sky day, a small micro cloud moved in, I didn't even see it....right as I made contact with the ball on a par 3 the tree 40 yards from me was split in two. I laid on the ground for few minutes till I knew for sure I was still alive, my heart was racing and all the hairs on my body were standing straight up. Scary stuff. I was walking, luckily I was on 16, so the run to the clubhouse wasnt that long. I have always taken lightning more seriously since then, my advice is to get inside, when the sirens go off.

[hacker49]

Luckily I live in an area where thunderstorms are rare, PNW. But when I did live in an area where we got them if I heard thunder I would seek shelter. Usually by the time there was thunder it was raining hard enough I was already seeking shelter so it wasn't an issue.

[nogopehrs]

> @SixtySomePing said:

> > @nogopehrs said:

> > I don't have your phobia, but when the lightning detection siren goes off, I will get completely off the course ASAP. No more strokes and no retrieving balls that are in the opposite direction of the clubhouse.

> I didn't know there were lightning detection sirens? That would be another thing for my town to test and have not work, or else get stuck 'on' in the middle of the night... ha

> I typically just keep an eye on a good radar site on the iphone while at the course. You can pretty much tell if a storm is going to come near. Also there is lightning info on the weather sites that tell you in miles how close any strikes are.

> But if I hear rumblings I'll get off the course, better to take a ride than get fried...

>

I believe any golf course that holds sanctioned tournaments is supposed to have them (that's what I was told...Anyone?). Ours is set if lightning is detected 10 miles away. The walk from the farthest hole to the clubhouse can take over 10 minutes at a good pace.

 

[chigolfer1]

Something like this might help put a little more at ease. Lightning warning app

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.meteoplaza.flash&hl=en_US

[Skydiver22]

Come to Phoenix.... Might see lightning here in town 5-10 times a summer.... at night.... in the distance, 20-60 miles away. rarely during the day, cannot remember the last time I saw it.

[MonteScheinblum]

Phobia of lightning

Fear of sharks

Fear of poisonous spiders and snakes

Fear of ex wives

 

These are facts of life that you just have to manage as well as you can.

[Krt22]

I miss lighting/electrical storms. One of the few cool things I experienced in the midwest, very uncommon here in the bay area.

[JDCON]

“I'm only scared of three things: lightning, a side hill putt, and Ben Hogan.” —Sam Snead

 

For me, it's spiders. F those things.

[LyinEye]

> @dlygrisse said:

> I don't have a phobia, but I was playing once on a clear blue-sky day, a small micro cloud moved in, I didn't even see it....right as I made contact with the ball on a par 3 the tree 40 yards from me was split in two. I laid on the ground for few minutes till I knew for sure I was still alive, my heart was racing and all the hairs on my body were standing straight up. Scary stuff. I was walking, luckily I was on 16, so the run to the clubhouse wasnt that long. I have always taken lightning more seriously since then, my advice is to get inside, when the sirens go off.

 

Same here, saw one directly in front of me, 30 yards away laying waste to a tree which then caught on fire, and that lightening bolt was not one of those thin stringy little things like one might see in pictures, this was maybe just shy of a foot wide, and I can only describe it as "instant white death". Nothing, and I mean nothing, breathing would survive a direct hit from what I saw.

[GeorgeHWB]

I've played in the some epic thunderstorms. Not smart, but then I'm not very smart.

[BiggErn]

I don’t think the heavy stuff’s coming down for quite a while.

[SNIPERBBB]

NOAA app is great, starts letting you know when lightning hits within 30 miles of your location.

[chigolfer1]

> @SNIPERBBB said:

> NOAA app is great, starts letting you know when lightning hits within 30 miles of your location.

 

Yeah, I linked an app above. Is there a better one you can link to? Being in Chicago, it's a great tool. My nephew also uses one for soccer up in the Colorado mountains where summer lightning is a huge problem.

 

I hesitate calling what the OP has as a phobia because lightning is a very real, very reasonable thing to be afraid of but if it's sunny and he's thinking about lightning then, yeah, that's not good.

[SNIPERBBB]

Not one Im aware of. The benefit of that app is that you can also save different locations so you get alerts for other areas.

 

As a former baseball/softball official, lightning is always a concern and known officials that have lost their licenses due to not pulling people off the fields.

[chigolfer1]

> @4thand11 said:

>And also, my friends who I play with are not afraid in the slightest. They will keep playing until the rain starts >coming down in buckets, even with thunder rolling overhead and lightning visible in the distance.

And sorry, but this is just stupid so you obviously don't have to feel bad about that.

[chigolfer1]

Also, I suggest you don't move to Chicago

 

[Fireballer]

It helps me, in general, to compare chances of bad stuff happening to other, everyday activities. Im sure you have a better chance of dying on the way to the course or choking on your burger at the turn than being struck by lightning. With those odds, you should have a greater aversion to cars and ground beef than storms.

[MadGolfer76]

Just find taller people to play with...or put a 1-iron in the bag.

[Socrates]

> @MonteScheinblum said:

> Phobia of lightning

> Fear of sharks

> Fear of poisonous spiders and snakes

> Fear of ex wives

>

> These are facts of life that you just have to manage as well as you can.

 

I'm thinking you might have the order reversed (if listed in order of most feared).