Climate impact costs: tournaments & extreme heat

Then there is the information from the restaurant. It is set up for 60 people, but at the end of the day only 30 people come to eat. The purchase is too big. “The extreme weather conditions and the changes are what really hit us hard, because you simply can’t adjust to them,” summarizes Andreas Dorsch, Managing Director of the Golf Management Association in Germany.

While dealing with extreme heat is standard practice in Southern Europe, the southern states of the USA, golf clubs in the United Arab Emirates, and Asian countries, those responsible at golf courses that have very rarely had to host events on extremely hot days in the past now have to relearn procedures. Extreme heat leads to additional costs at golf courses if the golf course is not prepared for this type of extreme weather.

• Green fee players stay away; green fee income is lost.
• The number of cancellations at short notice for events and tournaments is increasing. This leads to organisational costs and, at the same time, lower income in the catering sector.
• In extreme cases, tournaments are cancelled and restaurants are closed to save unnecessary costs.
• The cost of measures to combat the heat increases, for example, with free drinks or the distribution of wet towels by a service employee.

Better tournament organisation in hot weather

In the long term, this means one thing above all for golf course management: a significant improvement in tournament preparation on hot days is necessary.

• Before the start of the season, employees in the club secretariat are trained in first aid, particularly in responding to health problems in hot weather.
• The club management monitors the weather forecasts over the long term and communicates before the registration deadline that high temperatures are to be expected.
• The start times will be moved to the early morning, or an early cannon start will be offered.
• The use of sunshades, caps and electrolyte drinks is actively encouraged.
• The flights will be reduced to a maximum of three persons, if possible two-persons,  in order to guarantee the fastest possible process.
• Electric carts are actively offered, and their availability is clearly communicated.
• Stations with water and drinks are continuously available during the round.
• During the tournament, at least one person who has completed a first aid course will be on site in the management team

Only the golfer himself can decide whether and in what form he is able to play golf in extreme heat. Parents are responsible for young people and children. As the organiser of a tournament, however, the golf course can make the event a positive experience in high temperatures if it deals with the issue correctly. If they do not do this, the number of cancellations on the next hot day is likely to increase once again, and with it the financial loss.