Lightning On The Golf Course
Thanks to Rusty Howard, Founders Course Superintendent at the Greystone Golf Club, for these images… he writes…
“Attached is a couple of pictures of a lightning strike that you and your staff my find interesting.
Yesterday afternoon a bolt of lightning struck the ground about 20yds. in front of #18 green. Less than 5 minutes before this I instructed 8 employees that were on the green pushed cores from our aerification process to seek shelter at the clubhouse until the distant thunder and lightning left the area. Thank goodness no one was hurt. In the pictures, the large hole is a valve that controls the water to the green, the other holes are the entry and exit points of the bolt. We couldn’t get a picture while the hole was still smoking, but you could smell the burnt area. I was shocked that the mainline irrigation (10” in size) that this valve is attached to did not explode. What it did do was travel through our power and communication wires damaging at least some components or blowing fuses in every irrigation satellite(32 in all) on the course. The strike was so concentrated the energy traveled to the maintenance facility (3/4 of a mile away) destroying the breaker that delivers the power to the on course satellites.
I was always told growing up that you should never be on the telephone or taking a bath/ shower. If this is not proof than what is.”
Category: Alabama's Weather
About the Author (Author Profile)
James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.Subscribe
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