Home » Course » Health & Safety

Health & Safety

Church Stretton Golf Club – Health & Safety Statement

At Church Stretton Golf Club, the safety of our members, visitors, and staff is of utmost importance. Please read and adhere to the following guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone on the course.

Fog & Lightning – Playing Safely in Adverse Weather

Lightning: In the event of an electrical storm, all players must immediately suspend play and seek safe shelter. Please note that golf course shelters do not provide adequate protection from lightning. The safest option is to return to the clubhouse or a secure indoor location.
Fog & Poor Visibility: If you cannot clearly see the full distance of your intended shot, you must not continue to play. Hitting into an area with reduced visibility poses a significant danger to others.

Greens Staff – Respect & Priority on the Course

Greens staff have the right of way at all times when they are working on the course.
If greens staff are in the vicinity of your shot, you must alert them before playing and wait until they are in a safe position before continuing.
Safety is a shared responsibility—please be patient and courteous while staff complete their work.

Course Conditions, Steps & Surfaces

The course may become slippery due to rain, frost, or damp conditions, particularly on slopes, steps, and uneven terrain.
Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times to prevent slips or falls. We strongly recommend soft spikes or golf shoes suited to the prevailing conditions.
Take extra care around steep inclines, bunker edges, and rough terrain, as rabbit holes and natural ground variations may be present.

Golf Buggies – Safe Operation & Usage

Golf buggies must be operated responsibly and in accordance with the Club’s Buggy Policy at all times.
Exercise extra caution when driving near bunkers, slopes, ditches, and wet or uneven ground.
Buggies must not be driven onto tees, green surrounds, or any areas without a designated buggy path.
Always drive at a safe speed, particularly on downhill slopes or when approaching blind areas.

Blind Shots – Player Responsibility

Several holes on the course feature blind shots, where visibility of the landing area is restricted. It is the player’s responsibility to ensure the area ahead is clear before playing.

Please take extra care on the following holes:

3rd Tee Shot – Ensure the green is clear before taking your shot.
6th Green Approach Shot – Confirm that the green is clear before playing.
15th Tee Shot – Allow enough time for the group ahead to fully clear the area before teeing off. Use the bell to signal your shot.
18th Tee Shot – Be aware of walkers crossing the fairway near the green or approaching the tee from the track.

If you are ever in doubt, take a moment to check before playing. Safety comes first.

Public Access – Shared Spaces & Awareness

Parts of the course include public rights of way, where non-golfers may be crossing. Please note that members of the public are entitled to be anywhere on National Trust property, not just the footpaths

Always ensure that the path ahead is clear before playing your shot.
Walkers and members of the public may be unaware of the risks of golf and may not realize they need to wait—please exercise patience and caution.
Never assume others have seen you or heard a warning shout—wait until the area is completely clear before continuing play.

First Aid & Emergency Assistance

First Aid assistance is available in the Pro Shop or Clubhouse.
A Defibrillator is located inside the Men’s Changing Room and another is stored in the Shed near the 12th Tee.
In case of a serious medical emergency, dial 999 immediately and inform clubhouse staff to assist with the response.

Warning Shouts – Ensuring the Safety of Others

If a golf ball is played in a potentially dangerous direction, a loud and clear shout of “FORE!” must be made to alert others.

- This applies if a shot strays towards another fairway or any area where people may be at risk.
- Warning shouts are a courtesy but do not absolve liability—players are still responsible for any injuries caused by misdirected shots.
- If you hear “FORE!” shouted near you, immediately take cover and protect your head.

Incident Reporting

All accidents or near misses must be reported to the Office or Pro Shop as soon as possible. This helps us maintain the highest safety standards for all members and visitors.

By following these guidelines, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone at Church Stretton Golf Club. Thank you for your cooperation.

Book Tee Time

If you do manage to avert your gaze from the views you will find bracken and heather-lined fairways that snake among hills and cavernous valleys, leading to undulating, tricky greens that will ask tough questions of your putting stroke. Church Stretton doesn’t rely on freakish length or huge carries off the tee to give it teeth – the spectacular natural landscape gives it all the bite it needs.

The sandy soil and excellent year-round drainage means the course is a pleasure to play all year round. Many of the golfing Press have also come along to see what all the fuss is about. Todays Golfer, Golf Monthly and others have heaped praise on this “unique gem” and a recent course review described Church Stretton as “a spectacular golfing experience that anyone who loves the game should play.”

But don’t take our word for it – the only way to truly experience all that this unique course has to offer – is to come and play.