“The message to all golfers of all standards is clear, if you want to avoid shelling out thousands of pounds in the courts you simply must get specialist golf insurance”
FORE! Magazine

“…Judges have ruled…whether the injury was a freak accident or not, any golfer who injures someone could be sued for damages”
Golf World

“The danger of an errant ball causing an accident is always present. Everyone who plays on a golf course takes a risk…”
The Times

GOLFERS WARNED SHOUTING FORE! IS NOT FAIR PLAY

Until now the cry of "Fore!" followed by a sheepish wave to a distant fairway has always been thought sufficient to warn other golfers of an approaching slice or hook.

But yesterday three High Court Judges ruled that the warning, used for more than 100 years, may not be enough to absolve players of their liabilities. Anthony Lightening, a left-hander with a slice, was ordered to pay compensation to another player, John Pearson, after hitting him in the eye.

Mr Lightning, 45, of Mopley, Southampton, argued at the Court of Appeal that he was not liable because he had shouted "Fore". But the judges disagreed after hearing how Mr Pearson, 46, had suffered permanent damage to his retina.

Yesterday Lord Justice Simon Brown, sitting with Lord Justice Otton and Sir Christopher Slade, ordered the case back to Southampton County Court for damages to be assessed. Afterwards Mr Pearson of Lordshill, Southampton, said he was "very pleased" with the result.

Mr Lightening was playing in the rough at the tenth hole of Dunwood Manor Golf Club in Romsey, Hampshire, in October 1992. His shot deflected off a tree and hit Mr Pearson, 80 yards away on the fairway.

Mr Lightning's counsel, Jonathan Howard, told the court that his client knew Mr Pearson was on the ninth fairway but did not believe he was in danger. However Mr Pearson did not hear the warning and was "poleaxed" when the ball hit him in the eye. There were "hundreds of thousands" of similar situations on golf courses every day, he claimed.

"The danger of an errant ball causing an accident is always present", he added. "Everyone who plays on a golf course takes a risk because of the number of people who play and the proximity of the holes". Golf's governing body, the Royal and Ancient, last night said it did not expect a rash of lawsuits.

David Rickman, its rules secretary, said: "Our understanding is that each case is going to be dealt with on its own merits".

He added that basic safety measures almost always worked, even though "golf courses are places where you've got golf balls whizzing around, not always in the direction the person who hit the ball intended".
The Times