Golfer Struck, Killed By Lightning At Madison Golf Course
Victim Was At Odana Hills
Updated: 2:30 pm CDT August 28, 2007
MADISON, Wis. -- A golfer was struck by lightning and killed while at a Madison golf course on Monday morning, according to police.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe 75-year-old Madison man was playing at the Odana Hills Golf Course on the city's West Side at about 9:45 a.m. when the incident occurred, WISC-TV reported.Madison police said that the incident happened on the 11th hole. Police said that the man was a regular at the course and was playing golf with three others. As the rain and thunder started intensifying, his three partners decided to take cover in the club house. They apparently went indoors about 20 minutes before the incident occurred, authorities said.Dane County Coroner John Stanley identified the man as Francis Adams. He was apparently standing under a tree during the thunderstorm, the coroner said."He tried to take shelter underneath a tree and we all know lightning tries to find metal objects and (what) he was holding on was attached to some metal that the lightning struck," said Madison police spokesman Mike Hanson.Two people said that they saw the lightning strike and when they went to investigate where the lightning had come down, they found Adams, WISC-TV reported.Police said that the Adams' death was immediate.Adams was one of 43 people registered to play at Odana Hills on Monday morning. An official with the city's Parks Division said that many golfers started coming into the club house when the rain and lightning got worse. He said that the current lightning policy used for golf courses mainly involves golfer discretion, WISC-TV reported."Once you're out on the golf course, it really is kind of the golfers' responsibility to monitor the weather conditions and to seek shelter when severe weather approaches," said Ray Shane of the Parks Department.Odana Hills doesn't have a siren in place to alert golfers of incoming severe weather like tornadoes and lightning, although some area courses, like Yahara Hills, do have a security alert system in place.Shane said that because of the current incident, the Parks Department will review the current lightning policy for golf courses with the city risk manager and the city safety officer. He said that they might come back with some policy changes to prevent similar incidents, WISC-TV reported."It's maybe a wake-up call, sad reminder that lightning really is something you don't want to goof around with," Shane said.On Monday night, the Adams family issued a statement that said, "Francis was an avid outdoorsman and an experienced, safety-minded golfer. He would never seek shelter under a tree during an electrical storm. Lightning can strike anywhere and any time. Even the most experienced and careful people can become victims."Adams' death comes only days after the weather-related deaths of three people in Madison. Last Wednesday, three people were electrocuted when lightning struck utility pole and a power line fell into standing water. Two of the people were killed instantly and the third was killed after he tried to rescue them.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportThe 75-year-old Madison man was playing at the Odana Hills Golf Course on the city's West Side at about 9:45 a.m. when the incident occurred, WISC-TV reported.Madison police said that the incident happened on the 11th hole. Police said that the man was a regular at the course and was playing golf with three others. As the rain and thunder started intensifying, his three partners decided to take cover in the club house. They apparently went indoors about 20 minutes before the incident occurred, authorities said.Dane County Coroner John Stanley identified the man as Francis Adams. He was apparently standing under a tree during the thunderstorm, the coroner said."He tried to take shelter underneath a tree and we all know lightning tries to find metal objects and (what) he was holding on was attached to some metal that the lightning struck," said Madison police spokesman Mike Hanson.Two people said that they saw the lightning strike and when they went to investigate where the lightning had come down, they found Adams, WISC-TV reported.Police said that the Adams' death was immediate.Adams was one of 43 people registered to play at Odana Hills on Monday morning. An official with the city's Parks Division said that many golfers started coming into the club house when the rain and lightning got worse. He said that the current lightning policy used for golf courses mainly involves golfer discretion, WISC-TV reported."Once you're out on the golf course, it really is kind of the golfers' responsibility to monitor the weather conditions and to seek shelter when severe weather approaches," said Ray Shane of the Parks Department.Odana Hills doesn't have a siren in place to alert golfers of incoming severe weather like tornadoes and lightning, although some area courses, like Yahara Hills, do have a security alert system in place.Shane said that because of the current incident, the Parks Department will review the current lightning policy for golf courses with the city risk manager and the city safety officer. He said that they might come back with some policy changes to prevent similar incidents, WISC-TV reported."It's maybe a wake-up call, sad reminder that lightning really is something you don't want to goof around with," Shane said.On Monday night, the Adams family issued a statement that said, "Francis was an avid outdoorsman and an experienced, safety-minded golfer. He would never seek shelter under a tree during an electrical storm. Lightning can strike anywhere and any time. Even the most experienced and careful people can become victims."Adams' death comes only days after the weather-related deaths of three people in Madison. Last Wednesday, three people were electrocuted when lightning struck utility pole and a power line fell into standing water. Two of the people were killed instantly and the third was killed after he tried to rescue them.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
