Page 18 - GBC Magazine Winter ENG 2023

(Left) Extremely high winds destroyed 18 full size massive trees during a summer storm at East Park Golf Gardens, ON.
(Right) A couple weeks later, a tornado ripped through the Nation’s Capital region, knocking down trees at Falcon Ridge Golf Course, ON.
was issued. By 3:30pm we could see significant weather blowing in and the radar changed suddenly. We cleared the waterpark and golf course and then around 4:00pm the wind kicked up significantly, it started raining dramatically and the sky darkened.”
“When it cleared,” continued Shatil, “we ventured outside and saw that our awning at the front of the clubhouse had snapped off and was hanging, then we heard reports that a branch had come down on 2 cars just 50 yards from where we were standing. We went to the golf course and realized that this was no regular storm. There was a clear path that meandered from one side of the golf course to the other cutting a swath of trees along its way. It crossed fairways and twisted the tops off healthy trees! Thankfully, no one was hurt! However, the 2 cars received over $25,000 in damage, we had to replace our front awning and unfortunately, we lost 18 full trees and 100s of branches on the golf course.”
During a different storm later in the summer, East Park had a large tree hit by lightning very close to their 8th green and practice putting green where only 30 minutes earlier their junior golf campers were stationed. “Luckily our Pro Shop Manager saw the storm coming and brought everyone inside,” explained Shatil. “However, it was so close that a lot of our campers actually saw the strike from inside the clubhouse. It literally blew up the tree! It exploded in the middle, sent shrapnel almost 40 yards away, and split the tree in half right at the midpoint.”
Continuing across the province, the Nation’s Capital is quickly becoming the new Tornado Alley of Canada! There were multiple tornadoes that touched down during different storms across the Ottawa region again in the summer of 2023 causing destruction and chaos.
Environment Canada confirmed that one tornado touched down in the Ottawa area on August 3rd during
Lightning Facts
• Each year on average in Canada, there are between two and three lightning-related deaths and 180 lightning-related injuries.
• When you hear thunder, it means lightning is part of the same system that can reach the listener, so seek shelter inside immediately and don’t go outside for at least 30 minutes from the time you last hear a rumble.4
Lightning
Safety Tips
• Do not stand under tall trees or sit in a golf cart.
• Do not stand under a lone tree, even a small one.
• You must get away from your cart and away from your golf clubs quickly.
• Stay away from water.
• If stranded in the open, go to a low place such as a ravine or valley, or the lowest spot you can find, even a bunker.5
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Golf Business Canada