As golf gets more and more popular world-wide, the chances of being injured or becoming the victim of a crime increases as well. It has been estimated that there are almost 30,000 golf related injuries each year requiring hospital treatment, and that several millions of dollars worth of expensive golfing equipment is stolen every year from golf courses or clubhouses.



If you are travelling abroad for a golf vacation, you have the added risk of your clubs being lost, damaged or stolen in transit. You have to ask yourself if you have adequate insurance cover should you lose your golf clubs or injure someone or their property - be honest now!

The increasing popularity of golf is also adding to the problem. You are much more likely nowadays to find new golfers out on the course that might not be quite as aware of the dangers that face them. These new golfers are far more likely to stray onto the course when you are playing a shot and get injured, it wouldn't be your fault, but the result would be the same.

Many courses are situated near hotels or very close to private houses, how many of us can honestly say that we have never pulled a shot wildly that has landed in someone's front yard? Your household insurance would not cover you for damage or loss sustained on a golf course.

Golf is an expensive game to play on a normal basis, but if things go wrong and you don't have adequate insurance, the potential costs involved could be astronomical. You need to ensure that you have cover against loss, theft or damage to your golf clubs and other equipment, but most importantly you must ensure that you have sufficient cover against damage to other people or their property.

Irrespective of your ability as a golfer, when you are out on the course there is a risk that you will unintentionally cause harm or injury to a fellow golfer. If you do, and you are uninsured, the consequences could be horrendous - and the need to be insured is equally important whether you are playing at home or abroad on a golf vacation. Think about it, if you are in Spain and you accidentally injure another foreigner with your golf ball, that person might have to be airlifted back to their own country - that cost alone could run into tens of thousands of dollars.

There are certain basics that you need to consider when you are purchasing insurance for your golf vacation:

1. Does the policy protect you and your golf equipment from damage, theft or loss 24/7 anywhere in the world?

2. Does the policy cover you to play on any golf course or driving range 24/7 anywhere in the world?

3. Does the policy cover all your golf equipment if it is lost or stolen while unattended or in transit 24/7 anywhere in the world?

You should be able to arrange golf insurance for your vacation that will also cover you for playing at home for the price of a few dozen golf balls - it's a small price to pay for piece of mind and could guarantee that your golf vacation goes smoothly.