More than 12,000 people require hospital treatment for golfing injuries each year, prompting a huge rise in liability claims against golfers, warned broker Opus.
It said the number of claims made against golfers had tripled over the past five years, with the figures set to rise even further.
In a landmark case in 1998, the High Court ruled that golfers are liable for shots that cause injury, no matter how slight the risk, opening the way for personal liability claims.
According to Opus, golfers are not currently required to have any liability cover, although it is recommended that players should have up to £2m of cover for injuring a third party and a minimum of £2,500 for damage to property.
In response to the growing threat of litigation, Opus advises that all golfers protect themselves financially with specialist golf insurance schemes such as The Golfers Club, which works with the broker.
Policies from the club provide its members public and personal liability, property and equipment cover plus their own personal accident for accidents including serious injury caused if a player is struck by lightning.
The cover also picks up the bar bill following the traditional celebrations after a hole in one, said Opus.
The Golfers Club director Paul Wilson said: “There is always an element of risk attached to any sporting activity and it's vital that golfers are aware of the financial implications of an errant ball causing an accident.
“The vast majority of players are either blissfully unaware that they could face financial ruin if not adequately protected or wrongly believe they are covered by their household policies, which rarely cover equipment away from home and almost never include personal accident cover.”
