Patrick Skach's Blog

Summer is the Peak Season for the occurrence of Lightning and Safety at Golf Tournaments and is of Paramount Concern.  In recent years, Professional Golf Tournaments hosted by the PGA, Senior PGA and others are staffed with an On-Site Meteorologist to monitor current and approaching weather conditions, provide up to the minute Real Time Climate Conditions as well as the use of sophisticated On-Site Lightning Detection Equipment.  This is to ensure the safety of the Competitors, Tournament Staff, Volunteers and Thousands of Spectators.  These precautions and the equipment used are extremely crucial for an open field event such as a Golf Tournament since seeking safe shelter upon short notice is next to impossible when out in the middle of a Golf Course.  

One such unfortunate occurrence happened in Oak Brook, Illinois on Friday June 27th 1975.  

3 Professional Golfers can attest to the importance of Lightning Awareness and Safety.  

Round 2 of the Western Open Golf Championship at Butler National began as a warm, humid, foggy morning with Air Temperatures near 72º, Dewpoint Temperatures at 69º - Calm Winds and the Humidity at 90%.  Weather Forecasts called for the possibility of Isolated and Scattered Thunderstorms.  By 10:am Temperatures had risen slightly along with a few sprinkles of rain which only amounted to 1/100th of an inch.  During Noon and Early Afternoon, South Winds were ushering in Warm but somewhat Dryer Air.  Little known at this time that a Severe Thunderstorm was developing to the East over Lake Michigan.  Shortly after 3:pm, wind direction shifted, now from the East and began to move the storm system and all of it's components further inland to the West.   

Shortly after 4:pm, Professional Golfers Lee Trevino, Jerry Heard and Bobby Nichols approached the 13th green as Sky's Darkened at Butler National Golf Course in Oak Brook.  Heavy Rain began to fall while Easterly Sustained Winds of 17 mph began to Gust to 28 mph.   

Spectators who witnessed the incident stated that all 3 Golfers sat down on the 13th green and removed the steel spikes from their shoes as a precaution to a Lightning Strike.  While the Golfers remained huddled under an umbrella to remain dry, a Lightning Bolt hit just behind the green causing Trevino and Heard to fall flat.  Trevino reportedly rolled around, stood up and hollered, "I'm Hit" and then collapsed.  Spectators had rushed to their aid to wrap the Golfers in towels and provide whatever assistance they could.  The Oak Brook Fire Department was notified through a telephone hookup on the Golf Course.  Two Golfers were transported to Hinsdale Hospital.  

4:pm Climate Data (Time of Incident)

Air Temp:  77º   Dew Point Temp:  62º   Barometric Pressure:  30.02"

Visibility:  7 Miles    Relative Humidity:   60%   Winds:  17 sus 28 gust

Total Daily Rainfall:  0.53"   Rainfall Between 4:pm & 5:pm:  0.52"  

Below are articles from local newspapers reporting the incident

 Lee Trevino lies near the 13th hole after being struck by lightning during the second round of the Western Open at the Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, Ill., on June 27, 1975.