SUNRISE, Fla. (June 13, 2011) – A record number of devastating tornadoes this spring have heightened awareness for the safety of players and fans at this week’s U.S. Open Championship, which begins on Thursday at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. If tornadoes, lightning or thunderstorms pose a threat during the event, meteorologist Greg Quinn will be the first to know.
Working his 11th U.S. Open, Quinn, a meteorologist employed by Thor Guard, which provides weather information to the USGA, will spend most of this week staring at computer forecasting models built on Thor Guard’s atmospheric electrostatic analysis technology. If conditions look ripe for severe weather, he’ll quickly relay the information to USGA officials who will decide whether to halt play and possibly evacuate the course.
Quinn has learned to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
“I hope we get a good week, but chances are we’ll have at least one front come through the area this month because June is the peak of the severe weather season for the Mid-Atlantic,” he said.
Threatening weather stopped play and forced evacuations at the U.S. Open in 2001 (Southern Hills in Tulsa), 2002 (Bethpage in Farmingdale, NY) and 2004 (Shinnecock Hills in Shinnecock Hills, NY). During the 2001 Kemper Open at TPC Potomac Avenel in nearby Potomac, Md., a tornado touched down less than a half mile from the course, downing trees and damaging buildings. “I watched the rotation of that storm go right over the driving range,” Quinn remembers.
Based on his experience, Quinn knows there will not be much time to react.
“If it’s a line of storms, you may have an hour and a half notice. That’s fantastic. But if it’s an individual cell that develops within 10-15 miles of the course, you may have only 10 to15 minutes warning,” Quinn says.
The USGA relies on Thor Guard technology and meteorologists at all of its major events. Mike Butz, senior managing director – Open Championships, says the support is especially critical at the national championship, where the crowds are some of the biggest in golf. “Particularly at events where we have the biggest crowds, it is critical that we have the most advanced weather detection equipment and trained meteorologists available to ensure the timely conduct of our events as well as the safety of the players and spectators,” Butz said. “We know that Thor Guard is one of the leaders in the industry.”
In the event of severe weather, the USGA and Thor Guard have collaborated on an evacuation plan for Congressional.
“The USGA does its best to get information out to fans (on the course) as quickly as possible,” Quinn says. “But because a golf course is spread over a large number of acres, there really is no good place to put thirty or forty thousand people to ensure their safety. That’s why we suggest all fans have their own plan and know where they’re going in the event of severe weather.”
About Thor Guard
Since 1976 Thor Guard systems have provided reliable and accurate advance warning of the potential for lightning and other severe weather conditions. Utilizing proprietary atmospheric electrostatic analysis technology, Thor Guard provides lightning predictions and warnings, along with live streaming local radar, to help protect people and equipment and better manage events. Thor Guard is the only standalone lightning warning device used by the USGA, LPGA, American Junior Golf Association, Royal Canadian Golf Association and Canadian, European and South African Tours. Thor Guard is also used by the TPC Network of Courses, Marriott Golf, Hampton Golf, the Department of Homeland Security, American Airlines, Air Canada, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Jet Blue, United Airlines, Fed Ex, Motorola, AT&T and more than 700 universities, schools and municipalities.
Contact:
Bill Bryant, Bryant Marketing Communications
(678) 366-3232, bbryant@bryantmarcomm.com
Robert Dugan, Thor Guard
(888) 571-1212, bdugan@thorguard.com
