Guide to Golfing Insurance

Memberships. Green fees. Clubs. Clothing. Lessons. There's a lot of expense associated with being a golfer. But few golfers add theft, public liability, personal injury and accidental damage to the cost of their beloved sport. Even fewer consider protecting themselves with a relevant golfing insurance policy which is designed to provide better cover for golfers than a standard home contents insurance policy. But that's not to say they should.

A lot can go wrong on a golf course. Golfing insurance is specifically designed to provide you with financial protection against possible consequences. You can even find golfing insurance cover for that rare but costly gentleman's duty at the 19th after achieving a (dare we say, fluke) hole-in-one!

Varieties of golfing insurance

So what variations should you look out for from your golfing insurance cover? Depending on your golfing insurance company, you should be able to find policies to suit amateurs and professionals with varying budgets. Check the content of any golfing insurance policy before you buy because you may find different exclusions or benefits e.g. new-for-old cover, worldwide cover, and unattended vehicle cover for equipment stolen from your car. Senior golfers will also be glad to hear that many golfing insurance companies offer cheaper premiums for golfers over sixty-five.

Holiday golfing insurance

If you're planning to travel and play golf abroad, you've got two options. Firstly, you could look for golf travel insurance. This is a travel insurance policy which provides for the basic levels of cover a golfer would expect. The other option is to buy a specific golfing insurance policy, making sure that it includes worldwide cover.

A dedicated golfing insurance policy is likely to be much more flexible and tailored to your needs. For example, leaving your golf clubs in the clubhouse or locker room leaves them open to theft. A golfing insurance company is more likely to accept a claim on this basis (understanding that you cannot take your clubs into the bar or restaurant) than a travel insurance company, simply because they know your needs and circumstances that much better.

Likewise, if you clubs are stolen on holiday, a golfing insurance provider is likely to pay for, or supply, a replacement set while a travel insurer is more likely to make you cover the hire cost yourself and haggle over it when it comes to a claim.

With the increased claim culture, especially in the United States, more and more golfers are taking out dedicated golfing insurance policies. Considering how affordable the golfing insurance premiums are and how much you stand to lose, can you afford not to?

Golf Insurance Companies

If you decide you're better off insuring your golf clubs separately from your home contents insurance or if you're interesting in adding hole-in-one or liability insurance cover to your golf cover, here's a useful list of golf insurance providers who sell policies for these specific requirements:

• Golf Insurance Comparison