When playing golf on a rainy day, what should you do if you encounter thunder and lightning?

November in Da Nang is still the rainy season. For golfers, rain brings two things that the Rules of Golf already account for: thunder and lightning, and puddles of standing water on the course.

If you hear thunder, players have the right to stop play on their own

During a tournament, a player who stops in the middle of a round without a reason permitted by the rules may be disqualified. Lightning is an exception. Under Rule 5.7 of the Rules of Golf issued by R&A and USGA, players may stop play if they reasonably believe there is danger from lightning. The only thing you need to do is let the organizers know as soon as possible.

In other words, no one forces a player to stand in the middle of the fairway holding a metal club while thunder is roaring. That decision belongs to the player themselves.

One long whistle blast means stop immediately

At courses and tournaments that use warning sirens, the R&A recommends adopting a common set of signals. One long siren blast means stop immediately, usually because of danger such as lightning; from that moment on, no further strokes may be played. Three consecutive whistle blasts mean a normal suspension of play, for example because of darkness or a flooded course. Two short whistle blasts mean play may resume.

This is only a recommended signal, and each course may have its own rules. Before heading out on a day with bad weather, you should ask your caddie or check the course's local rules card.

Wherever you stay, there's always something wrong

When lightning approaches, an electric cart or a lone tree standing in the middle of a field may look like shelter. According to safety guidelines from the US weather agency, neither is safe. Proper shelter is a building with enclosed walls, or a car with a metal roof and its doors shut.

Even when the rain stops, it's not yet time to go back. You should wait another 30 minutes after the last thunder before heading back onto the field.

Standing water: you may drop the ball, no penalty

After the rain, the course often has temporary puddles. The Rules of Golf call this temporary water, and allow players to drop the ball outside of it without penalty, anywhere on the course except in penalty areas such as lakes and streams.

If the ball is off the green, the procedure is to find the nearest point where the ball, your stance and your swing are all clear of the water, but not nearer the hole. From that point, drop the ball within one club-length. This option does not apply only when the ball is in the water. If the ball lies on a dry spot but the area where the player stands to make the stroke is flooded, the player is also allowed to drop the ball in the same way.

If the puddle is in a bunker, the ball must be dropped again in that same bunker. If you want to take the ball out of the bunker, you incur a one-stroke penalty.

You can still play golf in the rainy season, as long as you don't gamble with thunder and lightning. Anyone choosing a course for this season can read more about the four 18-hole courses in Da Nang, each offering its own kind of challenge.

Photos: Michael R. Johnson, Kevin Payravi, Alan Findlay, Zach Dischner — Wikimedia Commons.