Golf world full of hazards that require insurance

Question: I am a successful Dubai-based businessman with offices across the emirate. I am also a huge golf enthusiast — a passion that often spills over into my professional life. I have lost count of the number of deals that have been started or sealed while sharing the joys of a round of golf. Recently, however, I've been experiencing some pains in my shoulder. I am not certain it is attributable to golf, but it got me thinking about whether there is any kind of insurance cover available for regular players of the game. Please help!

Answer: Your passion is certainly not unique in the United Arab Emirates. Over the past few years, the country has undergone a high-profile emergence as a genuine golfing powerhouse, winning plaudits for its ability to attract the world's best players, as well as sustaining a year-round interest in the sport through a proliferation of cutting-edge facilities and flawless weather conditions.

Unfortunately, golf's meteoric rise in the UAE has also caused a spike in associated injuries. While it may seem like a relatively sedate game, it is in fact a deceptively high-impact sport full of repetitive movements, many of which can potentially cause debilitating injuries.

Recent studies suggest that one in every two golfers incurs a lower back injury at some point during his career, and even the most seasoned player is prone to such exotically named afflictions as Golfer's Elbow (pain on the inside of the upper arm near the elbow), Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (repetitive stress disorder occurring in the nerves of the hands) and DeQuervain's Tendinitis (pain in the wrist near the base of the thumb).

The risks and the resulting medical costs can be considerable, yet a disturbing number of UAE golf enthusiasts still swing away without realising they can take out insurance against their specific brand of wear and tear — not to mention safeguard against liabilities from third party injuries.

The importance of the latter was vividly illustrated by a recent case in the United Kingdom where a golfer was awarded £397,000 (Dh2.2 million) in damages after he was hit in the eye by a high velocity golf ball.

Better safe than sorry

The injured party had to undergo prosthetic eye surgery, remains partially sighted and had to quit his job during a protracted recovery period. Thankfully, horror stories of this nature are few and far between, but it is obviously better to be safe than sorry.

A robust golf insurance policy can also encompass legal liability cover against third-party property damage, full value replacements for the loss or damage to expensive equipment — be it private or hired — as well as ensure that membership fees are refunded in the event of serious injury or illness. Some policy providers even offer incentives for hitting that ever-elusive ‘hole-in one'.

These days, golf insurance is no longer considered a novelty or superfluous gesture. In fact, many regular players now deem it an absolute necessity if they are to extend their sporting careers and cover themselves against the many, varied and frequently unexpected risks associated with the sport.

As with most insurance policies, there are many options to consider, so it is well worth shopping around to find the solution that works best for you.

The best bet for those keen to learn more is to contact an independent financial adviser who can quickly offer an unbiased view on the best policy to suit individual circumstances.

A good rule of thumb is to seek a provider with a credible worldwide reputation and an extensive online presence for ease of use.

The writer is director of General Insurance at Nexus Insurance Brokers LLC. The opinion expressed here is the writer's own and does not necessarily reflect that of his organisation or of Gulf News.