Why prudent golfers plan ahead

As a long-standing favourite among sporting enthusiasts from all over the world, golf remains one of the most-played games on the planet - and it's not just the prospect of a trip to the fabled 19th hole that entices participants. Whether you fancy yourself as a frustrated Rory McIlroy, you're looking to impress that all-important business client or you just want to have a bit of a knockabout with some friends, there are plenty of reasons to hit the golf course and play a few holes. But it's not all fun and games, and there are potential pitfalls that go hand-in-hand with an everyday round of golf.

If you play the game on a fairly regular basis, you're probably aware of the various dangers associated with it. If, for example, you misjudge a shot and smash somebody's window, you could end up with another unexpected expense to cover - and no matter what your handicap, accidents can happen. Although golf is a relatively genteel pursuit in comparison to football or rugby, it does require a considerable amount of physical exertion, and injuries are fairly commonplace. If you should get your tee shot wrong, you could find you end up doing yourself a mischief and this can keep you laid up for days or even weeks on end.

Theft, of course, is a potential problem in just about any walk of life, but replacing stolen golf equipment can be particularly expensive. Even amateurs can fork out hundreds if not thousands of pounds on clubs and trollies - and it goes without saying that their potential resale value makes them particularly lucrative for criminals. Many people across the country are looking to tighten their belts at the present time, and having to pay to replace stolen golf gear is an expense some golfing enthusiasts can ill-afford. In fact, it may be that if you have your golfing equipment stolen, you may not have the money to replace it - and this is a prospect that no golf lover should wish to countenance.

With these various risks in mind, it might well be a shrewd move to take out a golf insurance policy before you venture on to the links. There are many different policies to choose from, offering protection against theft, injury and damage to third-party property. Take a look on the internet to find out more about what each individual golf insurance policy can do for you, and - equally importantly - how much you can expect it to cost you.