DTN Meteorologists are Key Players on the LPGA Tour

Every year, the world’s best female golfers compete for record-setting purse levels worldwide on the LPGA Tour. And as with any sport, weather can be a central factor in an athlete’s game strategy and performance. With dozens of athletes competing at each event, hundreds of staff members and volunteers making it happen, and thousands of spectators in attendance, public safety is also top of mind. That is why DTN is a key player in the ongoing management of LPGA Tour events.

“Having a DTN risk communicator working with us allows us to closely monitor weather and assess potential risks based on expert meteorological advice.”

At each LPGA Tour event, DTN provides around-the-clock forecasts and alerts for all weather hazards, along with ongoing consultations with meteorologists, both onsite and remotely, from a continuously-staffed weather center.

“Player, staff, and guest safety is one of our highest priorities each week on the LPGA Tour,” said Stacey Collins, the LPGA’s senior vice president of tour operations. “Having a DTN risk communicator working with us allows us to closely monitor weather and assess potential risks based on expert meteorological advice. The insights from DTN ensure we make the most informed decisions possible for the overall safety of everyone at the event.”

DTN experts monitor live weather data and lightning detection networks, providing the LPGA with direct access to consult with a meteorologist at any time. The company’s proprietary weather platforms help event organizers better predict immediate danger, assess the potential for other storms nearby, and determine when it is most safe to resume play. Lightning is especially dangerous and can strike several miles outside of a storm cell, making it the number-one concern from a safety perspective. If there’s a threat of thunderstorms, DTN risk communicators employ a wide variety of tools, including real-time radar and lightning-detection tools.

In addition to informing public safety decisions, DTN weather insights support many other course-related decisions. “There are a wide variety of weather events that can impact play at LPGA Tour events,” Collins added. “There are not just public safety implications, but player-performance implications, too.”

Watch how DTN meteorologists keep golfers and fans safe on the course.

The wind has a huge impact on how a course plays, and tee boxes may be moved forward or backward to compensate. Even rain showers have implications on the course set-up and estimated round durations. For example, the hole locations may be repositioned to a higher part of a green to avoid potential pooling on a rainy day, making play as fair as possible for all players throughout the round. Officials want the course to be as challenging yet fair as possible and will use the weather to their advantage.

DTN is committed to empowering organizations like the LPGA to make decisions using intelligent and actionable insights rooted in the best weather information available. With that information, the organization can quickly react and ensure the safety of the players, spectators, and staff. By using a comprehensive weather resource, the LPGA demonstrates its commitment to safety while maintaining focus on the mission to be a recognized worldwide leader in the sport by providing women professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf.