Boris will let us play golf on March 29

[DanFST]

Local school near me has their own golf course, they will be playing.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

For those who are stuck working from home and consequently in the same house with the same person 24/7 except for the one walk per day you really underestimate what a relief 9 holes of 2 ball golf would be; 90 minutes of a different face, a different perspective on the issues and a change of scenery had a massive impact on mental health for people in that position.

I've worked from home for about 21 years now, and loved working from home, never in that period did I hate working from home.

I am currently hating it, all I do is see the house, oh and drive to the shops about once every 10-14 days for shopping. I'm lucky really and know I am, healthly and not worrying about finances really, I know people who are in a worse position financially then me.

5 more weeks to flipping go and in the last year half of it has been in lockdown.

 

[sunshine]

So if people can walk round the countryside in pairs safely, what is the data that says waving a golf club around whilst you do it makes it dangerous? Genuinely, please produce it for us and put a whole bunch of people out of their misery.

Playing golf is not the problem, as we know this is an extremely safe activity in terms of COVID transmission. However, what we have seen (me certainly) is that as soon as courses open there are people gathering socially for a beer and a chat and ignoring social distancing.

Golf clubs have fueled this behaviour with outdoor bars, marquees, patio heaters etc. The clubs are responding to demand from members so I don't blame them. It's just that there is always a minority that spoils it for the rest of us.

 

[sunshine]

Local school near me has their own golf course, they will be playing.

Have you tried on your school uniform to see if it still fits? You could nip on to the course without being detected.

 

[JonnyGutteridge]

Feel completely gutted about this. I know there is ultimately a bigger picture beyond golf, but I think most people are frustrated because the decision is so irrational.

I just hope 4 balls are allowed.

 

[DanFST]

Have you tried on your school uniform to see if it still fits? You could nip on to the course without being detected.

I have a quarantine moustache.

I'll be arrested within 30 seconds of stepping foot on the grounds!

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Playing golf is not the problem, as we know this is an extremely safe activity in terms of COVID transmission. However, what we have seen (me certainly) is that as soon as courses open there are people gathering socially for a beer and a chat and ignoring social distancing.

Golf clubs have fueled this behaviour with outdoor bars, marquees, patio heaters etc. The clubs are responding to demand from members so I don't blame them. It's just that there is always a minority that spoils it for the rest of us.

Know of loads of virus cases, that people have caught the virus from those activities ? Got any links to any ? Got any links to science based papers showing loads of such cases ?

I personally know of not one person and they also very rarely get reported, there is a reason for that, the risk is much lower than inside. Not saying it doesn't happen but it is fairly rare.

All the people I know who caught it, are from work, hospitals, care homes, social mixing inside, train journey.

We need to move on from the made up blame game, like above and beaches, parks etc and start promoting the low risk stuff such as sitting outside, going to the parks, goto to the beach, play golfing, patio heaters and so on rather than sitting inside, its where you want people to me......

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Playing golf is not the problem, as we know this is an extremely safe activity in terms of COVID transmission. However, what we have seen (me certainly) is that as soon as courses open there are people gathering socially for a beer and a chat and ignoring social distancing.

Golf clubs have fueled this behaviour with outdoor bars, marquees, patio heaters etc. The clubs are responding to demand from members so I don't blame them. It's just that there is always a minority that spoils it for the rest of us.

I certainly would not dispute that you may have witnessed such breaches.

However, I did not and neither have I heard of any, either at my own Club or any others in the area.

That being so I can't help but wonder just how many instances there were nationally to justify this further delay.

Certainly there doesn't appear to be any evidence of outbreaks of the virus having emanated from a golf setting.

 

[sunshine]

For those of you who wanted the scienice here it is:-
https://parliamentary.golf/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/APPGG-Covid-Secure-Golf-January-2021.pdf

That is such a poorly structured report, no wonder they had zero success. Give me a few hours with powerpoint and I could easily turn the content into something that actually makes an impact.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Know of loads of virus cases, that people have caught the virus from those activities ? Got any links to any ? Got any links to science based papers showing loads of such cases ?

I personally know of not one person and they also very rarely get reported, there is a reason for that, the risk is much lower than inside. Not saying it doesn't happen but it is fairly rare.

All the people I know who caught it, are from work, hospitals, care homes, social mixing inside, train journey.

We need to move on from the made up blame game, like above and beaches, parks etc and start promoting the low risk stuff such as sitting outside, going to the parks, goto to the beach, play golfing, patio heaters and so on rather than sitting inside, its where you want people to me......

Surely that’s the problem with all this data, we/they can’t actually be sure were you caught the virus, ie, socialises in the Golf Club car park on the Sunday, travels to work on a train Monday and works indoors.

All 3 or none could be the source, yes there are less risks to dome than others, but none can be ruled out.

I’m amazed when they show the home as one of the worst areas for catching the virus, who brought it in? And where from?

 

[D-S]

I would think not. The course is closed.

Our course is closed because no one, who normally would, is allowed to play on it. If people are allowed to play we can open it easily. We would have done had a couple of our really good juniors been in England squads as play was/is allowed for such players as they are designated as ‘elite sports people’ - however our two were just out of these elite squads and so didn’t qualify so we didn’t. Opening the practice areas and driving range for the school would not be a problem, even the holes we are not working on at the moment would be ok too.

 

[D-S]

Surely that’s the problem with all this data, we/they can’t actually be sure were you caught the virus, ie, socialises in the Golf Club car park on the Sunday, travels to work on a train Monday and works indoors.

All 3 or none could be the source, yes there are less risks to dome than others, but none can be ruled out.

I’m amazed when they show the home as one of the worst areas for catching the virus, who brought it in? And where from?

If the issue is that we in England don’t have the data, how about real world, real time experience? - I could point them in the direction of a lot of this - North.

 

[GB72]

Been trying to work out how to word this. In reality, the lockdown is starting to be lifted on 29th March. 8th March is a bit of a red herring as it effectively relates to schools only (and a minor tweak to clean up the rules on meeting for exercise etc). The actual lifting starts on 29th March and golf is first up. Golf has to accept that, to simplify matters, it has been grouped with other outdoor sports and will be treated in line with them. Not fair, maybe, but nor is my village pub being treated the same as a city centre Weatherspoons but when you are dealing with this on a national level then you have to deal in pretty broad categories.

What you have now though is a situation with no rushed return. The clubs have 5 weeks to get the courses back in tip top condition and with them having been rested over the worst of the winter, you can all expect to return to courses in peak condition.

 

[JonnyGutteridge]

Who is ultimately responsible for failing us?

England Golf have put out plenty of strongly worded open letters, but are they in the ear of the Minister for Sport enough to be heard?

Does the minister for Sport not listen to England Golf? Does he not look to the facts and look at the data?

The Angling Trust managed to be heard... they made their case and the government listened. Why has golf not been able to receive the same representation?

 

[Imurg]

Our course is closed because no one, who normally would, is allowed to play on it. If people are allowed to play we can open it easily. We would have done had a couple of our really good juniors been in England squads as play was/is allowed for such players as they are designated as ‘elite sports people’ - however our two were just out of these elite squads and so didn’t qualify so we didn’t. Opening the practice areas and driving range for the school would not be a problem, even the holes we are not working on at the moment would be ok too.

Primarily, it's golf courses and golf facilities that have been ordered to close.
As a result we are unable, legally, to play golf.
Not the other way round.

 

[Imurg]

Been trying to work out how to word this. In reality, the lockdown is starting to be lifted on 29th March. 8th March is a bit of a red herring as it effectively relates to schools only (and a minor tweak to clean up the rules on meeting for exercise etc). The actual lifting starts on 29th March and golf is first up. Golf has to accept that, to simplify matters, it has been grouped with other outdoor sports and will be treated in line with them. Not fair, maybe, but nor is my village pub being treated the same as a city centre Weatherspoons but when you are dealing with this on a national level then you have to deal in pretty broad categories.

What you have now though is a situation with no rushed return. The clubs have 5 weeks to get the courses back in tip top condition and with them having been rested over the worst of the winter, you can all expect to return to courses in peak condition.

Ever the voice of reason Greg...maybe you should become a politician

 

[Bdill93]

The fact that people might be able to socially sit and picnic, but still not play golf (even in 2 balls) is absurd to me.

 

[D-S]

Primarily, it's golf courses and golf facilities that have been ordered to close.
As a result we are unable, legally, to play golf.
Not the other way round.

Not necessarily - England Golf asked clubs to allow elite players to be able to use their practice facilities and/or courses to continue practice and training if they requested it, so courses weren’t closed to everyone just non elite players.

 

[GB72]

Actually interested to see what people expect on 29th. As I mentioned, this is not a rushed return like before and it would seem that many having been paying full subs during this lockdown. As such, are you expecting the club to call back all of the staff now and have the course in pristine condition for 5 weeks time or are you expecting the club to keep staff furloughed for as long as possible and slowly build up the course condition.

 

[sunshine]

Been trying to work out how to word this. In reality, the lockdown is starting to be lifted on 29th March. 8th March is a bit of a red herring as it effectively relates to schools only (and a minor tweak to clean up the rules on meeting for exercise etc). The actual lifting starts on 29th March and golf is first up. Golf has to accept that, to simplify matters, it has been grouped with other outdoor sports and will be treated in line with them. Not fair, maybe, but nor is my village pub being treated the same as a city centre Weatherspoons but when you are dealing with this on a national level then you have to deal in pretty broad categories.

What you have now though is a situation with no rushed return. The clubs have 5 weeks to get the courses back in tip top condition and with them having been rested over the worst of the winter, you can all expect to return to courses in peak condition.

Your sensible and measured comments don't belong on here. We expect moaning, hyberbole and nonsense