Boris will let us play golf on March 29

[Billysboots]

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.

That is a golf club problem, not a problem with golf, and any clubs which have allowed that have been irresponsible in the extreme.

Ours have been strict during restricted periods, such as the return from lockdown in May. Arrive 10 minutes before your tee time, play golf, then go home. They have taken a really firm line with anyone socialising in the car park afterwards, be that for a sneaky beer from the boot of the car or simply gathering for a ten minute chat. A number of members have been suspended and a couple have seen memberships terminated for multiple transgressions.

Whilst not doubting that a minority of clubs have perhaps been a little lax, most I have been to have done all they can to be Covid compliant. Some have gone as far as roping practice greens into defined areas, allowing one golfer per area at a time.

Any club taking a relaxed approach have done themselves, and the rest of us, a huge disservice if social mixing off the course has contributed to a ban on golf, which it doubtless has.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

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.

We have not furloughed any greens staff this time around.

After all this lockdown has coincided with a time of the year when major projects are undertaken.

The advantage this year has been that staff have not been constantly interrupted by members.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

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.

I've payed full subs and received only 2/3 the ability to play. I don't expect pristine conditions but it should be pretty damned good. Tee boxes, fairways and greens. Tidy up the bunkers from March 29th, keep them GUR for a while if required, but the rest should be on the money. I appreciate that may be unreasonable and overly high expectations but it is coming up to renewal time and I'm getting a lot of grief from my wife .

 

[SatchFan]

Having been regularly walking round my local course I reckon it will take the greenkeepers five weeks to rake all the bunkers and remove the mountains of dog turds within.

 

[sunshine]

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......

No I don't have any facts. Generally there is little to no evidence of where people caught the virus.

In the absence of facts, perception rules. And, my perception is that the government doesn't trust golfers to behave responsibly, rightly or wrongly.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

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?

The most important bit you missed out, is who had the virus that X caught it off ? Most people know who they caught it off.... So who was it, rather than made up situations ?

I stopped reacting to headline/outrage stuff(even tho it is hard not to still, like parked parks, crowded beaches), that is not a driver of spread.

There is plenty of interesting science based studies/papers from other countries, where they do genome sequencing on contacts of X infected person and trace it back/forward, well worth looking at them if you believe what you have written above. And the genome sequencing basically confirms you caught it from X person in the nightclub or restaurant or outside or like (especially useful very early on in the pandemic). Well worth reading about if you have not Paul.

 

[GB72]

We have not furloughed any greens staff this time around.

After all this lockdown has coincided with a time of the year when major projects are undertaken.

The advantage this year has been that staff have not been constantly interrupted by members.

This is it, how often have greens staff had 3 months of uninterrupted access to the course and no footfall and damage caused by play to deal with.

 

[Billysboots]

I've payed full subs and received only 2/3 the ability to play. I don't expect pristine conditions but it should be pretty damned good. Tee boxes, fairways and greens. Tidy up the bunkers from March 29th, keep them GUR for a while if required, but the rest should be on the money. I appreciate that may be unreasonable and overly high expectations but it is coming up to renewal time and I'm getting a lot of grief from my wife .

Most of our greenkeeping team were furloughed 12 months ago. This time round, because all members agreed to pay full subs in January, they’ve been kept on and have been busy working on the course, so I’m expecting to see it in really good nick when we get back.

We’re reaping the rewards for the number of golfers playing throughout last summer. The club was rammed, dawn to dusk, every day, and the management made a commitment to invest the money that was pouring in into the course. They’ve kept their word, which is great to see.

 

[sunshine]

Actually interested to see what people expect on 29th.

I am expecting the course to be like Augusta.

Course closed in November, limited traffic in December due to weather and reduced daylight, then closed Jan-Mar. That's five months rest, recuperation and preparation.

I also expect a montage video.

 

[harpo_72]

This is it, how often have greens staff had 3 months of uninterrupted access to the course and no footfall and damage caused by play to deal with.

Don’t build expectations up , bet they have several humps back to pure mud

 

[Imurg]

We ran a split shift greenkeeping pattern all last year so that if there was an infection in one team we would still have some staff working and not the whole lot off for 2 weeks.
It worked well.
I believe we've done this during this lockdown as well.
Constant work on the course with no interruptions, other than a day of snow.....
They got it in pretty good condition after the first lockdown.
This time should be even better.

It'll be members only for a while...I wonder how long it will be until we get the email reminding us to fix pitch marks....?

 

[harpo_72]

We ran a split shift greenkeeping pattern all last year so that if there was an infection in one team we would still have some staff working and not the whole lot off for 2 weeks.
It worked well.
I believe we've done this during this lockdown as well.
Constant work on the course with no interruptions, other than a day of snow.....
They got it in pretty good condition after the first lockdown.
This time should be even better.

It'll be members only for a while...I wonder how long it will be until we get the email reminding us to fix pitch marks....?

10am on the day of opening

 

[Imurg]

10am on the day of opening

I was thinking 10am the day before to be honest.....

 

[Tashyboy]

When we returned after the first lockdown the course was pristine. It lasted all of a week. The course was rammed and I had never seen so many divots that had not been replaced, pitch marks on greens.
No expectation, just happy to be back.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

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.

Not sure how they can be in peak condition without any grass growing....

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Not sure how they can be in peak condition without any grass growing....

That's changed down south in the last week or so. Unless my lawn is operating in its own micro climate.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

That's changed down south in the last week or so. Unless my lawn is operating in its own micro climate.

Spring starts way earlier down your way, weeks away up here from any meaningful growth. Actually mild up here today but back to 40 mph plus winds and heavy rain from tomorrow.

Just glad to be playing links when we get going as any parkland golf will not be enjoyable at all.

 

[sunshine]

Not sure how they can be in peak condition without any grass growing....

I expect progress on:
- projects to improve conditioning, e.g. drainage.
- no damage due to traffic on the course, e.g. churning up walk off areas.
- cosmetic projects e.g. relaying / tidying paths.

And now, we are starting to see growth, so in 5 weeks should be tip top. I'm hoping my club does some tining / hollow coring type work so we don't have to suffer it later in the year when we are all back playing.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

The most important bit you missed out, is who had the virus that X caught it off ? Most people know who they caught it off.... So who was it, rather than made up situations ?

I stopped reacting to headline/outrage stuff(even tho it is hard not to still, like parked parks, crowded beaches), that is not a driver of spread.

There is plenty of interesting science based studies/papers from other countries, where they do genome sequencing on contacts of X infected person and trace it back/forward, well worth looking at them if you believe what you have written above. And the genome sequencing basically confirms you caught it from X person in the nightclub or restaurant or outside or like (especially useful very early on in the pandemic). Well worth reading about if you have not Paul.

I don’t think most people do, they might guess or have a basic idea, but this Country hasn’t done any large scale genome sequencing like other Countries.

I agree about the headlines, but that comes back to strategy and what ours was/is.

I do actually read the links you and others post (some goes over my head) and at times we seemed to been behind the curve.

Track n Trace etc, sorry, but I’d end up with a ban if I posted my thoughts on that.

 

[clubchamp98]

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.

I am sure quite a few of the members would not be happy if the course they pay for but can’t use was opened for a school.
Our course needs time for the GK To get it ready for playing.
As there’s only been two lads in.