Grant85
Head Pro
It seems that golf is going to 'get by' as an outdoor pursuit although I would not be surprised if there is an order that everything closes within the next few days.
I guess in theory golf could still exist with it being 100% outdoors and min 2M distance between people. Small chance of contamination with retrieving the ball from the hole, and the difference that in social golf you might only 'hole out' on 25% of the holes. But surely this risk is minimal if you use hand sanitiser.
Bunkers another problem and I think, given the times we are in, it would entirely reasonable for a local rule to be put in place that people can lift, smooth and place their ball in a bunker. I'm sure there isn't a rule in golf that would allow this - but I say 'so what!?'. Possibly they could order all bunkers GUR which would be within the scope of the rules.
Greenstaff as well would be risking infection, although I guess that could be managed / minimised as well but I'm sure would add to the workload cleaning down vehicles and equipment and not being able to gather / shelter indoors.
Competition golf requires that bit more admin, but I believe it would be entirely possible for this admin to be done in such a way that risk was virtually zero, again with a few relaxations of the rules. For example, people not swapping cards and score entry to the computer system being done my one person with people sending in a photo of their card for entry. Sign in could also be done remotely via whatsapp or similar.
But the big problem in all of this is people. People are creatures of habit and generally stupid and we are already hearing stories of roll up groups turning up as normal. All meeting on the putting green and shaking hands etc. Putting 12 balls in someone's hat, tending flags etc etc. Also heard of green staff being hounded because they hadn't put pins and rakes out, as per the order of the club.
I guess in theory golf could still exist with it being 100% outdoors and min 2M distance between people. Small chance of contamination with retrieving the ball from the hole, and the difference that in social golf you might only 'hole out' on 25% of the holes. But surely this risk is minimal if you use hand sanitiser.
Bunkers another problem and I think, given the times we are in, it would entirely reasonable for a local rule to be put in place that people can lift, smooth and place their ball in a bunker. I'm sure there isn't a rule in golf that would allow this - but I say 'so what!?'. Possibly they could order all bunkers GUR which would be within the scope of the rules.
Greenstaff as well would be risking infection, although I guess that could be managed / minimised as well but I'm sure would add to the workload cleaning down vehicles and equipment and not being able to gather / shelter indoors.
Competition golf requires that bit more admin, but I believe it would be entirely possible for this admin to be done in such a way that risk was virtually zero, again with a few relaxations of the rules. For example, people not swapping cards and score entry to the computer system being done my one person with people sending in a photo of their card for entry. Sign in could also be done remotely via whatsapp or similar.
But the big problem in all of this is people. People are creatures of habit and generally stupid and we are already hearing stories of roll up groups turning up as normal. All meeting on the putting green and shaking hands etc. Putting 12 balls in someone's hat, tending flags etc etc. Also heard of green staff being hounded because they hadn't put pins and rakes out, as per the order of the club.
