Is this a permissible form of practice during lockdown?

[MarkT]

Yup it would more than irritate me. The person that sees said golfer/pro/tour guy practicing don’t know he is a pro or tour golfer yet reports him to the Bizzies. At the end of the day what’s the difference between him and me. Am sure there’s plenty of places to practice away from the course.

Hitting into a net or whatever isn't the same for us let alone someone who can play the game properly? Do you not think these mini-tour players have had a hard enough year without stopping them 'going to work'?

 

[Tashyboy]

Hitting into a net or whatever isn't the same for us let alone someone who can play the game properly? Do you not think these mini-tour players have had a hard enough year without stopping them 'going to work'?

Are they essential workers? Nope. How many other people have been stopped from going to work? The question you have asked is a reason why I have questioned the handling of this pandemic. Should they have been allowed to practice. Yes. But why did not England golf ask this question For them, or did they?
I think they should not be at the course practising because that’s what the law has said. Do I think the laws an Ass. Yes I do. My problem with letting them play is if they were allowed others would of seen a back door into going to the course.

 

[MarkT]

Are they essential workers? Nope. How many other people have been stopped from going to work? The question you have asked is a reason why I have questioned the handling of this pandemic. Should they have been allowed to practice. Yes. But why did not England golf ask this question For them, or did they?
I think they should not be at the course practising because that’s what the law has said. Do I think the laws an Ass. Yes I do. My problem with letting them play is if they were allowed others would of seen a back door into going to the course.

I'm not 100 per cent but I think it's up to the club - would imagine/guess that likes of England Golf keep it quiet. I don't know in truth but know a few have played a bit - all being well in a couple of weeks we can talk about something else

 

[robinthehood]

Are they essential workers? Nope. How many other people have been stopped from going to work? The question you have asked is a reason why I have questioned the handling of this pandemic. Should they have been allowed to practice. Yes. But why did not England golf ask this question For them, or did they?
I think they should not be at the course practising because that’s what the law has said. Do I think the laws an Ass. Yes I do. My problem with letting them play is if they were allowed others would of seen a back door into going to the course.

We are asked to work from home if we could, clearly a golf pro cant do that, so he needs to be out on the course, no issues with that at all.

 

[Imurg]

We are asked to work from home if we could, clearly a golf pro cant do that, so he needs to be out on the course, no issues with that at all.

I can't work from home but I'm not allowed to be out on the road..
If courses and practice facilities are closed then they should be closed...to you, me and everyone else.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

Are they essential workers? Nope. How many other people have been stopped from going to work? The question you have asked is a reason why I have questioned the handling of this pandemic. Should they have been allowed to practice. Yes. But why did not England golf ask this question For them, or did they?
I think they should not be at the course practising because that’s what the law has said. Do I think the laws an Ass. Yes I do. My problem with letting them play is if they were allowed others would of seen a back door into going to the course.

Didn't realise that going to work was limited to essential workers. Whatever they are ?.

Do you think that every discussion every governing body has should be mad public knowledge.

Some people are going to make themselves unnecessarily ill being angry about goings on around Covid.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

You don't have to be an essential worker to go to work, that has never been the case whether Lockdown 1 or 2. I'm happy for the pro to practice, that is their job and they need to do it.

Totally different, imo, to the rest of us wanting a social game or practice. Our mortgage doesn't depend on the quality of our game.

 

[robinthehood]

You don't have to be an essential worker to go to work, that has never been the case whether Lockdown 1 or 2. I'm happy for the pro to practice, that is their job and they need to do it.

Totally different, imo, to the rest of us wanting a social game or practice. Our mortgage doesn't depend on the quality of our game.

Exactly.
When the word of the year comes out, they should do the reverse for essential and just remove it from existance,

 

[Sports_Fanatic]

I'd say this is why there is a major challenge for Government and a reason to close the courses in the first place. If we don't consider there to a be a difference between a thousand professionals maintaining ability and access to Covid safe playing facilities for their livelihood, to £1.8m (or however many there are in UK) recreational golfers playing together and potentially socialising, then you can see why they put a blanket ban on sports even where safe as we'd just be constantly saying unclear messaging, or what about that sport etc.

I think the Government should have made a more balanced decision, assessed the minimal risk and allowed golf to continue but I can see we've created a rod for our own back by the general public challenging/arguing on all measures as there is always some elements of society impacted more than others on each restriction. I'd probably say sod it and ban the lot during lockdown as it's an easier discussion for them to stand behind with the press.

 

[Tashyboy]

Our club is very proactive when it comes to golf especially when it comes to kids. We have a Pro at our place who is a fantastic coach. I follow him on Facebook. He posted the other day that over the last 8 days, he has coached over 400 kids at Minster school in Southwell. All done through social distancing. Now it would of been easy for him to spend time with his kids and catching up on a few jobs. But he hasn’t ’. He has looked at how Covid has affected him and the course and somehow used it as an advantage.
He has now introduced 400 kids to golf, give or take a few as some already play. At a time when golf is struggling.
There’s no doubt that Covid has kicked the life out of some folk and Businesses. Yet throughout this we have had folk like
“Richard Strange” pro at Norwood Park introduce 400 plus kids to golf. Hope someone at England golf is reading this ?

 

[Ssshank]

Our club is very proactive when it comes to golf especially when it comes to kids. We have a Pro at our place who is a fantastic coach. I follow him on Facebook. He posted the other day that over the last 8 days, he has coached over 400 kids at Minster school in Southwell. All done through social distancing. Now it would of been easy for him to spend time with his kids and catching up on a few jobs. But he hasn’t ’. He has looked at how Covid has affected him and the course and somehow used it as an advantage.
He has now introduced 400 kids to golf, give or take a few as some already play. At a time when golf is struggling.
There’s no doubt that Covid has kicked the life out of some folk and Businesses. Yet throughout this we have had folk like
“Richard Strange” pro at Norwood Park introduce 400 plus kids to golf. Hope someone at England golf is reading this ?

I wouldn't say golf was struggling, we had a record number of members join post lockdown.

Golf always falls off during this time anyway, I just think it was a ridiculous decision as the weather with severely limit the amount you can play post lockdown.

Would've made more sense to allow outdoor sports to continue, where lockdown occurred at the end of this current lockdown until Christmas and reevaluate after then.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Our club is very proactive when it comes to golf especially when it comes to kids. We have a Pro at our place who is a fantastic coach. I follow him on Facebook. He posted the other day that over the last 8 days, he has coached over 400 kids at Minster school in Southwell. All done through social distancing. Now it would of been easy for him to spend time with his kids and catching up on a few jobs. But he hasn’t ’. He has looked at how Covid has affected him and the course and somehow used it as an advantage.
He has now introduced 400 kids to golf, give or take a few as some already play. At a time when golf is struggling.
There’s no doubt that Covid has kicked the life out of some folk and Businesses. Yet throughout this we have had folk like
“Richard Strange” pro at Norwood Park introduce 400 plus kids to golf. Hope someone at England golf is reading this ?

It is good Tash, but not sure how he’s managed to “coach” 400 kids in 8 days when the maximum number per coach is 1 per 5 kids and England Golf have stopped all coaching! He may however have “introduced” kids to Golf through the plastic stuff in their school, but even then I’m not convinced as that has slso been stopped in our Region by England Golf.

Obviously his efforts should be applauded, but I’m intrigued to find out how he’s managed it when Golf Pro’s can’t even coach 1 to 1.

I question this as a JLO who has been instructed to cease all Junior Activities.

 

[clubchamp98]

Playing devils advocate here , why on earth don't you just accept there is a lockdown and stop trying to circumnavigate the rules ?
They are saying don't drive unless needed because if you have an accident you will put more work on the NHS , so surely hitting balls in a public (non golf course ) area is
just the same ? You may hit someone then off to A&E they go !

This .
I thought it was all non professional sport.
That means anywhere. Imo.
All parks and rec in Liverpool ban Golf and most have signs saying just that.

 

[clubchamp98]

It's actually 2 p&ps, 18 hole and 9 hole. The 9 hole is actually larger in terms of land mass - it's rectangular, I'd say about 800-1000 yards long and 200-250 yards wide. The vast majority of walkers follow a path along the clifftops to the side of the course. It would be very easy to pick an area to hit into which would have no-one anywhere near it, particularly if I was just hitting wedges.

In theory it would be very safe, the problem would be the folk who would be phoning up 101 to report it. Nonsensical given the adjacent beach is packed, there are massive queues at the coffee shacks, and people sat on benches beside them drinking their coffee, a couple of feet away from strangers, but that's life.

Is it empty because golf is banned?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So .... was out for a walk yesterday and passed by the pitch and putt course where I was originally thinking of practising. There were 2 guys at one end of the course hitting balls into the middle of it. Judging by the number of balls, they had been there for a while.

It was a lovely afternoon, loads of folk on the beach below, and quite a few walking the perimeter of the p&p course. I was a bit surprised but no-one we saw seemed bothered by it. Am tempted to give it a go one day this week, if I get down nice and early, there should be a lot fewer people around

Interestingly, on the actual promenade, there was a street entertainer jumping through a series of hoops, some with knives, some on fire. He drew a decent sized crowd. I would have thought that was definitely not permitted. Apparently the police had came down in the morning and tried to move him on, but he was still there so obviously they had given up. He reckoned he had been an international hurdler. Quite bizarre.

Why not just stick to the current lockdown rules and wait 10 days to hit a golf ball on a golf course ?

 

[Deleted member 29109]

It is good Tash, but not sure how he’s managed to “coach” 400 kids in 8 days when the maximum number per coach is 1 per 5 kids and England Golf have stopped all coaching! He may however have “introduced” kids to Golf through the plastic stuff in their school, but even then I’m not convinced as that has slso been stopped in our Region by England Golf.

Obviously his efforts should be applauded, but I’m intrigued to find out how he’s managed it when Golf Pro’s can’t even coach 1 to 1.

I question this as a JLO who has been instructed to cease all Junior Activities.

Sport in schools can continue as it was. So a pro going into a school and coaching should be fine.

A number of grassroots football and rugby clubs have "partnered" with schools to provide extra sessions for children.

 

[rudebhoy]

Is it empty because golf is banned?

The pitch and putt course? No, it's empty because the council close it after October half term. It does get used by some locals for practice in "normal" winters.

 

[rudebhoy]

Why not just stick to the current lockdown rules and wait 10 days to hit a golf ball on a golf course ?

that was the purpose of the original post, to ask if practicing on what in effect is a grassy field open to the public is permitted or not.

 

[Tashyboy]

It is good Tash, but not sure how he’s managed to “coach” 400 kids in 8 days when the maximum number per coach is 1 per 5 kids and England Golf have stopped all coaching! He may however have “introduced” kids to Golf through the plastic stuff in their school, but even then I’m not convinced as that has slso been stopped in our Region by England Golf.

Obviously his efforts should be applauded, but I’m intrigued to find out how he’s managed it when Golf Pro’s can’t even coach 1 to 1.

I question this as a JLO who has been instructed to cease all Junior Activities.

in all honesty, I don’t know. I don’t know if it is done through a PE lesson or what. I contacted him 2 weeks ago as I had acquired a load of found golf balls and asked him if he wanted them. He mentioned that he only coaches with the plastic air balls. I was half a second from posting one of his pics but I sure as heck don’t want to get him into trouble. Did try to pm it to you but don’t think you can pictures pms.

having just read a post, here’s a picice.

 

[clubchamp98]

The pitch and putt course? No, it's empty because the council close it after October half term. It does get used by some locals for practice in "normal" winters.

So it’s closed ?
If it was open until Christmas it would be closed for COVID rules.
So either way it’s closed.