Saturday Season Opener - Cancelled!

[jamiet7682]

I was thinking about this only this morning. The number of people falling in to the high risk category has got to be higher than average at golf clubs and there is thus a far higher risk. Whilst I am not sure that closing the course is necessary (though closing the clubhouse may be an idea) I do feel that some of our more at risk members should consider whether their weekend round of golf is a necessary risk at the moment.

I agree, leave it to the individual to decide.

 

[jamiet7682]

There is plenty of criticism of the governments response from the scientific community. The chief science advisor is a political appointment, so he isn’t completely scientifically independent. I think the chief medical officer is a medical appointment, not political.

I agree with the point that these people have better access to the latest scientific information than a golf club does, but there are plenty of scientists with access to the same information who are suggesting different courses of action, that the government are choosing not to take.

You are right that there will be conflicting views on the best course of action within the scientific community, unfortunately Joe Public will never have access to the information these views are based on, so we need to put faith in the powers that be. As scary as that is when you look at the current set of world leaders, but the alternative of knee jerk reactions based on very little or absolutely no scientific data is even more terrifying.

 

[larmen]

And if one of those four has the virus at the start, there’s a good chance that 2, 3 or 4 will have it at the end.

And they’ll take it home with them.

Well, then you need to close the course.

 

[PJ87]

The club have every right to make this decision, I am just questioning what it is based on? We have to assume that the Chief Medical Officer has access to the most up to date scientific findings on the outbreak and has issued the advice based on this. What information does a golf club committee have?

Doesn't matter what information they have really it's their golf club they can do what they want. If not told that they have to cancel they can if they see fit. It's not a legal requirement for them to do events

Also maybe they got feedback from some members who were going to drop out so decided to cancel until numbers would be better? Who knows

End of day their decision

 

[Orikoru]

Can't see the point of cancelling a competition, won't most people just turn up at the course and play a round anyway?

 

[jamiet7682]

Doesn't matter what information they have really it's their golf club they can do what they want. If not told that they have to cancel they can if they see fit. It's not a legal requirement for them to do events

Also maybe they got feedback from some members who were going to drop out so decided to cancel until numbers would be better? Who knows

End of day their decision

No one is questioning their right to do it, we are discussing what the decision is based on.

 

[RangeMonkey]

Well, then you need to close the course.

Yep.

The fact is, most analysts believe we need to close the country, now. But there is no political will to do this.

 

[User20204]

Yep.

The fact is, most analysts believe we need to close the country, now. .

That to me seems like the best thing to do, it's pretty much inevitable that we are going t have a massive outbreak, so lives need to be saved.

 

[Wolf]

No one is questioning their right to do it, we are discussing what the decision is based on.

I'd assume its based on the target age group at most clubs. Majority of clubs have an aging membership due to the sheer number who take up the game in their retirement years. Therefore makes sense for clubs to following these actions as they're protecting the members health

 

[badgergm]

And if one of those four has the virus at the start, there’s a good chance that 2, 3 or 4 will have it at the end.

And they’ll take it home with them.

I don't see how there is a 'good chance'. Golf seems like one of the least risky activities. Outside, possible to stay 2m apart. Have one person use the flag at each hole. Don't go in the bar. Etc.
What are people going to do instead? If everyone is going to stay isolated in their own homes (as in Italy it seems) then fair enough. But better playing golf than going down the pub or prety much any other activity.

At the moment I think it makes sense for people to make their own decisions as to risk. A vulnerable person, or someone who looks after one, will likely have a different view.

 

[Marshy77]

Makes total sense to me.

 

[jim8flog]

I cannot understand cancelling an ordinary medal when as said players will just turn up and play as usual and in either circumstance will lead to a flow of people rather than a large gathering.

On the other hand we have an upcoming shotgun start comp (VE day) which will lead to a gathering of 120+ in a small space. I have already been giving that one a lot of thought and will probably change it to something else or cancel the comp.

 

[IanM]

We have a shotgun start tomorrow, I was thinking of playing then going straight home...... (reload the Car Park Members thread! )

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have a honours board event tomorrow and it's going ahead as planned. The club has emailed all the members reminding them of their responsibilities to wash their hands as much as feasible, especially in the clubhouse and use the hand sanitisers provided. There may be a few concerns about sitting around a table having a drink but hopefully anyone remotely concerned about their health won't come into the bar area, and indeed won't play but at the moment it is business as usual

 

[garyinderry]

We have a honours board event tomorrow and it's going ahead as planned. The club has emailed all the members reminding them of their responsibilities to wash their hands as much as feasible, especially in the clubhouse and use the hand sanitisers provided. There may be a few concerns about sitting around a table having a drink but hopefully anyone remotely concerned about their health won't come into the bar area, and indeed won't play but at the moment it is business as usual

Pretty sure people are infectious before they start feeling unwell.

Probably best clubs tell people to give car park golfing a go.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Pretty sure people are infectious before they start feeling unwell.

Probably best clubs tell people to give car park golfing a go.

Quite possibly but as a business I can see why golf clubs will want to keep their doors open as long as possible (and it is safe and they are permitted to do so by the authorities) but I do fear that some clubs won't open at the other end of this pandemic and will go to the wall. I am sure this the same for many businesses though

 

[Wolf]

Quite possibly but as a business I can see why golf clubs will want to keep their doors open as long as possible (and it is safe and they are permitted to do so by the authorities) but I do fear that some clubs won't open at the other end of this pandemic and will go to the wall. I am sure this the same for many businesses though

No quite possibly about it, it has been acknowledged its contagious before symptoms appear.

Many business including golf will suffer by the time this is over you're right there. Golf though with its largely ageing population needs to tread carefully.

 

[Grant85]

I think there is a fine line between keeping business as usual and not making silly decisions.

Ultimately I am fairly young and in pretty reasonable health. The chances of this affecting me seriously are pretty small.

But I could easily carry the virus and pass it on to more vulnerable people. Basically older people, people with compromised immune systems and respiratory conditions.

Ultimately it's likely the virus will spread within the population. The measures that are (or should be) put in place should be to slow down that spread. What we should be trying to avoid is a situation where 30% of the population all have the virus at the same time (lets say 20 million people) and if 5% of those people need to be hospitalised... that's 1 million people. Add into the mix that 30% of the people infected (maybe more) will be doctors and nurses and you can quickly see how this could lead to a lot of unnecessary deaths - and in fact a lot of which will not be from actually having the virus - but just be because they couldn't get other treatment.

My wife is a nurse and she is going into work on her shifts to treat people with compromised immune systems who will likely be the 1st to succumb to this - or require a lot of medical care to get through it.

So in short... I don't have an issue with playing golf, but I do have an issue with large organised competitions where people will be arriving at the same time, registering in the club house, entering their score into a touch screen terminal and socialising afterwards.

And people are creatures of habit so there would absolutely be instances of people shaking hands, car sharing, going for lunch etc.

 

[GB72]

A really well written and reasoned post. My issue is also one of responsibility. Whilst everyone is responsible for minimising the spread of the virus, are those more at risk responsible for keeping themselves out if potentially risky situations. Should the older members of the club stay away whilst the risk is there as I suspect most at my place would turn up expecting everyone else to make sure they were not at risk then blame the club if they get ill

 

[IanM]