When do you think you will next play golf?

[Imurg]

I agree with the lockdown and the reasons for it. And I understand that golf's not that important in the overall scheme of things. But nothing will convince me that driving to a golf course and playing on your own and driving home again increases the spread of coronavirus.

It doesn't
It's the hundred people a day at every course in the land that will....
That's 800 extra road trips a day just in a 6 mile radius from my house - approximately half a million across Britain...a day
And not one of them is going to spread or catch the virus..?

 

[Mick68]

View attachment 30006

Everybody knows that. It's how we deal with it that there's some disagreement. Being condescending doesn't take the arguments any further forward.

 

[Mick68]

No

It doesn't
It's the hundred people a day at every course in the land that will....
That's 800 extra road trips a day just in a 6 mile radius from my house - approximately half a million across Britain...a day
And not one of them is going to spread or catch the virus..?

Not from inside their car, no. Or on the course 200yds from anyone else.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I am impressed!

Apparently all those who are advocating an early resumption never hit the ball off line so would never unexpectedly find themselves breaching the two metre rule.

And as for the suggestion of extra course marshals and starters who will be paying them?
Bearing in mind that clubs won't be taking anything in the bar, no green fees, shortfall in subscription income and yet if the course is back in play all green staff will have to be back on full pay.

So ignoring the H&S issues there are significant financial problems to reopening on a limited basis.

 

[GB72]

The financial aspect is a good point. Can clubs afford to open on a limited basis and unfurlough staff. Yes the clubhouse staff could stay on furlough but you would then need all of the greenkeeping staff back and potentially have to apply some staff to monitor tee times, distancing around the clubhouse area etc. Limited opening could prove worse for clubs than full closure

 

[Fish]

Everybody knows that. It's how we deal with it that there's some disagreement. Being condescending doesn't take the arguments any further forward.

??

 

[fundy]

The financial aspect is a good point. Can clubs afford to open on a limited basis and unfurlough staff. Yes the clubhouse staff could stay on furlough but you would then need all of the greenkeeping staff back and potentially have to apply some staff to monitor tee times, distancing around the clubhouse area etc. Limited opening could prove worse for clubs than full closure

Pretty sure it would, at least initially. More staff and other expenditure required for actually no change in revenue at all (assuming members only no clubhouse open)

 

[Fish]

The financial aspect is a good point. Can clubs afford to open on a limited basis and unfurlough staff. Yes the clubhouse staff could stay on furlough but you would then need all of the greenkeeping staff back and potentially have to apply some staff to monitor tee times, distancing around the clubhouse area etc. Limited opening could prove worse for clubs than full closure

Pro’s or their staff won’t go in, there were complaints just before the lockdown when social distancing wasn’t being adhered to, as such the courses won’t open, period, accept it and move on....(not aimed at you Greg)

 

[GB72]

Pretty sure it would, at least initially. More staff and other expenditure required for actually no change in revenue at all (assuming members only no clubhouse open)

Reckon we are a way off from clubhouse opening (along with all bars and restaurants) as well as green fees etc (otherwise you have issues with controlling numbers as you can see part time golfers just pitching up on the off chance of game and a few hours out if the house). As such, pressure to open earlier on a limited capacity could be the straw that breaks some clubs.

 

[GB72]

Pro’s or their staff won’t go in, there were complaints just before the lockdown when social distancing wasn’t being adhered to, as such the courses won’t open, period, accept it and move on....(not aimed at you Greg)

Agreed, I am trying to be objective as I will not be a member anywhere in a couple of weeks so do not even have a horse in this race.

 

[USER1999]

Even playing on your own, are you going to ignore that brand new ProV that you find just off the fairway? Ooh, how did someone lose that here?

 

[Fish]

Even playing on your own, are you going to ignore that brand new ProV that you find just off the fairway? Ooh, how did someone lose that here?

And then forget to pick it up with your glove hand ?

 

[Mick68]

I think what's being said is that it would be possible but people can't be trusted. I'm maybe in the unusual position that our course isn't usually that busy. I could go up in the evening and only see 1 or 2 people.

 

[pendodave]

Even playing on your own, are you going to ignore that brand new ProV that you find just off the fairway? Ooh, how did someone lose that here?

Not wanting to be funny, but compared to Sainsbury's, a golf course, even on a different fairway, is the safest place on earth.
I guess the thing is that there is (for some of us) a cognitive dissonance between the actual danger to life bought about by playing golf cf other allowed activities and the "only following orders" mindset. It would be nice if we could at least theoretically discuss where golf sits within the scheme of things without someone constantly shouting STAY IN at us.
I mean, it's a discussion forum, can't we discuss?

 

[Cherry13]

Exactly & no it's not a hard concept to understand & that's my point.
Whilst the next 3 weeks may calm the virus down a bit, it won't magically make it disappear, & then what?

The economy by then will be in a right mess, some people will lose their jobs, businesses will go bust, golf club will be in big trouble, but the virus will still be there.

The economy must be restarted, social contact is inevitable, the virus will spike again.
Probably the safest place to be would be on the golf course.
So in that scenario, if it's ok in 3 weeks when the virus will grow again, why not now?

Please excuse my ignorance if its an obvious answer that i'm just not seeing, but how does ending the lockdown just magically restart the economy? surely this just makes things more uncertain for businesses and harder. Yes some people will start to go out for meals, but the vast majority wont, same for pubs/clubs, shopping centres, holidays, airplanes, football grounds, supermarkets (non essential jounreys). The housing market isn't going to exactly restart in the uncertainty and the list probably goes on. The economy likely wont recover fully now until a virus is found, and unfortunately this is a new norm now for the financial world. So surely the best thing is to save as many lives during the pandemic as possible, and then once a cure is discovered the powers that be can look at pulling people out of poverty (universal basic income etc).

 

[pendodave]

Why are you continually trying to argue with fellow golfers who all want to go out and play too?

It's not about ONE person going to play, there's 500 one persons wanting to go and play at every club. We are all one person wanting to play.

For heaven's sake, relax,
We're just sat on the sofa chewing the fat.
None of us are important,
None of us know any more than anyone else.
None of us will have the slightest bit of influence over anything.
None of us are going to run out and play golf.

 

[Cherry13]

Not wanting to be funny, but compared to Sainsbury's, a golf course, even on a different fairway, is the safest place on earth.
I guess the thing is that there is (for some of us) a cognitive dissonance between the actual danger to life bought about by playing golf cf other allowed activities and the "only following orders" mindset. It would be nice if we could at least theoretically discuss where golf sits within the scheme of things without someone constantly shouting STAY IN at us.
I mean, it's a discussion forum, can't we discuss?

I'm happy to discuss, and I think in light of the PGAs announcement today (bringing joy back to peoples lives), debating where golf fits in all of this is quite apt. First of all I think part of the blame lies with the govt, the decision to include cycling/running as essential exercise blurred the line, in my view the initial guidance should have been you can leave your homes for 30min to walk and get fresh air. This should have been quite prescriptive and hopefully stopped people taking the pish with 100km bike rides. i think by having this happen it then opened up the debate with people thinking the purpose of the exercise was to maintain lifestyle as opposed to getting much needed exercise.
So if that was implemented then hopefully we wouldnt even need to have these conversations as it would be clear the purpose of the exercise.

 

[BubbaP]

Not wanting to be funny, but compared to Sainsbury's, a golf course, even on a different fairway, is the safest place on earth.
I guess the thing is that there is (for some of us) a cognitive dissonance between the actual danger to life bought about by playing golf cf other allowed activities and the "only following orders" mindset. It would be nice if we could at least theoretically discuss where golf sits within the scheme of things without someone constantly shouting STAY IN at us.
I mean, it's a discussion forum, can't we discuss?

The flaw in comparing the shopping trip with playing golf, is that they aren't a one to one swap.
If you are doing the shopping for the house now, then you move to shopping and playing golf. So it's just adding risk.

I played golf solo on the last Sunday before shutdown and did feel it was a very low risk few hours so I have sympathy with the view, but I also accept it is more risk than sitting in my garden.

 

[Jacko_G]

Why are people reply too and feeding the troll?

 

[Mick68]

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What don't you get about the fact that 500 or so golfers could say exactly the same at every golf club?

You keep going on about 500 golfers. Not every club has anywhere near that number of members and even if they do they won't all want to play at the same time and it's easy to stay apart on a golf course. Why do you believe it isn't easy to distance yourself on a golf course. It's easier than in a park or a street where people are walking and running now