When do you think you will next play golf?

[sunshine]

Not a case of heavily subsidising but rather making the most of all of a club's assets.

The two income streams are entirely different.

Subs are a one off at the start of the club year, bar takings are spread over 12 months.

Exactly.

The costs of running the course should be covered by subs.

With the clubhouse closed and no catering income, the club should be able to continue with current measures to minimise non-golf costs (e.g. furlough kitchen/bar staff, suspend utilities, stop purchasing stock).

 

[upsidedown]

BIGGA have updated their essential maintenance guidelines today https://www.bigga.org.uk/news-listing/17-april-update-coronavirus-guidelines.html
Not a lot of change from previous ones .
We've furloughed 2 greenstaff and it's very unlikely we will employ the two casual staff this summer, so just have staff keeping the course ticking over . HGK reckons we'd need 10-12 days to get course playable . They are just keeping up with the growth but a sudden spring flush will mean the rough doesnt get everywhere . Also remember they are't having to fit a round golfers all day so are more productive .
Only 20% of courses are running with a full staff with 77% running with reduced staffing levels due to furloughing according tom survey from Golf Club Management .

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree with the lockdown and, as much as I miss it, I think it right we shouldn't be playing golf at the moment - too many potential issues.

However, the common reason given that people have to drive to courses is rubbish. If driving is the problem, ban driving, plenty live within walking distance of their course. It's not realistic to have a total ban so, if it's really an issue, ban people driving to take exercise. I'm fortunate to live in an area with good open spaces and nice walks and there is no shortage of people driving here so they can go for a walk (many on the local golf courses). (I don't really have a problem with that.)

Make the case for prohibiting any activity on its merits not on spurious tangential issues.

Our club, like lots of others are on private (Crown in our case) land. The gates were locked when lockdown was announced and so I am assuming I'd be trespassing even in good faith so for me it's not worth the risk or hassle. Yes it would be nice to go somewhere pleasant and familiar and perhaps a chance to take some nice photos but can't see the point. We have a nature reserve about 800 yards from the house (with things like skylarks nesting) so still got excellent surroundings to enjoy. Saves an unnecessary 20 minute drive too

 

[SammmeBee]

BIGGA have updated their essential maintenance guidelines today https://www.bigga.org.uk/news-listing/17-april-update-coronavirus-guidelines.html
Not a lot of change from previous ones .
We've furloughed 2 greenstaff and it's very unlikely we will employ the two casual staff this summer, so just have staff keeping the course ticking over . HGK reckons we'd need 10-12 days to get course playable . They are just keeping up with the growth but a sudden spring flush will mean the rough doesnt get everywhere . Also remember they are't having to fit a round golfers all day so are more productive .
Only 20% of courses are running with a full staff with 77% running with reduced staffing levels due to furloughing according tom survey from Golf Club Management .

10-12 days - how many tea breaks does he take?! ?

 

[upsidedown]

10-12 days - how many tea breaks does he take?! ?

Too many no we've highered the cut height so to not stress the turf too much it would take 3-4 cuts over 10-12 days to bring the greens back mainly

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Good move by the Head Greenkeeper.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1251178821191118848

 

[pendodave]

Jeans and black socks. Truly a crime against humanity....

 

[Siolag]

Are they even golf shoes? Disgraceful.

 

[fundy]

Jeans and black socks. Truly a crime against humanity....

really? why?

 

[pendodave]

really? why?

Just levity. No agenda. Sorry.

 

[fundy]

Just levity. No agenda. Sorry.

just dont get what the problem with jeans and black socks is, maybe im missing something but please let me know so i dont wear them together again

 

[Papas1982]

just dont get what the problem with jeans and black socks is, maybe im missing something but please let me know so i dont wear them together again

I think it was 2 separate things. Jeans for golf is a no no, as are (as per a thread) black socks lol

 

[Jacko_G]

This discussion continues and yet still many are overlooking the issue I originally raised.

Partial and restricted reopening of golf clubs and courses will have major financial implications .

Clubs would find that they would be faced with virtually full costs for course maintenance plus increased "policing" costs but with far less income than normal.

Until restrictions can be lifted sufficiently for bars to be open, for casual visitors to return and the vast majority of members pay their subs I think we have to accept that it may be financial constraints rather than Government imposed restrictions that will prevent us from playing.

100% - without visitors and bar takings it's clear a lot of clubs will lose substantial amounts of cash. Having to bring back greenkeepers, potentially have a starter to ensure times and social distancing are adhered to. Would they need someone in the car park?

Would you have to open the clubhouse even just to provide toilet facilities???

 

[IanM]

The same loon.
Taken from Twitter.

View attachment 30022

Where does Dan live? I think a few dozen sitting (2 metres apart) in his garden should do it.

I say garden, but looks like he lives a converted warehouse in London to me!

 

[Fish]

100% - without visitors and bar takings it's clear a lot of clubs will lose substantial amounts of cash. Having to bring back greenkeepers, potentially have a starter to ensure times and social distancing are adhered to. Would they need someone in the car park?

Would you have to open the clubhouse even just to provide toilet facilities???

seeing the kind of queues at supermarkets spread around car parks for hundreds upon hundreds of yards, those clubs without a booking system, what will they do? Surely it will have to be marshalled all day from first light to dusk?

looking to play in two balls only no doubt as an initial requirement and thus being 2m apart width and length, queues for the 1st tee will be huge! I doubt clubs will allow split tees (1st & 10th) as that would require additional marshalling.

Even with a booking system, with members that are still furloughed when/if golf is lifted first, and it will definitely be two balls initially, those usual weekend members plus the retired more senior members, the demand to play will be huge, so much so I think Marshall’s will be a must, as you’ll always get people just turn up and chance their arm.

With a 8min gap (some have 10), & 10hrs of tees available, will only see 150 members get onto the course any one day, I think without marshalling at the 1st tee and stopping members attempting to join the course elsewhere, possibly with a mobile Marshall also, they’ll be issues, selfishness and ignorance is not exempt within the golfing fraternity, and unfortunately with what I’ve seen prior to the lockdown when restrictions and social distancing was in place, golf courses cannot be self policed by its membership, imo.

 

[Jacko_G]

Plus even with a 10 minute gap per tee time you will get slow players who will "bunch up" the whole course which in turn will cause a delay at the first tee which in turn will have a knock on effect of persons in the car park or on the putting green and so on.

Or both players lose a ball and spend time looking, they have to let a group through and again it has a knock on back through the field.

That's before you even consider choppers like me who hook it onto another fairway and have to cross over and wait till they have played their shots. Again more delays.

Then you have greenkeepers health and safety to be considered.

 

[Sports_Fanatic]

I’m not saying we should be playing, I’m happy to listen and follow Government instructions. But on logistics I really don’t think it’s that hard, for example as a rough approach you could allocate everyone a day to play (alphabetically for example) - one move your straight to a 100 players a day. You could even allocate am/pm. Mark 2m points back from first tee like supermarkets do etc. Toilets were closed before lockdown so I don’t think that’s an issue for example.
Appreciate that’s high level and requires self policing/discipline but then so does the lockdown now.

 

[garyinderry]

There is enough room on golf courses to operate in 3 or 4 balls and still keep 2meters.

Unless its mini golf. That would be more problematic.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

seeing the kind of queues at supermarkets spread around car parks for hundreds upon hundreds of yards, those clubs without a booking system, what will they do? Surely it will have to be marshalled all day from first light to dusk?

looking to play in two balls only no doubt as an initial requirement and thus being 2m apart width and length, queues for the 1st tee will be huge! I doubt clubs will allow split tees (1st & 10th) as that would require additional marshalling.

Even with a booking system, with members that are still furloughed when/if golf is lifted first, and it will definitely be two balls initially, those usual weekend members plus the retired more senior members, the demand to play will be huge, so much so I think Marshall’s will be a must, as you’ll always get people just turn up and chance their arm.

With a 8min gap (some have 10), & 10hrs of tees available, will only see 150 members get onto the course any one day, I think without marshalling at the 1st tee and stopping members attempting to join the course elsewhere, possibly with a mobile Marshall also, they’ll be issues, selfishness and ignorance is not exempt within the golfing fraternity, and unfortunately with what I’ve seen prior to the lockdown when restrictions and social distancing was in place, golf courses cannot be self policed by its membership, imo.

We implemented a tee booking system for the week or so before the complete lock-down. We were asked to not turn up to play more than 10 minutes before our tee time and to not hang about after we finished. We all seemed to adhere to this. When I arrived that one Saturday there was a 4 ball group heading up the fairway, another group on the tee, and my group on the putting green. Nobody else about. Now that is all very well, but that discipline just can’t be guaranteed in my club never mind every club...

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I don’t believe it will be as bad as people are suggesting - the two days before the lockdown we had a mix of people who ignored the social distancing but in the main most understood it

I suspect most club will either put a tee time in place ( for the ones that don’t normally have them ) or allow the members to exert common sense and arrange themselves to ensure they adhere to any restrictions that are put in place.

There will prob be a mad rush for the first weekend but then it will level itself out , members club will have to plea to the members to act as the marshalls and swindles organisers will need to be the ones to ensure their guys stick to the guidelines etc

4 balls will be fine - can easily happen and have social distancing , same with rolling up to the tee - get lines in place , stay by car until your turn etc etc

I understand at the moment it seems to be the natural way to be negative about the situation and expect the worst but 99% of us are all people with common sense and can act responsibly.

In 4 weeks I reckon we will be back on the course and the moans will be about the 3 putts and slices etc etc and by June societies will be back and July the clubhouse will be fully open.