When do you think you will next play golf?

[GB72]

My slight issue is, 500 members, 2 balls 10 mins apart, there’s gonna be some disappointment , especially if you can’t play in the week. 2 tees 9 holes might be a way of easing that in the short term. Can’t work at ours as were x3 loops of 6. I’d go for 6 holes in the short term

Agree with that. My club has 3 loops of 9 so 9 holes only would get maybe 360 golfers out a day rather than 120 so I reckon most members who want to could play 9 holes but only a third if playing 18 (club has already said only 1 start point to be used on the basis of playing 18 holes). Think 9 holes only is a good, fair plan to start with.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Agree with that. My club has 3 loops of 9 so 9 holes only would get maybe 360 golfers out a day rather than 120 so I reckon most members who want to could play 9 holes but only a third if playing 18 (club has already said only 1 start point to be used on the basis of playing 18 holes). Think 9 holes only is a good, fair plan to start with.

If my club was to use both loops of 9 holes to get as many of the members out as possible then I can see sense in limiting to 9 holes to prevent congestion with golfers coming round to the 1st or 10th after their first nine holes. If not there doesn't seem any logic in it

 

[GB72]

If my club was to use both loops of 9 holes to get as many of the members out as possible then I can see sense in limiting to 9 holes to prevent congestion with golfers coming round to the 1st or 10th after their first nine holes. If not there doesn't seem any logic in it

Not to limit congestion, as I said, it would seem fair. Would you rather play 18 holes knowing a number of people could not play at all or would you rather play 9 holes knowing more of your fellow members got some time in the course, albeit less than would be ideal. Personally I would opt to play 9 holes and let twice as many people get some golf each day.

 

[garyinderry]

But you're still talking really small to minimal risk compared with contact/close quarter sports - the players are maintaining a significant distance apart and will be played outdoors (assuming fitness centres still closed) so the main route of catching it is gone around breath/spray on to you.

It's a physical activity so unlikely to have many playing with actual symptoms so the risk is around those who are at the early stages and don't show signs.

To transfer it on to the ball they'd need to have Covid 19, sneeze directly on to it (you don't really get that close to a ball during breathing), or on to hands, which then hold the ball and are picked up by the other person who would then need to wipe their face. And that could be stopped by using own balls to serve (just use a sharpie on them), flicking it up and hitting with a racket to begin rallies or just being aware and using hand sanitiser after rallies/play. There isn't much in the way of studies showing transfer in this manner (i.e. from surfaces) to be significant threat and to my knowledge nothing around transfer via sweat, and acknowledgement that it struggles more outdoors as well.

Edited - I'd expect the benefit of allowing this activity with precautions is much higher from both physical and mental than the Covid risk but also it presumably encourages people to gather in a way that maintains social distance than perhaps two friends meeting up in a house and chatting without remembering to keep 2ms apart.

I dont really want to go too deep on this. Its just my experience when playing tennis. I end up a sweaty mess. Likely constantly wiping sweat my from head and eyes.
The virus as far as I am aware can live on surfaces for 72 hours so using separate balls for serves would be one way around it.
I'm sure on tennismonthly.co.uk they are beavering away on ways to make the game safe.
Outdoor, one opponent, go home would limit the danger to just that one person.

 

[nickjdavis]

A big issue is that many clubs will need to get revenue coming into the club. With bars and restaurants likely to remain closed, the average member who has paid his fees for the year wont actually offer additional benefit to the club at all in terms of incoming revenue.

Don't be surprised if there is some "encouragement" given to green fees to get footfall through that not only generates income, but also potentially introduces new players to the club who may then go on and take up membership.

 

[fenwayrich]

I don't think we are anticipating starting on May 11th, especially given the reduced greenkeeping staff will have had 3 days off including the Bank Holiday. I understand we are waiting on Boris's announcement on Sunday and deciding a reopening day from there. A lot of us are hoping we might be able to play 3 balls, but we shall see.

We have two nines easily accessible, so I did suggest that we could have tee times on the 1st and 10th in the morning (9 holes only), and then just on the 1st in the afternoon (9 or 18 holes as desired). Could still get nearly 200 members on the course every day, and cater for people who would like 18 holes. Suspect that initially they will go for just 9, and review after a week or so. Not too bothered as long as we can start to play in some form or other.

 

[Mark1751]

This is doing the rounds apparently leaked plan of how they will start to ease the lockdown. Have no idea if true/genuine.

 

[C&R]

This is doing the rounds apparently leaked plan of how they will start to ease the lockdown. Have no idea if true/genuine. View attachment 30454

You can’t social distance playing football If you can’t tackle what’s the point

 

[clubchamp98]

Ours is stilled filled with entries for a Spring Senior Open.....not likely happening.

All our comps and opens until end of June are cancelled.
9 holes only to start with.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

All our comps and opens until end of June are cancelled.
9 holes only to start with.

Interesting. Has your club given any rationale for just 9 holes?

 

[clubchamp98]

You can’t social distance playing football If you can’t tackle what’s the point

Half of PL defenders can’t tackle .
If it’s unsafe for fans it’s unsafe for players.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

You can’t social distance playing football If you can’t tackle what’s the point

Open for training or coaching only, non-contact to begin with maybe? Kids football teams etc?

 

[NWJocko]

Interesting. Has your club given any rationale for just 9 holes?

Its been given to you a few times already on this thread ?

Its to give more members the chance to play some golf, given we’re going from 7/8 weeks of nothing people will will want to play ASAP, short term restriction to 9 holes means more people can get access to the course.

 

[clubchamp98]

Interesting. Has your club given any rationale for just 9 holes?

No they haven't
No guests or visitors.
Can only think with members off work it’s purely numbers.
No booking no tee time..
Not sure what will happen if you play 10th to 18th holes and the first tee is empty,
Will you be allowed to play front nine or nine only for everyone.
Will have to wait and see.
Common sense needed I think.

 

[Shooter McPowick]

This is doing the rounds apparently leaked plan of how they will start to ease the lockdown. Have no idea if true/genuine. View attachment 30454

Gardeners were never forced to close we’re they? Well, our neighbours have had their weekly garden service in throughout all of this.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No they haven't
No guests or visitors.
Can only think with members off work it’s purely numbers.
No booking no tee time..
Not sure what will happen if you play 10th to 18th holes and the first tee is empty,
Will you be allowed to play front nine or nine only for everyone.
Will have to wait and see.
Common sense needed I think.

Totally agree. We're doing the same and allegedly having a starter on the first and a marshall so not sure they'll allow you to carry on. That's my understanding on what information I have and I suppose if they want to keep 10 minute spacing they can't let people jump in to play the full 18. As you say common sense needs to prevail

 

[chellie]

Its been given to you a few times already on this thread ?

Its to give more members the chance to play some golf, given we’re going from 7/8 weeks of nothing people will will want to play ASAP, short term restriction to 9 holes means more people can get access to the course.

Agree Iain. It's not rocket science is it!

 

[clubchamp98]

Totally agree. We're doing the same and allegedly having a starter on the first and a marshall so not sure they'll allow you to carry on. That's my understanding on what information I have and I suppose if they want to keep 10 minute spacing they can't let people jump in to play the full 18. As you say common sense needs to prevail

I can just see the Sense of entitlement on some faces when the pro says “no you can’t carry on “
Fun and games.

 

[upsidedown]

Gardeners were never forced to close we’re they? Well, our neighbours have had their weekly garden service in throughout all of this.

That's right as I've carried on but know of some companies who stopped as they used to share vehicles but offered a reduced service

 

[Old Skier]

Lots of stuff for clubs on EG web site, Play Safe, be Safe worth a read and we are currently working on procedures around the various guidance.