Locals grip and rip as ban is lifted

GOLFERS have returned to the fairways to be met by courses in pristine conditions and clubs inundated with bookings.

The sport returned from its coronavirus break last week and clubs across the region have reported huge numbers on course amid perfect weather conditions in recent days.

East Geelong Golf Club’s course benefited from the break, with weed spraying able to be undertaken that is normally skipped over because people can transport the poison to other grasses.

Combined with heavy rain in April, acting manager John De Carle said the course was looking just about perfect.

“It’s in the best nick we’ve seen it for years actually at this time of year, mainly because of the autumn rain, so it’s excellent,” he said.

“We were able to spray some weeds out because normally you can’t spray some chemicals. If people walk through it and then walk on the green it can kill the grass.”

Once Premier Daniel Andrews announced early last week that golf was allowed as part of an easing of coronavirus restrictions, bookings immediately began flowing through at courses.’

De Carle said East Geelong was taking down phone numbers for every golfer and urging everybody to maintain social distancing, among other measures.

“People understand they have to do it and hopefully they keep going out of sight of the clubhouse. We have people around who are doing a bit of spotting just to make sure,” he said.

All clubs are urging players to book ahead either online or by phoning.

De Carle said the morning that the game was allowed back, there were players getting their fix immediately.

“We started to man the place at quarter to eight on Wednesday morning and there were people out on course already,” he said.

“We’ve been inundated for the week since then, it’s been very good. You would have thought we had been closed for years.

“The weather has of course been on our side and the course has been in great nick.

“We’re looking forward to opening up the club (rooms) again but that’s minor. It’s good for people to get out and exercise.”