BACK IN FULL SWING
A LACK of sporting opportunities this winter means golf is becoming a popular replacement option for many footballers and netballers.
Those keen on fine-tuning their game before hitting the fairways received a welcome boost last week with the reopening of South Geelong’s X-Golf facility.
X-Golf manager Peter Nolan said all efforts had been made to ensure customers could still enjoy themselves under the Government regulations, while ensuring golfers remained safe.
“The franchise head office sat with us all when it did happen (the lockdown) and we prepared immediately to be able to relaunch whenever we could,” Nolan said.
“We have got stickers throughout every venue that say, ‘Stay a shaft length apart’, so that is our catch cry.
“We are limited to 20, according to regulations, and we have temperature checks and sanitiser stations at every booth. Group sizes can still play in three or four, we have plenty of space, but it is just about making sure people are safe and can still feel like they can have a good time without anyone being too close.”
The Fyans St venue’s popular competitions have also returned but are now being played under a slightly different format to adhere to guidelines around social distancing.
“Our X-League competitions have already started,” Nolan said.
“We decided we would split the tee times so rather than having 30 people in — which is outside the boundaries with the current restrictions — we decided we would have a 6.30 tee time and a 7.45 tee time.
“So we have three players per simulator who play nine holes against a team next to them, rather than on the same simulator, and then they move out after their round and the next groups arrive.”
Larger groups will still be able to make bookings, with Nolan saying X-Golf was making its venue available exclusively to bucks parties to guarantee community safety.
“We do take event bookings so we can take bucks party groups but they just need to know the restrictions we have in place,” he said.