LAY DOWN YOUR CLUBS
Health directive, licensing force end to play on FNQ’s greens
THE last two sports left swinging in Far North Queensland have been forced to lock the gates and lay off staff as a result of conditions which affects only clubs in Queensland.
Golf and bowls became the latest casualties of restrictions put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
As of Monday, liquor and gaming licensees across the state were forced to close businesses unless they were considered essential.
Among the list deemed non-essential were clubs, hotels and bars, cinemas, gambling venues, cafes and restaurants, immediately putting thousands out of work.
In Queensland, that list also includes golf and bowls clubs whose liquor licences cover the entire property.
It’s play on in every other state and territory in the country with conditions, provided golf is members-only and they observe social distancing and mass gathering guidelines.
According to an Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation spokeswoman, a directive from Queensland’s Chief Health Officer about licensed venues led to the closure of golf and bowls clubs across Queensland due to the liquor licensing quirk.
The office is chasing clarification on the directive after an overwhelming number of inquiries from Queensland golf and bowls clubs.
It hasn’t stopped the hurt.
Just days ago, Cairns Golf Club was prepared to close its clubhouse and continue playing albeit in a very different way to what’s come before.
Instead, general manager Matt Bolton spent much of Monday laying off staff and trying to work out a way forward for the club.
“I understand what they’re trying to achieve, and who knows where we’ll end up, but right now Queensland is the only state this applies,” Bolton told the Cairns Post. “It’s a tough situation for everyone.
“It’s frustrating as we’re the only state where golf isn’t allowed. All others have exemptions at this time.”
Cairns Golf Club’s licence covers the entire boundary of the club, meaning that in addition to the clubhouse being closed, as it would’ve been anyway, the 18 holes and driving range are off limits.
“We’ve heard there’s a few clubs around who can continue as their licence doesn’t cover the course, but that means they’ve probably been operating incorrectly for years and might be in some trouble after all of this,” Bolton said.
Golf Queensland is advocating for the sport to continue being played during this stage of the coronavirus crisis, but Bolton said he’d be fully prepared to lock the gates if the state or country had to go into complete lockdown.
FNQ bowls clubs spent Monday shutting up shop under identical circumstances.
“If the greens are part of the licensed area, we’ve been told that means no more bowls,” a club official said. “Bowls Australia and Bowls Queensland issued directives to close play, so we’ll be closed down for now.”