Golf’s back in business after riding out storm
RAYMIE Burns’ mobile was hopping yesterday. The intrusions were welcome as it confirmed golf is about to emerge from two months of isolation in the Covid-19 bunkers.
On Monday week, May 18, play resumes at Lisheen Springs in Brittas, County Dublin where Burns has been the club professional since 2006.
Banbridge native Burns, 46, will be ready to open for business again.
‘I was able to make my pro shop Covid-19 friendly very quickly. We have perspex glass, signage, the floors are laid out the right way. We took it seriously, we had no choice,’ said Burns.
‘The course is prepared too, with flags fitted out so they can be taken out by the putter or by foot. All bunkers are out of play. There will be new rules in place but golf’s a game of rules and everyone will adapt.
‘The timing of golf’s return is good. The day before, Rory (McIlroy) is playing a Skins Game in Florida. People will see golf being played again and there’ll be a big appetite for the game,’ he added.
Like most club pros, Burns is paid a retainer for the year, and looks to supplement his income from lessons and sales.
When there’s no golf, there’s no business and Burns is banking on a further loosening of restrictions in the months ahead to make up for lost time.
‘We’d like to be in a position to get a four-ball off the tee every 10 minutes rather than a three-ball every 15 minutes. The course has benefited from the absence of footfall and is great shape after a huge growing month.’
Ideally, Lisheen Springs would be available for play for all club members under 70, and travel limitations would be lifted, as soon as possible.
‘We can’t open our restaurant yet, or the bar, but at least we’re getting going again. It’s a start.’ Burns fielded calls from members at Citywest, where the golf course is out of bounds as the Hotel and Conference Centre has become a HSE hub.
‘This morning, people were ringing to ask how it works when we open for business again. We had calls from prospective new members too, which was welcome.’
‘There’s a sense that everyone wants to get outside and be active again.
‘As golf is one of the first sports to come back, we might draw a few folk in.’
Burns is the public face of Lisheen Springs and describes his role as an amalgam of concierge, psychologist and salesman.
He deals with a hundred and one questions every day. It comes easily to him.
A natural communicator, whose skills are in demand as a course commentator at the Open and the US Open – ‘That’s been rescheduled for September so I may be there yet’ – Burns is aware of the damage that has been done to the golf economy since the mid-March shutdown.
‘A number of clubs, especially the top links courses, rely hugely on the overseas market. That was taken away from them this year and that’s been a big blow.’ At Lisheen, the target market is split between members, guests, societies and online bookings as the scenic lay-out on the Dublin Wicklow county boundary is off the track beaten by wealthy American and European visitors.
In his amateur days, Burns would have been busy sharpening his game right now.
The East of Ireland Championship at Baltray over the Whit Weekend was a top early-season target and he was a dual winner in 1992 and 1993, each time with a record low score.
That latter year, he played alongside Padraig Harrington for Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup in Interlachen, Minnesota.
While the result was an emphatic victory for the United States, in the second day’s singles Burns won a point, and Harrington bagged a half — all other eight matches were lost.
Only last week, Harrington observed how Burns, as a teenager, improved on humdrum putting to become sharper on the greens than either Tiger Woods or Jordan Spieth at the peak of their powers. High praise indeed.
Burns tried his hand at the European Tour and chalked up a credible four top-10 finishes in 120 tournaments between 1994 and 1998.
The last two months have probably been as demanding as any all-or-nothing shot he faced in his career but Burns has ridden out the storm. He can see blue skies, and greens again too, ahead.
“There are new rules but we can all adapt”