In response to queries on competitions...

IN light of the public outcry following the announcement last week that golf competitions could not be permitted under Phase Two of the road to recovery, naturally enough, both the GUI and ILGU received a large amount of complaints and queries which led to a joint-statement issued by both unions to clarify the situation.

I won’t bore you with the details of the long-winded statement which can be read online, but here’s what happened in a nutshell, and the blame does not lie at the door of the GUI and ILGU.

Following the closure of all golf courses on March 24, on the recommendation of both unions, they submitted a draft protocol to the Government in mid-April, which outlined the means by which they (the unions) felt that golf could be re-introduced on a safe, low-risk basis. This ultimately led to golf being included in Phase 1 of the Government’s Roadmap for Re-opening Society and Business.

Once the government announced on May 1 their phased approach to re-opening the country, Golf’s Protocol was then updated to include five phases matching those in the Government’s Roadmap, and this included the recommencement of golf competitions in Phase 2.

However, an appendix to Phase 2 of the return to golf stated: “the Protocol governing the safe playing of the game may be updated in line with any changes to public health measures” which it ultimately was.

Following the successful implementation of Phase 1, the Unions submitted their detailed Protocol for Phase 2 to Government,

including some easing in restrictions relating to group sizes and tee-time intervals, and this was sent to all affiliated clubs within the 26 counties on Monday, June 1, a week before the introduction of Phase 2 on June 8.

The Expert Group had a meeting two days later to consider Phase 2 protocols from all sports, and it was at this meeting the Group decided that competitions across all team and individual sports (not just golf) would not be permitted in Phase 2, a decision that was communicated to the Unions on Thursday, June 4.

However, the Unions still held the view that golf competitions, played under conditions set out in Phase 2, posed no additional risk to golfers, and the Expert Group were asked to reconsider their position, but they maintained their stance, hence no competitions under Phase 2.

The rationale behind the Expert Group’s stance is that we are still at high risk, with Covid-19 still active in community settings, and that fairness and consistency must be applied across all sports.

The GUI and ILGU in their latest statement acknowledge the work of the Expert Group in getting sport re-started in a safe manner and particularly for their progressive approach in deciding that golf would be included from Phase 1.

So, should Phase 2 pass off without any problems, then Phase 3, which is due to be implemented on Monday, June 29, should see the re-introduction of club competitions the following weekend.