Local industry knuckles down
Clubs and golfers doing the right thing, for the right reason
THE Malaysia Golf Association (MGA) disseminated a circular within the industry this week, detailing among other things the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the second conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
This was undertaken in the wake of the directive from the Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) targeting Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, and which clarified that golf operations could continue in these areas, on condition that the SOPs were adhered to.
In the message to the industry, MGA president Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor (R) said in order to further protect “the health of the golfers and employees, golf clubs (and country clubs) should enforce one-golfer one-buggy policy” and reiterated that all golf tournaments and competitions were suspended until further notice.
“We would like to urge all golf clubs to continue to adhere to the SOPs (set down) by MGA and the relevant government agencies (with a view) to flatten the curve of Covid- 19,” said Mohd Anwar.
He added that the national association had established the guidelines for golf clubs to “primarily safeguard the health of golfers, employees and guests.
“The said guidelines are intended to ensure that all golf clubs will undertake and enforce measures to strictly comply with the directives issued by the Ministry of Health,” he said.
It was both interesting and heartening to note that the clubs TeeUp spoke with this week were compliant with the SOPs and that they had enforced the policy of “one-golfer one- buggy”.
This policy adversely affects revenue generated from rounds of golf as it considerably limits the number of players being wheeled around the course.
Essentially it cuts buggy traffic in half and consequently does almost the same to the revenue generated from rounds of golf.
Needless to say, this is a setback for clubs, particularly the “smaller” ones, that is, those with a few buggies (compared to the more established clubs and those with the financial backing of conglomerates).
They feel the pinch a lot more, but it is a necessary evil and no doubt helps to curb and contain the spread of the virus.