Gyms and golf clubs swing into action
Royal Borough: Members return to outdoor sport with gusto
Golfers have been ‘chomping at the bit’ to get back playing their favourite outdoor sport this week, a Cookham golf club has said.
Coronavirus restrictions eased slightly on Monday to allow organised sport outdoors, including golf and tennis. Outdoor gyms also reopened.
This meant that venues like Winter Hill Golf Club, in Grange Lane, were able to welcome people back.
Ian McMahon, golf club manager at Winter Hill, was glad to see people out using the greens again.
“We are full, pretty much from the first tee time to the last,” he said. “And it will continue to be full for a while yet.
“Everybody is in a relaxed environment, we
have lots of [safety] systems in place. People are glad to be back, in the fresh air, playing some golf.”
He added: “It was quite heart-breaking when you saw the course out there and no one was playing on it. People have been chomping at the bit.
They are giddy with excitement. You can feel the sense of relief.”
He added: “You never know what is going on in people’s lives, and golf is a respite for them.”
Maidenhead Golf Club, in Shoppenhangers Road, had club captain Les Andrew
kick off proceedings on Monday morning.
More than 200 members enjoyed the greens on the first day the club reopened, general manager James Pugh said.
It is also a key year for the club, as it prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary in December.
“It was a great atmosphere – plenty of smiling faces,” James said. “A lot of work went into getting the club ready.
“It has been a long time coming, really. There has been a lot of talk about golf and why it was not allowed to be played – but there are various views on that. We are thankful that we are part of this first stage of opening up.”
Elsewhere, The Marlow Club, in Fieldhouse Lane, is able to operate an outdoor gym so people can train outside. Other activities such as yoga are also on offer.
Managing director Jon
Williams said: “We have been quite fortunate with regards to our members – they do not want us to go anywhere.
“Without their support, the Government furlough scheme and grants would not have touched the sides.”
On the return of members this week, Jon added: “It has been fantastic. The buzz has been great. People are absolutely loving it.”
The Marlow Club’s COVID-secure outdoor gym is supervised to ensure social distancing, with a strict cleaning regime for equipment, which is wiped down and fog-cleaned. A maximum of ten people are allowed to use the facilities.
It is also the first gym in the UK to install a specialist Hong Kong-made air filter system inside, which helps dispel harmful particles, including human coronavirus.