The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Clumsy Covid-19 muddle over golf’s return
So yesterday ... no sorry Wednesday now, I’m hearing ... you can play golf again. Hold on, now I’m hearing it’s not in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. OK, that’s going to prove somewhat problematic at Ian Woosnam’s home club Llanymynech Golf Club near Welshpool, where 15 holes are in Wales and three are in England.
That’s a small matter of course, but adds to the general level of confusion caused by what appears to be policy on the hoof.
Actually, here in Scotland in terms of restrictions, it’s refreshingly clear – nothing’s changed. But what has changed is that the decision for south of the border has put considerable pressure on Scottish Golf and the bodies in the other devolved nations.
The R&A, as it is wont to do in political situations, has stepped aside. The leading authority for golf in these islands doesn’t really want to impose anything on anyone, ever, and if you were hoping they would take a lead here and implement some consistent, joined-up thinking, forget it.
The contrast with Ireland – still an R&A territory governance-wise, remember – bears attention.
There, the government and the GUI have laid out a five-step plan toward not just getting back on the course but, potentially, restoring normality in the long-term.
Phase one begins next Monday, with three-balls limited at 14-minute intervals and strict social distancing. Clubhouses closed, members only.
At the start of June, members and members’ guests can play, and at the end of the month, four-balls return, and clubhouses can start to re-open locker rooms and food provision with distancing measures.
And if it all comes out squeaky clean – a big if, I concede – on August 10 the clubhouse bars will be open again.
It’s all dependent on the spread of the virus continuing to be contained, something they’ve done much better in Ireland than here.
And before you make any spurious claims about numbers of elderly people and population density in Ireland compared to the UK, remember Japan, one of the most densely populated places on earth with one of the eldest populations on earth, has had roughly 700 deaths due to the virus compared to the UK’S 38,000.
But I digress. A plan, even with considerable caveats attached, is now really needed to placate any frustrations from the reasonable consistency and give some indication we’re actually moving in the right – really, any – direction.
In the meantime, the plan as it appears to be for England starting tomorrow is muddled and completely ineffective for solving the real issues for golf clubs and operators.
Solo golf or playing with a household member isn’t going to help clubs’ revenue, in fact it’s going to reduce it because it’ll be chiefly club members playing (who have already paid) and full course maintenance will have to be applied again.
And how are they going to police it? Are greens staff going to be able to demand proof of residence? Will you have to take along a utility bill or show your driving licence?
In Ireland, they’ve thought about things like that. I believe the R&A and the other home golfing unions were preparing a plan along similar lines.
The UK Government, in common with their roundly chaotic approach to this whole crisis, have simply waded in clumsily trying to look like the good guys.
“How are they going to police it? Are greens staff going to be able to demand proof of residence?
They should have stayed out, or been told by golf’s authorities to stay out.
The man who called them the R&A
Clive Edginton is to serve a second term as captain of the R&A, with the past captains deciding he hadn’t got a fair crack because of the coronavirus.
A sensible decision, and Clive is only the second man to serve two successive terms, after Major John Murray Belshes in 1834 and 1835.
What unprecedented occurrence caused Major Belshes to serve two terms? Well, he was the man who turned them both Royal and Ancient.
In 1834, Lord Kinnaird badgered King William IV to become patron of the Perth Golfing Society. His lordship, captain of that club, also convinced the King to give them a Royal Charter, and thereby the first Royal prefix on a golf club was duly appended.
Naturally, the Society of St Andrews Golfers, as they were at the time,wasn’t having that, even then regarding themselves as the true source of the game.
Major Belshes took up the cudgels for the St Andrews golfers and petitioned the King for a royal title, which, after some lobbying and a recognition of St Andrews’ undeniably unique status in the game, was duly granted.
But Royal AND Ancient? That’s a classic piece of early 19th Century oneupmanship.
The St Andrews Golfers had been in existence for some 70 years longer than those at Perth, so they illustrated that seniority by an extra appendage. Just in case anyone thought those upstarts at Perth didn’t know their place.
Of course, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers predated the St Andrews Society by 10 years, but have always eschewed the opportunity to boast about it – well, publicly, at least.