Closed competition allowed in Phase 2

FROM Monday next golf in this country enters Phase Two of Golf Ireland’s return to the game, whereby clubs are permitted to run closed competitions for their members who are also allowed to invite guests for fourballs and casual play.

Originally scheduled for a comeback on June 29, but now brought forward to next Monday, the infamous 5km limit has been extended out to 20km, which is great for those who were previously unable to play because they were outside the travel limit.

Examples of this would be Tralee members living in the town of Tralee, Ballybunion members living in places like Listowel, Ballylongford and Causeway, and Ceann Sibéal members living in Dingle, who will all be returning to the game for the first time since March 24.

I’m pretty sure that timesheets will be full at most clubs for the first couple of days, as these golfers get a fix after being away from the game for almost two months, so why complicate matters by allowing guests?

I will point out that the GUI/ ILGU have approved guest play as part of their five-phase plan, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that clubs have to permit guest play, and I’m sure that many won’t.

Firstly, imagine the situation that you are a member of a golf club but living outside the 20km limit and as a result are unable to play, but non-members are permitted to play your home course as guests of those inside the 20 km; I’d imagine you’d be pretty annoyed.

Secondly, and probably more importantly, how are clubs going to be able to police this and what’s to stop a member of a club here in Kerry inviting a friend from, say, Cork or Limerick to play golf?

We are most fortunate here in this county that we are one of the least-hit by Covid-19, and at the time of writing, have gone twelve consecutive days without a new case.

Would it not be playing with fire inviting people from outside the county to come in and play golf which potentially puts your fellow members at risk?

Yes, I am aware of the 20km limit, but when the 2km was stretched to 5km, people took advantage, and when it goes to 20km next Monday people will take even more of an advantage and it cannot be policed 24/7, especially by golf clubs.

In any event, the GUI/ILGU have issued guidelines to clubs on how competitions can be run safely, and these guidelines have been distributed to the clubs in recent days.

Committees may choose to allow methods of scoring in stroke play which do not strictly comply with the rules, and the following are permitted:

Players may mark their own scorecards as it is not necessary to have a marker physically certify the player’s score, but some form of verbal certification should take place

If safe, suitable alternative arrangements are in place, it is not necessary to physically return a score card to the committee, provided the committee can access scores in another way

Flagsticks must always remain in the hole, or courses may not have flagsticks at all, while clubs may also modify the depth of the hole to allow players to remove the ball without touching the flagstick. In this case the ball will be considered holed if any part of the ball is at rest below the surface of the putting green, even if not lodged against the flagstick

If rakes are removed from the course committees may request players to smooth bunkers using either their foot or a club after playing their stroke or introduce a local rule allowing preferred lies (placing within six inches) in the bunker but the area may not be smoothed before placing. Equally so, in exceptional circumstances where the condition of bunkers is so poor that it interferes with the proper playing of the game, committees may declare all bunkers to be Ground Under Repair.

To allow groups to keep their position on the course, players should be encouraged to play provisional balls if there is a chance that the ball may be lost outside a penalty area or be out of bounds. Scores must not be accepted for handicapping purposes if the alternative to stroke and distance is used, and these temporary provisions are applicable until further notice.