They robbed golfers of fun
After being quarantined at home for more than three months, you think golfers will rush to the golf course to play? Wrong. Some are losing interest in the game. Its attraction has considerably waned. And government is the culprit.
Readers, kindly indulge me as I draw a picture of the current situation in Philippine golfdom. Let’s listen to what the members of our Tuesday Group, we fondly call “Tgers” — no illusion of being ace golfers like legendary Tiger Woods — have to say. This is more or less a microcosm of the dynamics of the situation. Our group is composed of members in the winter of life, professing varied sects, politics, persuasions and conviction but welded by one knot — a passion for golf.
Albert San Miguel posted in our Viber chat room his intention to play. It drew immediate interest and positive response from members. We expected a flock to join. But Gerry Collado somehow doused cold water on their enthusiasm when he posted a poignant and what Danny Bautista, a wordsmith himself, called “cautupus” and discerning counsel.
Gerry complains about golf becoming “less fun (less caddie assistance on the fairways, no locker and resto services, must reserve and pay in advance,
etc.)… more expensive. The risk of transmission is higher now, because more asymptomatic carriers feel free to go out.” He said he will “wait until the fun/cost equation improves and the risks of transmission significantly decrease.” Gi Ejercito questions the rapid tests yielding unreliable results, giving one a false sense of security, while AJ
Sidhu has words for government for its confusing policies vis a vis golf.
Golf courses are now imposing additional fees they call “COVID mitigation fees.” Moreover, because of the “one player, one golf cart” policy, a player has sole burden to pay rental.
Obet Robes chimes in to express his desire to take a leave also from golf. He observes that, while being golfers their immune system may be strong, their family may not have the same resistance if they, golfers, contract one.
Joe Simeon shared a story about a certain golf course in Metro Manila where all foursome in a flight died of COVID-19. This freaked out everybody. Finally, the game Albert planned was shelved.
The strict health protocols imposed by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) on golf courses have robbed the game of fun and interest.
Take the case of non-assistance by a caddy from the time the golf bag is unloaded from the car to the starting tee mount. This is backbreaking for septuagenarians.
In the fairways, the work of the caddy is limited to locating the ball. Some courses limit one caddy for the flight of three or four players. They are not allowed to touch the ball or the clubs. A player who has rented a golf cart may have to walk in fairways, because there are golf courses that only allow carts in designated lanes, especially during rainy season when they get soggy.
Golfers admit that these proscriptions are for their protection. That’s a given. But these could be avoided without sacrificing caution. At the Pueblo de Oro golf course, it is mandatory for caddies to wear clean, unused washable gloves on both hands in addition to a face mask. This can minimize, if not stop, possible contamination.
Rey Jose claims so much fun in golf is when, after 18 holes, players get together to compute who won or lost in the Nassau bet. From his bank of memories, he reminisces the days when Gerry would bring dried peanuts mixed with dilis from Cabiao, Nueva Ecija and over an ice-cold beer, members engaged in ribbing, banter and exchange of stories. Unfortunately, dine-in is now banned.
The fellowship, sun for vitamin D and moderate exercise are the benefits derived from golf. But one can achieve these, says Gerry, with less or without cost through brisk walking under the heat of the sun and hitting balls in the driving range or against a driving net.
No wonder Gerry et. al. are not excited to return to the fairways. They intend to wait for the time when the pandemic is hopefully contained and golf will regain its brand as a game for fun and leisure.
“Rey
Jose claims so much fun in golf is when, after 18 holes, players get together to compute who won or lost in the Nassau bet.
“Golf courses are now imposing additional fees they call COVID mitigation fees.