Nonsensical rules preventing golf from restarting
SEASONED Sunshine Tour professional Jaco Ahlers has called the regulations preventing golf from starting up again “nonsensical”.
Golf courses and practice facilities across South Africa are still closed even though the country has moved to level 3 of the national lockdown – due to the spread of Covid-19.
Ahlers, who is a multiple winner on the Sunshine Tour and has also played in Asia and Europe, said it was “difficult to understand the reasoning” behind golf courses remaining closed.
“I don’t understand the logic behind courses staying closed,” said Ahlers, 37. “There’s just no clarity on the matter from the government. I don’t know why they’re making it so difficult for everyone.
“The way the whole lockdown is managed requires a little common sense. All you need is one club administrator on the first tee with a bottle of sanitiser and a card machine, and that’s it. There’s no need to mix with anyone else but the guys in your playing group, and maintaining social distancing is easy. No one will touch the flag sticks and the bars can stay closed. It’s simple.”
Golf has opened up in the United States and in Europe, while Asia is also about to open up their courses for play.
While Ahlers said it was frustrating that there was no concrete plan in place for a return to play, he admitted he has used the time away from golf to explore other opportunities.
“The whole world has been in the same position, so everyone’s simply had to deal with it,” he said.
“I’ve looked at it as an opportunity to bond with my family and pursue some other business interests. It’s been enjoyable in many instances; I’ve not held a golf club in about five weeks. I don’t know when I’ll play again; it’s not up to me, and to be fair, right now the motivation just isn’t there.”
Meanwhile, GolfRSA announced yesterday that they were taking action and legal advice to ascertain the repercussions the ruling of the Gauteng High Court holds in terms of the ongoing discussions between GolfRSA and the department of sports, arts and culture. The High Court declared on Tuesday that SA’s levels 3 and 4 lockdown regulations were “unconstitutional and invalid.”
“It is not clear whether the ruling impacts the positive progress we have made in our consultation with the department – or not,” said GolfRSA in a statement yesterday. “But once we have a better understanding of our position, we intend to take the appropriate action to ensure that our bid to re-open the golf industry at level 3 remains on track.” GolfRSA reiterated that the sport can return safely. “Our facilities are ready. We have been hard at work since the start of lockdown to put Covid-19 protocols in place. We are prepared for the return of golf in line with our comprehensive risk mitigation strategy for golf facilities, which adheres to all the demands of the government’s health regulations.”
GolfRSA further stated they would ensure that all clubs and facilities addressed compliance regulations in terms of digital screening, monitoring, tracking and recording of all staff and golfers who enter a facility.