It’s Westwood go as golf club gets ready to tee off!
Sport ideal for complying with virus restrictions
FOLLOWING a difficult few months, a Leek golf club which has facilities available for public events is getting back to near normal.
Westwood Golf Club is open to the whole community for food and drink, entertainment, wedding receptions, conferences and meetings, with all adhering to the latest government restrictions.
Management and staff at Westwood have had a difficult time since March when the course and clubhouse were closed. Some staff were furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, but since mid May when the course reopened the club has been very busy.
Help from the Sport England Community Emergency Fund and a grant from local government enabled two greens staff to be kept employed to maintain the course with its superb greens, while it was closed.
Chairman of the club, Jeff Barratt, said: “Golf at Westwood Golf Club in Leek is an ideal sport for Covid restrictions as social distancing is almost guaranteed.
“You don’t even have to play golf or be a member, to enjoy the spacious restaurant, bar and function rooms which are open to the whole community, allowing a safe but warm and friendly environment for excellent food and drink, entertainment, wedding receptions, conferences, meetings, all adhering to the latest government restrictions.
“Enjoy a meal and a drink and relax in the Churnet Room with a balcony overlooking the golf course and the River Churnet, and yes everyone is welcome.
“Golf restarted in mid-may as advised by England Golf and was welcomed by the players as golf was the first sport to reopen after lockdown.
“A booking system was installed and has made implementation of restrictions and organisation of play more efficient and more importantly safe.
“Membership has increased significantly mainly in the under-60 age range and visitor numbers have also increased.
“Many people are playing golf for the first time. A strong emphasis has now been put on junior membership with a new organiser who is enthusiastically encouraging young players to take up the game.
“All catering staff were furloughed as the clubhouse was closed.
“A phased approach was employed to reopening, initially with a take away service from the sponsored Breeze House outside bar by the ninth green, and then on a limited basis in the clubhouse with strict social distancing, table service and hygiene measures in place.
“Full facilities are now back including the very popular Sunday carvery.
“Everything is operating as near normal as possible, subject to the government’s ever changing rules, Westwood hopes to be able to offer some other functions leading up to Christmas.
“Many local businesses and organisations utilise the extensive facilities for meetings, exhibitions and training events.
“A number of rooms of varying sizes are available for hire with a selection of catering options, free parking on a very large car park and free wi-fi.
“Recently a local company who could not accommodate their staff training on their own site, approached Westwood to help and were very pleasantly surprised by the facilities available. Covid Risk Assessments had already been done and they were provided with a fully catered training venue almost immediately.
“Westwood is a CASC registered nonprofit, limited company which means they provide services for the whole community and want to play their part in helping Leek return to some sort of normality.”