‘Clubs need notice to avoid a free for all...’

Golf clubs ideally need 72 hours’ notice to be ready for reopening without worrying about a “free for all” that fails to comply with measures aimed at delivering “safe golf ”.

The message was delivered by an official at a Lothians club after greenkeepers were advised to have their courses ready for reopening at very short notice, “perhaps even overnight”.

“Whilst getting back to golf would be fantastic, we cannot have a free for all,” said Uphall treasurer Bill Mackintosh. “Assuming there are going to be recommendations per BIGGA, the R&A etc, these need more than 24 hours’ notice to ensure safety of players and staff.

“Our club’s view is that 72 hours’ notice would be a reasonable timescale to ensure that we get all of the necessary bits and pieces in place to allow everyone to play safely.

“That way, we minimise the risk of anything going wrong or action being taken against the club for failing to comply with whatever measures are required.”

While greenkeepers have been working at most courses since they closed en masse due to the coronavirus chaos on 23 March, Mackintosh says its not as easy as flicking a switch to get things back up and running again overnight.

“Members need to be advised of the conditions applying to golf,” he added. “Tee time intervals need to be input while booking systems need to be updated and activated and staff need to be recalled from furlough.

“Clubs need to be retrieved out of lockers in an orderly manner while, out on the course, tee markers need to be put out and holes need to

BILL MACKINTOSH “Our club’s view is that 72 hours’ notice would be reasonable”

be cut. Some of this can be done in advance [and we have a detailed action plan], but much depends on how many of the conditions we need to apply and what local variations are needed.

“I spoke to our head greenkeeper today and he said that the reason we have been able to keep things in good shape with a smaller staff than normal, is that an empty course allows tasks to be done without interruption.

“He gave the example of cutting our fairways, a task which normally takes two man days – that takes 1.5 man days at the moment.

“We will be open as soon as humanly and safely possible.”