Open Golf Courses for Golfers.
Whilst the news about the UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is shockingly serious and we should all wish him well, the Coronavirus seems to also be affecting some people's grasp on reality or maybe I'm just missing the secret agendas of some politicians.
Caroline Lucas the former Green Party leader has proposed via Twitter that golf courses re-open in order to allow people to exercise in open space during the Coronavirus pandemic, after they were closed to stop golfers from exercising in open space! You could not make this up.
These are not parks, they are businesses. Businesses that were forced to close despite, with adequate precautions, being a far safer environment for exercise than parks or roads. With each hole averaging 14,000 sqft of space and occupied by 8 golfers at most at any one time, social distancing cannot be easier to achieve, especially when golfers will often walk off in different directions! That a former leader of a political party cannot understand the folly of her suggestion is truly perplexing.
Golf is already under severe financial pressure and I truly believe that closing the courses was a political decision based on misplaced "inverted snobbery" as logically it makes no sense whatsoever and commercially it's irresponsible.
Being in the golf industry I have deliberated over this, already written a couple of articles about the current situation, debated with people on social media & also played golf here in Florida just last week where clubhouse, restrooms and shop were closed.
It seems that traveling in your own car, using your own equipment, having your own fully disinfected cart, carrying disinfectant wipes, not touching the flag, rakes removed (or having one disinfected rake per cart) & maintaining social-distancing, just isn't enough for some people.
The comment I get most is "why should golf be exempted where other sports aren't?" Well, it's quite simple. Like walking, running & cycling, golf is a none-contact sport & takes place in wide open space. Plenty enough space to social-distance. But that too is not enough for some people and there's clearly another agenda at play in my opinion & one born of ignorance, envy and the completely erroneous belief that golf is for the privileged.
Golf courses here in Florida, from the few I have seen, are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that players and staff are protected. Staff don't touch your bags. They wear gloves and present you with a fully disinfected cart. Scorecards are NOT provided. The staff all maintain social-distancing guidelines and I believe that in many cases “check in” is moved outside the building. Plus the two courses I have played in Florida are stipulating that golfers must leave the premises immediately their game is completed. No gathering in groups post-round permitted.
Visit a supermarket and you feel like you're dodging bullets. All the goods are handled 3 or 4 times at least. Heaven knows who has been handling the fruit & veg you're buying & aisles are not wide enough to social-distance. I know where I'd rather be! Stay safe all.
Tony Clark, Tel USA: +1 256-282-9098 (UK 07870-562777) E: [email protected]
#MattHancock #CarolineLucas #PGA #RandA #USGA #Golf #Coronavirus #golfcourses #Covid19 #opengolfcourses #twitter #greenparty #BorisJohnson #socialdistancing
Head instructor at SCJohnson,Miller/Coors, , Briggs& Stratton, Quad,& Ontal Custom Apparel & New college Golf Wellness,and Custom Printed Face Masks for protection against Coronavirus with Silver material
4 年They are certainly safe if we follow the correct rules. I think social distancing and wearing mask when talking closely to each other. Being a golf instructor teaching can be a slippery slope being so close to your students. But wearing a mask shows your respecting their health. Here is me wearing a fashionable mask that I got from one of my companies. If any teachers want a source for a good looking mask contact me at 4142543606 or [email protected]
UK / Ireland
4 年Thanks Tony ??
UK / Ireland
4 年Tony As ever you make perfect sense , golfers are responsible people and we all know and understand the correct behaviour , as you say decisions are being made on the wonderful sport we all love and enjoy , people would fully respect if say they could only play 9 holes just for a bit of relief from all this social isolation , golfers would always respect the social distancing required and as I say the behaviour required , On a negative point I fully appreciate and understand that the travelling to the courses could cause a possible problem re breakdowns / traffic incidents and any other multitude of incidents but the question of getting back playing is still one that the government and the English golf union need to help resolve as soon as is practically and realistically possible , Fingers crossed sooner rather than later, Keep up the good work , Regards Steve
Senior Director, TCDI (London / EMEA) eDiscovery ? Litigation Management ? DSAR ? AI [email protected]
4 年So... today I went to the supermarket, alone. Respecting social distancing guidelines. In this particular supermarket there was a queue in store the length of the shop with people no more than 3 feet away from each other.... I felt vulnerable to say the least but then to my surprise I saw two families of 5 with three children!! Crazy. Golf courses are definitely safer than supermarkets
Owner PlaneSWING Golf
4 年So following your logic, golfers should be allowed to go onto their golf courses and smack the ball around with, say, a hockey stick?