UPDATE: Golf courses allowed to re-open under Level 3

Update: 12 June

Golf RSA announced in a statement on 12 June, that golf would be allowed under lockdown Level 3.

This comes four days after the Dainfern Golf Course was shut down by police officers for allowing recreational golf.

The statement said that Golf RSA and other golf bodies wish to thank the Minister of Sports, Arts and Recreation, Nathi Mthethwa, Director-General Vusumusi Mkhize and their team of staff for their commitment to helping golf to begin exercise and training for members of a federation, agency, club or body.

“We appreciate the challenge presented to government to ensure an appropriate response to the threats presented by the global coronavirus pandemic. As a result, we sought to ensure compliance with unfolding regulations and directives.”

Over the past few weeks, GolfRSA has equipped all clubs with risk mitigation strategies and training of compliance officers. In addition to this, Golf RSA has provided all facilities with a state-of-the-art application that allows for the scanning and monitoring of all golfers and staff.

Clubs need to complete the Confirmation of Compliance Document and submit it to GolfRSA before they can open their facilities.

In a statement, the minister said that the staggered opening of professional non-contact sport and professional athletes training would be allowed. The statement said that sport bodies are required to comply with the directions and submit their plans as outlined below:

As per gazetted direction by the Minister, the sports bodies have 14 days to submit their plans online from 12 June.

The written submissions must further indicate the following:

• Details of the sports body/organisation applying
• Details of the public officer of the sports body/ organisation applying responsible for overall monitoring and reporting to government on mechanisms to be employed
• Details of the safety officer/ Covid-19 compliance officer responsible for monitoring and implementation of Level 3 safety standards.

When making their applications sports bodies/organisations must further submit/upload copies of the following compulsory compliance documents:

• Covid-19 Operational Plan in line with Annexure C
• Covid-19 Travel Guide Personal Declaration Form
• Daily Screening Questionnaire.

Sports bodies/organisations must further respond to the following:

• State of readiness questions
• The activities timeline and data – focusing on training assumption / non-contact sport official resumption date
• Venue details – Top 10 venues (if applicable) must be listed with the required data in order of priority where the matches will be taking place.

The Dainfern Golf Course said, “We have been advised by GolfRSA that all golf clubs can open once they have submitted and received acknowledgement of receipt of certain documents they have had to complete for their local unions. We, together with most golf clubs in the country, will thus be opening golf for our members (13 June).”

Initial story: 8 June

The Dainfern Golf Course was closed by police on 7 June, prompting much outrage from golfers on social media.

In a statement released by the board of directors at the Dainfern Homeowners Association on 8 June, it was explained that the board decided to open the course on 6 June due to an absence of any clarification of the position of golf as a non-contact sport from neither government nor the South African golfing representative bodies.

“We did not deliberately disregard the Government’s Disaster Management Act regulations. The livelihood of several of our employees is dependent on golf, and the financial implications of delaying the opening of our golf course to our members is a very serious issue,” said the statement.

“The regulations outlined by government and expanded upon by the minister on Saturday, 30 May, were unclear as far as golf for amateurs is concerned or indeed how golf as a business activity is placed. We awaited some clarification from either government or our representative bodies, but when these were not forthcoming, we decided that we could no longer delay.”

The statement listed a number of considerations taken by the board of directors when interpreting the Disaster Management Act regulations, including the adoption of appropriate health and safety protocols and social distancing measures, among others.

“We strongly disagree with their [SA Police Service (SAPS)] interpretation of the regulations, but we have chosen not to dispute this at this time. We do not wish to be in conflict with our local police authorities who operate under extremely difficult conditions and we have thus complied with their ruling and have resolved to wait for the issue of golfing to be clarified before considering our actions going forward.”

The statement said the board has at all times operated in the best interests of fellow citizens, estate homeowners and stakeholders in order to control the spread of Covid-19. They added that they have taken particular note of the interests of the low-income workers whose livelihoods depend on their continuing golf activities.

Acting provincial head of corporate communications for Gauteng police, Colonel Noxolo Kweza, said, “Members of the Douglasdale SAPS and JMPD [Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department] Midrand received a complaint of the golf course which was operating despite regulations not allowing them. The members went and engaged with the manager of the pro-shop and informed him that people may not play golf for leisure but only professionals can engage in the sport.”

Kweza said it was agreed that the golf course would close and comply with the regulations.