Parkview Golf Club is ready to open to the public, having set up extensive safety measures for players and staff to adhere to.
Director of golf at the club, Mark Fraser said misinformation was rife in the early weeks of lockdown and so on many occasions, the club thought it may have a chance of reopening.”We had to get ready each time we caught wind that golf may be returning, each time addressing our protocols and solidifying our processes and systems,” Fraser explained.”
All these times we were left disappointed in the fact our doors wouldn’t be opening. Having said this, these whispers have pushed us to plan for the return to golf over and over again. There is a great deal to plan, if we weren’t ready a month or two ago, we sure are now.” He believed golf was a safe sport to play in our current situation as long as the correct protocols were in place. This was because in the open space of a golf course, social distancing was easy.
Below are listed some of the protocols the club has put in place:
- Members and visitors to the club will undergo Covid-19 screening before entry into the property
- The clubhouse will remain closed except for reception and the ablution facilities
- Sanitisers are placed at all high-traffic zones and touchpoints
- The club will limit the field to a one-tee start to reduce traffic during check-in, players must also only arrive 30 minutes before their tee-off time and leave directly after the round
- Social distancing around the club will be monitored carefully by management, there will also be signage in high-traffic areas reminding patrons to keep their distance from each other
- All touchpoints on the course (for example ball washers and bunker rakes) have been removed from the course
- Players are not allowed to touch the flagpole. Hole protectors will be used that stop the ball from falling to the bottom of the cup.
“The golf industry, led by GolfRSA, has worked extremely hard to prove to the government that we are ready and safe,” he added. ”
The industry is also under huge pressure as there are thousands of employees of clubs around the country who rely on the game for their daily bread.”
Details: Parkview Golf Club info@parkviewgolf.co.za; 011 646 5400.
