After last night's COVID-19 announcement from Boris Johnson, all UK golf clubs have been forced to close temporarily as part of the 'lockdown'. At the moment, these temporary measures are in place for at least three weeks in which we have been advised to stay at home unless we are partaking in the following activity:
- Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (where this absolutely cannot be done from home)
- Stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people
- Wash your hands as soon as you get home
So the question on the lips of many golfers and golf club associates this morning is - what about greens staff? Where does this leave our greenkeepers? Can they still go to work and look after the course?
Surely they aren't able to do their work from home? Ok, we may be in 2020, but unless anyone knows of a virtual grass mower that the golfing world is yet to be aware of, if green staff don't go and look after our courses, one can only imagine the state they would be in after three weeks of neglect.
Luckily England Golf earlier this morning released a statement:
"For security and essential maintenance purposes, greenkeeping staff can still attend work.
All work must be carried out in strict accordance with government guidelines on social distancing."
Effectively greens staff at our much beloved golf clubs can continue working safely and in isolation. Phew.
BIGGA, the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, has also had their say to advise greenkeepers on the correct way to work under the circumstances:
This will come as positive news both for greens staff who are ensured of a job during these troubling times, and for us, the members of golf clubs, who can isolate in confidence knowing our fairways and greens will be looked after.
We can now work from home to keep ourselves and others safe, knowing that our golf courses 'should' be in great shape for the start of the season - whenever that may be...
Here at Golfalot HQ we're trying our hardest to look on the positive side of the global pandemic and after a winter of seemingly non-stop rain in the UK, especially in the January and February months, this may even come as a bit of welcome relief for some greenkeepers.
No unrepaired pitchmarks, no divots, no litter, no need to spend hours a week raking bunkers. Finally greenkeepers will be able to work on golf courses for a few weeks without distraction. Just think of the potential great work they will get done.
Wellow Golf Club in Hampshire, England are also looking to take a positive approach in these times of difficulty:
We may be missing the Masters in 2020, but your course could look like Augusta by the time we get round to playing golf again at this rate.
