Golf industry body needs to help plan post-lockdown exit

By Rahul Banerji

Friday’s announcement by the government extending the nationwide lockdown to combat the Covid-19 threat will put further strain on a nation and economy that has already suffered grievous blows since the second week of March.

As the country looks on with the number of cases rising by the day, Lockdown 3 indicates that the government is in search of answers to not just tackle the virus, but also plan out a comprehensive roadmap for recovery post this phase.

This is where industry bodies and other apex organisations representing the numerous occupations affected by the shutdown of daily life they would be best-placed to step up and present solutions for their respective fields.

Let us for instance, take the field that interests this blog, and its readers. Golf affords employment to between 150 and 500 people on a course – and there are about 240 such establishments spread across India.

Best-placed

Under the circumstances, those who deal with the business on a day-in, day-out basis will be best placed to come up with a way forward once this current phase of lockdowns eventually comes to an end.

In that sense, the Golf Industry Association (GIA) is one such body that can help draw up a roadmap for the sport and its associated components for a post lockdown recovery.

The GIA, now under new a president in the gregarious Brandon De Souza, represents the full spectrum of interests in and around golf – the clubs and courses, equipment and tools manufacturers and suppliers, course designers, etc, etc.

Along with other interested groups, the association will need to draw up and present a comprehensive plan that will side by side cater to the new safety and sanitation needs enforced by the corona-virus.

Guidelines

Last week, the GIA released a set of guidelines modelled loosely on suggestions put forward by a group of international bodies and approved by the R&A seeking to ensure the highest standards of care while allowing golf to resume in a controlled and careful manner.

In a statement, the GIA noted, “We are facing one of the most difficult times and stress on isolation, social distancing, hygiene and keeping common areas sanitised is critical.

“GIA has mandated itself for providing these operational guidelines for the benefit of golf courses to pursue and impress (upon) respective State Governments in the appropriate departments.

“While the guidelines may lack some issues pertaining to local conditions it will provide sufficient fodder to garner a case to take up with the State and local authorities.”

In thereafter went on to list some dos and don’ts akin to the PGA, Golf Club Managers Association and British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association:

Dos and don’ts

i. The practices of mowing, irrigation and labour work may commence at 3 am and completed by 6 am, before the start of the game.

ii. Rakes used for smoothening the sand in the bunker may be removed; cups (in holes) raised above by 2 to 3 inches so golfers do not reach into the cup.

iii. Flags remain in the hole and golfers are advised not to touch the flag stick.

iv. No more than eight persons in the club house at any given time.

v. Only one person from each foursome is allowed to enter and sign the group in. No cash is to be accepted; Paytm, other electronic media and card payments only to be accepted.

vi. Only one golfer per golf cart may be authorised and the cart disinfected with an alcohol based swabs and cleaned after every use.

vii. Restaurants and coffee shops may be shut and the practice of grab-and-go be offered for food services.

viii. Golfers to be advised to maintain social distancing while on the course and only one person should be on the green while putting.

ix. A caddy pool may be created for the benefit of aged/older golfers and the pool may be rotated and reviewed on daily basis to provide employment to maximum caddies.

x. To maintain proper hygiene caddies should compulsorily be advised to bathe at the club and provided with uniform by the club which are laundered after every use. All caddies should wear a mask, gloves and carry hand sanitizers provided by the club.

xi. On the driving range golfers are allocated alternate mats. One mat may be kept vacant between two golfers thereby creating social distancing.

xii. Wearing of masks and gloves should be made mandatory for both golfer and the caddy. Wearing of gloves on both hands could be encouraged. Thermal Gun should be used at entrance for screening every visitor.

xiii. Periodically use Boom Spray Vehicles, Tractor mounted sprayers or Battery Operated Sprayers for sanitization of entire property or habitation in proximity- maximum coverage of liquid disinfectants.

The statement pointed out that the lockdown had resulted in revenue losses to the over 240 golf course across the country and unemployment to lakhs of employees.

Any compromise in maintenance towards irrigation, mowing, application of turf protectants, weedicides and fertilizers would ruin the golf course.

It also sought to underline that following such guidelines – now implementable only after May 18 at the very earliest – was the only way forward, given the rapidly spreading pandemic across the country.

Also read: Golf bodies come together for some Corona-virus do’s and don’ts