UK golf courses re-open on Wednesday; India must not fall too far behind

By Rahul Banerji

British prime minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on Sunday that golf courses in England were likely to open in the next 48 hours will create a fair degree of expectation in India as well.

In an address to his country, Johnson said that the government was keen people return as early as possible to outdoor pastimes.

“From this Wednesday, we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise,” he said in a televised address.

“You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.”

This has been taken to indicate that the British government does not, per se, object to people back on golf courses, within suggested parameters.

Slow process

India too is in the process of reopening gradually from a protracted lockdown and we will know next week just how much relaxation in the present stringent guidelines will be made.

This is not to compare the situation in the UK and here in any way, but realisation is dawning that there has to be a return to normalcy, even if that is gradual and controlled.

Trains will start to run from Tuesday, and suggestions have been placed that oublic transport also be gradually opened up.

Of course, there is often a massive mismatch between what is being decided as policy and its on-ground implementation as any number of incidents in the last month and a half have showed.

Sealed borders and what have you, for example.

In response to Johnson’s statement, the British golf industry said it was working with the establishment on how to take this opening further.

“England Golf acknowledges the Prime Minister’s statement of this evening and his updated guidelines on outdoor recreation,” a statement from the body said.

“We will continue to work alongside The R&A, home nations, PGA and industry partners to liaise with government and assess how lockdown adjustments impact on golf.

“Further guidance and details will follow,” it added.

Similar steps

Here, the Golf Industry Association, an umbrella organisation that brings together partners from the commercial side of the game last week said it stood ready to work at all levels with government to get golf back on the rails.

The GIA– representing golf courses, equipment makers and suppliers, course maintenance firms and the like – has also come up with a set of guidelines to ensure golf resumes in a safe and sanitised manner.

While courses around the world are in the process of reopening – as many as 2,000 are said to be either in play or ready to welcome golfers in the United States alone – it is a different picture in India.

Course staff in particular have suffered severe deprivation. While there are many reports of clubs stepping up to help out, a number of people have simply fallen off the radar when it comes to making a living from golf.

This was highlighted just a few days ago in these columns.

In the UK, the R&A has come up with a set of post-lockdown guidelines to ensure health of players and establishment staff. Also, the sport has a reasonable amount of support in Parliament, who have responded to the suggestions posted on player safety.

‘Difficult situation’

In its detailed statement, England Golf said that it was still a difficult situation, as courses in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales continued to remain closed.

“… we are acutely aware that many lives have been lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of the virus will continue to be felt for a long time to come. As a sport we must work together to resume play responsibly as and when the relevant Government determines it is safe to do so.

“We must ensure that the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved from golfers, to club staff and greenkeepers is maintained at all times. Golf clubs and golfers have observed the lockdown very well and must keep it up and act responsibly as play resumes.”

It went on to add that guidance towards safe course operations and resuming play had already been issued and needed careful consideration, much as the GIA has done here in India recently.

“We fully appreciate the huge amount of expertise that exists within golf clubs throughout the country and this best practice guidance simply aims to achieve as consistent an approach as possible to protecting everyone.

“We are seeking further clarification from the Government regarding other golf-related facilities.

“The pandemic has already had a substantial impact on golf clubs and venues and the focus will soon turn to trying to recover from the crisis. As a group we will continue to do all we can to provide support and guidance in that effort,” the statement added.

Much the same could be said of the Indian golf establishment as well.

Also read: Golf industry body needs to help plan post-lockdown exit