Criticism of 'layer of confusion' over travel guidance for Scottish golfers

First Minister urged to provide clarification for 29 May reopening

Dumbarnie Links, the new Clive Clark-designed course on the Fife coast, is set to open its doors for the first time next Friday and general manager David Scott is excited about welcoming visitors. Picture: Mark Alexander

Bosses at Scottish golf clubs have warmly welcomed the plan to reopen courses in the country next Friday after a crippling 10-week shutdown due to the coronavirus crisis.

But, as venues in the home of golf start preparing to fall in line with courses in the rest of the UK and Ireland, concern has also been expressed about a "layer of confusion".

That relates to phase one of the Scottish Government's lockdown exit route map advising that travel for outdoor sports activities such as golf should be "broadly around five miles".

The majority of Scotland's golfers live further than that from their home course, including Edinburgh people who play in East Lothian and Glasgow residents who are members of Ayrshire clubs.

"Like every other golf club, we are delighted to now finally be planning to open our courses for golfers once again," said Gordon Simpson, secretary of Gullane, one of the biggest clubs in the country with around 900 members. "All of our efforts now will be in preparing all three courses to open at the earliest possible date.

"With regards to asking people to travel “broadly around five miles”, I feel this has added a layer of confusion that simply isn’t necessary."

In an interview with BBC Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there could be some "flexibility" in terms of travelling in phase one and urged people to use their own "judgement".

Simpson added: "We have to trust our members to be sensible when coming to the golf course for their leisure activities. I look forward to hearing further guidance from the First Minister on her comments about flexibility and people using their own judgement prior to opening for play."

The plan to reopen next Friday needs to be rubber-stamped by the First Minister when she delivers the Scottish Government's next official review of lockdown restrictions on Thursday.

If it is indeed a thumbs up, the doors will open at Dumbarnie Links, the new Clive Clark-designed course on the Fife coast, for the first time, having originally been scheduled to welcome its first visitors on 16 May.

"I’m delighted and relieved that the Scottish Government are highly likely to give a green light to golf commencing on 29 May," said general manager David Scott. "We have our tee sheet open for that day and so we’re excited that we will open our links to the golfing world, although local for now."

Under the guidelines issued by Scottish Golf, play is being permitted in two balls, which may consist of people from different households, and also in groups of up to four but from only two households at the discretion of individual golf clubs.

"The configuration is a very positive decision," added Scott, referring to the fact it had been hinted that only single players and household groups would be permitted initially.

"The only grey area is the distance to travel to a golf course. Many members of clubs live considerably further than five miles from their club and I can see some exceeding this figure.

"That said, I don’t honestly see this as being of any real concern as the golfer will be cocooned in their car, getting out in the fresh air and, if abiding by the rules that the clubs will have in place, e.g. not touching the flagstick and keeping social distancing then they will be a zero risk to anyone."

Mike Robson, the club manager and secretary at Swanston, is concerned that clubs could lose out if people feel they are unable to travel a bit further than five miles for a game.

"To be honest, we have not decided how we will monitor this and could it lead to current members resigning and joining a club within five miles of where they live?" he said. "I see on Facebook someone who has spoken to the police has said the police are not likely to stop someone going to their golf club for a game.

"At the end of the day, let’s all be grown up about this and allow members to be able to travel to their club to get a game of very restricted golf."

Up in the Highlands, Fortrose & Rosemarkie has a number of members who live in Inverness, which is just under 15 miles away.

"Our members will use their own and the proper judgement if and when booking their golf," said secretary Mike McDonald. "I am glad the government has allowed golf to return and we will ensure the safest practices are adhered to at all times,

"Members will have the sense to follow the guidelines issued to them and being out in the open air whilst social distancing can only be beneficial for their mental and physical well being."

Under the guidelines, tee-times must be booked in advance, something that has caused a headache for some of the smaller clubs in the country.

"As a small nine-hole club, we have historically not required a tee-time booking system, so this represents a major change," said Comrie club manager Andrew Thomson.

"We have introduced a web-based system, which was released for members to trial two weeks ago, and is working well, with a flood of bookings for next Friday and beyond."

On the travel situation, he added: "In rural parts of the country, what is commonly held to be the 'local area' for the purposes of shopping and essential services will often be more than five miles.

"A number of Comrie-based members are also members at links courses in East Lothian, Ayrshire and the Highlands. I am sure common sense will prevail, and those individuals will play locally, and not travel for 1.5-2 hours to play golf at the present time."

It is set to be an early start for some Scottish golfers next Friday, with Aberdour deciding to open its tee sheet at 5.30am and then running all the way through to 8pm.

"The greens staff have been fully involved in our discussions and planning for the course re-opening," said club captain Steve David. "With their agreement, we have opened up extra tee times in the early morning period to help accommodate the expected rush of golfers."

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