The latest on golf’s return across GB&I

Fourballs can resume when golf courses reopen in England after the country’s industry bodies laid out guidance for the sport’s return on March 29.

The document, Covid-19: A roadmap for the return of golf in

England, also reveals professional and retail shops could open from

April 12, along with outdoor catering facilities – subject to the

Rule of 6.

It is hoped indoor catering facilities, including clubhouses, can open their doors from May 17, while in-person committee meetings and AGMs will not be permitted before that date.

The All-Party Parliamentary

Group for Golf met with industry bodies, including the GCMA and England Golf, to consider the impact of prime minister Boris Johnson’s four step plan to ease the country out of lockdown.

They looked at the different aspects of golf and how they could resume within the Government’s timeframe – including playing, coaching, retail and club fitting, as well as looking at the implications for driving ranges and practice facilities.

They’ve separated what can and can’t be done into steps, with step one covering March 8 and March 29.

Step Two comes into effect no earlier than April 12, with Step Three arriving from May 17 and leading to the hoped removal of all restrictions from June 21.

The dates for Steps Two, Three and Four are all subject to Government review and the activities outlined are indicative of what could be expected for each of these steps. But at every stage, from March 29, the industry bodies have outlined that golf can be played in fourballs.

Club, regional and county competitions and tournaments are also permitted from that date, providing they are under strict Covid-19 controls and where overnight accommodation is not required for either staff or players. No national finals, though, will be staged before May 17.

For the full details, including information on coaching and what the guidance is for fittings and swing studios, click HERE.

WHAT’S THE LATEST IN THE REST OF THE UK?

Wales Golf courses have been closed since December 19. Following the statement from First Minister Mark Drakeford on February 19, Wales Golf said they were “disappointed” there was no relaxation of the current Stay at Home regulations.

They added: “We hope that golf and other outdoor sports will be able to return in some capacity following the next review on the 12th of March.

“The First Minister made it clear that for the time being all exercise must still start and finish at home.

“At a meeting with Welsh Government officials earlier this week, we presented the APPGG COVID-19 Secure Golf Document which supports our long-held view that golf has been and can continue to be played safely during the current pandemic.

“Other key areas of discussion centred around the numerous mental health and wellbeing benefits golf provides to tens of thousands of participants across Wales. Welsh Government agreed that golf is a sport that can be played in a safe, socially distanced manner. Their main concerns were with the potential Waleswide impact of relaxing the ‘stay at home’ restrictions, and the cumulative impact of doing this.”

Scotland Golf is classed as an example of a “reasonable excuse to go out” in Scottish Government stay at home regulations since January 5.

A Scottish Golf statement, issued on February 24, said: “Following the First Minister’s latest update on COVID-19 restrictions, please note that there is no change to the current position for golf. This means:

Golf courses can remain open for play with a maximum of two players from up to two households.

Outdoor coaching will be restricted to 2 people (including the coach) for those 12 years or over. Under 12s do not count towards the number so a coach can take larger groups of up to 30 U12s.

Golfers must stay close to home, travel only for essential purposes (which includes golf as part of the permitted exercise activities) and in line with the new legislation.

“The next update is not anticipated until mid-March.”

Northern Ireland Golf Ireland advised that, from 12.01am on Boxing Day, golf clubs had to close. They remain shut.

Republic of Ireland Golf clubs, along with other sporting facilities, were closed from midnight on December 30 when Level 5 restrictions were reinstated.

Your passport to a world of ONLINE LEARNING

You may not immediately have noticed but the email that dropped into your baskets, welcoming you to GCMA SkillGate, is entrance to a world of new learning and development opportunities.

A central part of chief executive Tom Brooke’s 2021 vision, your Association has officially launched the online platform that is destined to become a pivotal part of the way education is delivered.

Hopefully, you’re already navigating your way around and getting to grips with the huge range of courses on offer.

But if you’re still unsure what it’s all about, or you missed the GCMA webinar hosted by professional development manager Gavin Robinson, let us try and fill in the blanks and open your eyes.

For as Tom Brooke says: “There’s never been a better time to invest in yourself and your knowledge and skills. The GCMA will be your partner every step of the way.”

What is SkillGate? SkillGate is an online learning platform to which GCMA members have free access – either through the GCMA website (click on the SkillGate thumbnail in the members’ area) or through the SkillGate app. You can download the app through the Apple Store or via Google’s Play Store. What is on offer? More apt would probably be: what isn’t? You will have access to more than 1,000 courses ranging from 30-minute tutorials to full certificates.

Topics and learning opportunities include, but are not limited to: Achieving Your Potential, Better Communication, Develop Your Talents, Finance, IT Skills, Managing Business, Managing People, Remote Working, Sales and Service, Wellbeing and Written English.

How does it work? When you sign in you will be presented with a welcome screen. On the left-hand side is what SkillGate call ‘the infinity library of content’. You can scroll through the courses and can use the search tool to access content via key word terms.

SkillGate offers three main types of training. The first are ebooklets, which come in the form of a PDF document and can be downloaded and read as required.

Supportive exercises are also on offer, as well as a content quiz that will be a final measurement of how well you have understood a particular topic.

The second level comprises of tutorials. The majority of material found on SkillGate is in the tutorial format. Accessed stage-by-stage, introductions, pictures, videos and exercises help to reinforce knowledge on your chosen topic.

The majority of tutorials will also include a quiz – again as a measurement of how much you’ve read and understood the training.