The Club

PLAN FOR COURSE RE-OPENING

It is now clear that golf courses may choose to reopen as from Wednesday 13th May. Given the short notice we have decided to give the greenkeepers enough time to get the course in the best playing condition possible without stressing the greens/fairways/rough with aggressive cut heights. We also want to ensure your safety and ensure that requisite measures at the club are in place ahead of re-opening. We are therefore delighted to announce that our course will re-open to members for play on Friday 15th May. Clearly there are still restrictions in place and conditions have been laid out by the Government to ensure a safe return to participating in outdoor recreation. It is vitally important that we, as a club put certain measures in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of you, our members and adhere to the Government’s social distancing guidelines.

It is important that you read this document before you start playing golf again:

Groupings

Until further notice golfers are only permitted to play in 1 or 2 balls. The only exception to this is if 3 or 4 balls are made up of members of the same family or household.

Booking tee times

In order to avoid large gatherings at the club car park, pro-shop and 1st Tee members will be required to book tee times in order to play until we are back to some sort of normality. To begin with members will only be permitted to play 9 holes per day (we will monitor bookings and modify this to 18 holes asap) with tee times available from both the 1st and 10th Tees at 10 minute intervals. First tee times will be available from 07.30hrs with the final tee time at 18.00hrs. Please call the following number to reserve your tee time: 020 8428 4539 - We will have the office and pro-shop answering calls simultaneously from Wednesday at 8.30am but please be patient as we anticipate high demand.

Tee time bookings will be coordinated through the Pro Shop which will operate with the requisite social distancing measures being implemented. To begin with members will be limited to booking tee times only 7 days in advance maximum. You are also requested not to block book tee times thereby giving everybody the opportunity to play after such a long break. Tee time bookings will be monitored to ensure this is adhered to.

Members are advised NOT to come to the club unless they have a tee time.

To begin with access to Tee times will be for members only. Members are requested not to invite guests until further notice.

Competitions and roll up games will not be arranged/permitted until Government guidelines permit play in three/fourballs. Societies will not be permitted until further notice.

Arrival at the Club

All members are requested to arrive at the club ready to play and no more than 20 minutes before their allotted tee time. Members are permitted to change their shoes in the car park as the locker rooms will not be open. You are then requested to follow social distancing lines as you make your way to the pro shop to check in. Any updated guidelines will then be given to you as you make your way to the 1st tee.

Pro Shop and Check In

The Pro Shop will be fully open albeit with social distancing measures implemented where you will check in and may purchase confectionary, drinks and golf accessories as normal. Please avoid paying with cash where possible.

Practice Facilities

Only one of the practice nets will be available for warm up shots before your round starts.

The practice ground will be open but with strict social distancing measures and only for golfers with a confirmed tee time.

The putting green will be open but with only a maximum of 4 players at a time before your tee time.

Golf Course

Prior to lockdown the club had already implemented certain measures to minimise touch points and human contact on the course. You are requested to continue playing with the following safety measures :

• The flagstick will remain in the hole at all times. Paul has implemented a foam cladding at the base of the flagstick which will avoid balls descending to the bottom of the cup thereby avoiding the need to touch the inside of the hole or flagstick when retrieving your sunk ball.
• Players must remain at least 2 metres apart from each other at all times.
• Rakes have been removed from bunkers. All bunkers will be raked early morning by the greenkeepers and then players are requested to use their feet and club heads to smooth out any hit from areas. We anticipate a temporary preferred lie within 12 inches rule in bunkers to be implemented by the R & A.
• All ball cleaners and garbage bins have either been covered or removed from the course. Members are requested to take their empty cans and wrappers home with them.
• All water fountains are out of use
• The shoe cleaners and air compressors at the clubhouse will be decommissioned and not to be used until further notice

Clubhouse, Toilets and Office

The clubhouse is effectively closed except for the use of the toilets at the end of the corridor past the office, bar and men’s locker rooms. The wheelchair access toilet may be used by ladies. The locker rooms will remain locked to avoid the touch points on the security code lock.

The office will be manned during opening hours but the door will remain closed to members

If members need to retrieve items or clubs from their lockers, this will be permitted once but then these items should be taken home with them after their 1st round. The same goes for the trolley store.

End of your round

Following the conclusion of your round members are requested to immediately put their clubs in their cars and depart the premises. The club will actively discourage car park conversations and post round gatherings.

THE ABOVE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO PROTECT BOTH YOUR OWN AND YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS HEALTH AND WELLBEING AND TO ENSURE WE CAN ALL CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAME WE ENJOY SAFELY.

WE WILL CONTINUOSLY REVIEW THESE GUIDELINES AS AND WHEN FURTHER ADVICE IS RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND ENGLAND GOLF

PLAY SAFE AND STAY SAFE.