Will driving ranges reopen on Monday, May 18th.....?

Southern Comfort · 16-05-2020 1:57pm #1

Just wondering if golf driving ranges will reopen for business next Monday, May 18th.

The social distancing box would be automatically ticked. And if a range has a hopper to pour balls into, there wouldn't be any need to handle them..........

bren2001 · 16-05-2020 2:42pm

Tweet here from GUI suggesting they won't be open until June:

https://twitter.com/GUIGolf/status/1261607925346381824?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

billy3sheets · 16-05-2020 2:49pm

Halpenny Golf range beside Dublin Airport is open on Monday according to their Facebook page.

bren2001 · 16-05-2020 2:51pm

billy3sheets wrote: »

Halpenny Golf range beside Dublin Airport is open on Monday according to their Facebook page.

Facebook posts and tweets predate the GUI clarification issued today.

Southern Comfort · 16-05-2020 2:52pm

Thanks, guys.

billy3sheets · 16-05-2020 2:58pm

bren2001 wrote: »

Facebook posts and tweets predate the GUI clarification issued today.

Doubt the GUI has any say in how private driving ranges operate? I couldn't find any reference to them in their statement.
Kinsealy Grange also open Monday according to their Facebook page.

bren2001 · 16-05-2020 3:04pm

billy3sheets wrote: »

Doubt the GUI has any say in how private driving ranges operate? I couldn't find any reference to them in their statement.
Kinsealy Grange also open Monday according to their Facebook page.

Sports Ireland deem them as indoor, GUI just posted it the information. They've been advised to stay closed. Hard to see how they open.

I can't see the post on the page myself but I'm guessing it predates the announcement from 4 hours ago. I'd a lesson booked there myself.

fred funk }{ · 16-05-2020 4:45pm

Crazy situation this late in the game. Most ranges I know of couldn't be deemed indoors by any stretch.

Danny dyers double · 16-05-2020 5:46pm

Spawell is back open Monday morning

twounderpar · 16-05-2020 5:56pm

Saying that driving ranges are indoor is a bit ridiculous. Anybody who has ever gone to a range on a cold winter's evening will know very
quickly that they are definitely outdoor.

Another example of making it up as they go along just like the problem with garden centres and homeware stores.

I live outside the 5K limit and unlike lots of members, I'm not going to play in phase one. Was looking forward to going to my local
range over the next few weeks.

billy3sheets · 16-05-2020 6:31pm

Be interested to see how this pans out. Halpennys have perspex screens up and they seem to be going ahead with opening. Kinsealy too.
Surely they got some advice or approvals?
I use them both quite a lot so I hope they will be open.

bren2001 · 16-05-2020 6:35pm

billy3sheets wrote: »

Be interested to see how this pans out. Halpennys have perspex screens up and they seem to be going ahead with opening. Kinsealy too.
Surely they got some advice or approvals?
I use them both quite a lot so I hope they will be open.

How does it look like they are going to open? I can't see anything from today from either to suggest that they are. All posts I can see are from yesterday. I certainly hope you're correct, I don't see why they should be closed.

RGS · 16-05-2020 8:19pm

A covered driving range is indoors
A covered smoking area in a pub is outdoors.

Only in Ireland can the same structure be deemed indoor or outdoor depending on the cmos view point.

billy3sheets · 16-05-2020 8:43pm

bren2001 wrote: »

How does it look like they are going to open? I can't see anything from today from either to suggest that they are. All posts I can see are from yesterday. I certainly hope you're correct, I don't see why they should be closed.

Well, they have said that they will open and obviously prepared for opening. I can't see anything from them to suggest that they have changed their plans.

billy3sheets · 17-05-2020 4:52pm

Both Halpenny and Kinsealy Facebook pages seem to be updated today and both say they will be open for business tomorrow Monday.

Mantis Toboggan · 18-05-2020 9:19am

Naas driving range going against the gui regulations and opening up. Fair play to them imo.

fred funk }{ · 18-05-2020 9:34am

Greystones open too. They're dead right IMO. Don't know how they could be seen as indoors.

lawred2 · 18-05-2020 9:37am

Kinsealy Driving Range opening as well - every second bay closed

Kiith · 18-05-2020 9:42am

Rahan range is open as well. Emailed them yesterday.

spacecoyote · 18-05-2020 12:00pm

Carton GUI academy is open, but only the open-air areas. The only part of the building open is the toilets.

Think it's for members only and slots have to be booked

mike12 · 18-05-2020 8:03pm

GUI suggested that ranges at clubs stay closed.
Private ranges are nothing to do with the GUI and all seem to be open.

mk7r · 18-05-2020 8:56pm

My local range got shut down by gardai, it's a half indoor/outdoor setup like most and the only one in a 40km radius so not sure about any others

Southern Comfort · 18-05-2020 9:13pm

I called up to Frankfield Range in Cork city just now. (Frankfield Golf Club closed a few years ago so there's no GUI affiliation or connection now).

It's all closed up with a barrier across the entrance to the car park.......

Sipper · 18-05-2020 9:23pm

mk7r wrote: »

My local range got shut down by gardai, it's a half indoor/outdoor setup like most and the only one in a 40km radius so not sure about any others

Whereabouts are you located?

mk7r · 18-05-2020 9:25pm

Sipper wrote: »

Whereabouts are you located?

I don't want to say exactly but in the south of the country, they were open all last week too though so there may be more to it than meets the eye.

CalamariFritti · 18-05-2020 9:43pm

mk7r wrote: »

My local range got shut down by gardai, it's a half indoor/outdoor setup like most and the only one in a 40km radius so not sure about any others

Its back open. To be fair last week was just outside the rules.

Now that rules have changed a bit, unless there's more than 1 person in one bay, I fail to see what the issue is. If there is a thing that is by definition operating with distancing it would be a driving range.

gypsy79 · 18-05-2020 9:43pm

Elmgreen closed

spacecoyote · 18-05-2020 9:59pm

The range & short game areas in Castlewarden are closed, except for lessons with the pro

prawnsambo · 19-05-2020 8:01am

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Its back open. To be fair last week was just outside the rules.

Now that rules have changed a bit, unless there's more than 1 person in one bay, I fail to see what the issue is. If there is a thing that is by definition operating with distancing it would be a driving range.

Well I suppose you could end up handling somebody else's balls.

I'll get me coat.

CalamariFritti · 19-05-2020 8:14am

prawnsambo wrote: »

Well I suppose you could end up handling somebody else's balls.

I'll get me coat.

I suppose you could but typically the balls are touched very briefly. Then they are being hit and they are out on the grounds in the weather for a day or two. Then they are being collected and washed and filled back into the machines where it takes another few days til they're being dispensed.

Its not really a problem I think.

But I suppose it had to be said.

billy3sheets · 19-05-2020 8:51am

I went to Halpenny range at Dublin Airport yesterday in the evening. Every second bay open. Chipping area only 2 allowed at a time. Baskets cleaned and available in reception.
No real risk of contagion I think. Was a good few there but not packed.
Nice to hit a few full shots and chip a few balls.

Will driving ranges reopen on Monday, May 18th.....?

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