Golf Lockdown

Busterie · 21-10-2020 7:44pm #1

Outrageous who decided to close the golf courses.
Golfers always keep a distance from each other, that way you won't golf club in the eye.
I can't believe the GUI took this lying down. WIMPS

Telecaster58 · 21-10-2020 7:48pm

It seems if you live within 5km of your golf club you can walk around the course for exercise but cannot swing a club. Makes perfect sense to me.

benji79 · 21-10-2020 7:51pm

Telecaster58 wrote: »

It seems if you live within 5km of your golf club you can walk around the course for exercise but cannot swing a club. Makes perfect sense to me.

Well it does in a way

If you live 15km away you’d hardly be tempted to drive that far just for a walk On the course. But you’d certainly be tempted to travel for a game of golf

Golfhead65 · 21-10-2020 7:55pm

Sent this

TP_CM · 21-10-2020 8:01pm

Yes but you need to understand that there are about 5 - 8 people trying to produce guidelines for millions of people and their hobbies at very short notice and against massive scrutiny. There simply isn't time to draft up guidelines for golf or tennis or rounders or basketball or running or skating or anything else which can wait for 6 weeks. It's not right but during a pandemic where hospitals are filling and people are dying, I don't think it's appropriate. It's not that they actively think golf is an issue, it's just about keeping things simple as opposed to massive lists of things which are allowed or not allowed.

Golfhead65 · 21-10-2020 8:04pm

TP_CM wrote: »

Yes but you need to understand that there are about 5 - 8 people trying to produce guidelines for millions of people and their hobbies at very short notice and against massive scrutiny. There simply isn't time to draft up guidelines for golf or tennis or rounders or basketball or running or skating or anything else which can wait for 6 weeks. It's not right but during a pandemic where hospitals are filling and people are dying, I don't think it's appropriate. It's not that they actively think golf is an issue, it's just about keeping things simple as opposed to massive lists of things which are allowed or not allowed.

So with that logic. Why are other sports
allowed?? (Rightly so)

Ashleigh1986 · 21-10-2020 8:06pm

TP_CM wrote: »

Yes but you need to understand that there are about 5 - 8 people trying to produce guidelines for millions of people and their hobbies at very short notice and against massive scrutiny. There simply isn't time to draft up guidelines for golf or tennis or rounders or basketball or running or skating or anything else which can wait for 6 weeks. It's not right but during a pandemic where hospitals are filling and people are dying, I don't think it's appropriate. It's not that they actively think golf is an issue, it's just about keeping things simple as opposed to massive lists of things which are allowed or not allowed.

They have had 7 months to get the country in order .
Closing golf courses / gyms / hairdressers / barbers for a second time is a joke .
The government keep going on about people's mental wellbeing especially during pandemic .
The problems aren't golf courses / gyms / hairdressers ...
Sort out where the issuses are and let people enjoy their golf / gym etc .
It really is " dads army " running the show !!!!

Open the Pubs · 21-10-2020 8:07pm

If it was open during the first lockdown, the only difference is golfgate dinner.

The far left cranks on twitter would be alleging conspiracy about special treatment for golfers or some such.

benji79 · 21-10-2020 8:11pm

Open the Pubs wrote: »

If it was open during the first lockdown, the only difference is golfgate dinner.

The far left cranks on twitter would be alleging conspiracy about special treatment for golfers or some such.

No I think personally they learned during first time that people won’t stick to the 5k limit. People travelling is the issue, maybe on way stopping in shop to get something. Interacting with workers etc

The playing side is fine. It’s the travel to and from and what goes with it is the problem I feel.

Mantis Toboggan · 21-10-2020 8:25pm

Oireachtas golf society are finished up for the year so they had no incentive to keep the courses open.

Mantis Toboggan · 21-10-2020 8:26pm

I take it clubs are open up north?

Any opens on close to the border?

Open the Pubs · 21-10-2020 8:31pm

benji79 wrote: »

No I think personally they learned during first time that people won’t stick to the 5k limit. People travelling is the issue, maybe on way stopping in shop to get something. Interacting with workers etc

The playing side is fine. It’s the travel to and from and what goes with it is the problem I feel.

But going to the shop is allowed?

benji79 · 21-10-2020 8:34pm

Open the Pubs wrote: »

But going to the shop is allowed?

You can’t live too long without eating food. Technically you can live without playing golf

Drifter50 · 21-10-2020 8:42pm

I would offer the opinion that a large number of the movers and shakers at government level are fair weather golfers and that they figured they could spend a good bit of time on the course through a nice pleasant sunny spring and early summer but would not be up for 18 holes on a wet cold afternoon in November
Hence golf was thrown on the scrap heap

TP_CM · 21-10-2020 8:43pm

Golfhead65 wrote: »

So with that logic. Why are other sports
allowed?? (Rightly so)

Which other group sports are allowed? Genuine question. From the guidelines I have read, only individual sports are allowed unless you mean elite players (or kids)

TP_CM · 21-10-2020 8:52pm

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

They have had 7 months to get the country in order .
Closing golf courses / gyms / hairdressers / barbers for a second time is a joke .
The government keep going on about people's mental wellbeing especially during pandemic .
The problems aren't golf courses / gyms / hairdressers ...
Sort out where the issuses are and let people enjoy their golf / gym etc .
It really is " dads army " running the show !!!!

If I gave you a full month I bet you wouldn't be able to get through everything included within your 'etc' there without people complaining about something not being considered. And then the attacks of how complex you've made it would be inevitable. The whataboutery would be a lot more than it is now I think.

John Divney · 21-10-2020 9:04pm

TP_CM wrote: »

If I gave you a full month I bet you wouldn't be able to get through everything included within your 'etc' there without people complaining about something not being considered. And then the attacks of how complex you've made it would be inevitable. The whataboutery would be a lot more than it is now I think.

If I gave you 8 months and an army of civil servants and a whole sports ministry, a previous lockdown with all the feedback, and you told me you don't have the time, I'd demand you resign and never take a political post again

PARlance · 21-10-2020 9:05pm

Open the Pubs wrote: »

But going to the shop is allowed?

As big a fan of golf as I am, being able to buy food is.probably slightly ahead of it as a priority.

TP_CM · 21-10-2020 9:25pm

John Divney wrote: »

If I gave you 8 months and an army of civil servants and a whole sports ministry, a previous lockdown with all the feedback, and you told me you don't have the time, I'd demand you resign and never take a political post again

You would demand they resign because they didn't have time to go through all the hobbies of Irish people during a pandemic, writing guidelines for each? Sorry, I am afraid you've lost me there. For me, 6 weeks is a short enough time for them to prioritise clarity over creating an encyclopaedia of hobbies in Ireland and what guidelines should exist for each. I am with you when it comes to golf. I'm not arguing it's a high risk sport in terms of coronavirus, I'm just saying that if their website had pages and pages of information it would create a lot more confusion and upset in the community. Unless of course you want things to be exactly the way they are now but with an exception made for golf only!

tayto lover · 21-10-2020 9:26pm

I’m an elite golfer so I should be allowed play.
Well I think I am anyway.

Trouser Snake · 21-10-2020 9:30pm

tayto lover wrote: »

I’m an elite golfer so I should be allowed play.
Well I think I am anyway.

I won't dispute that. We're all elite golfers here I'll have you know!!

John Divney · 21-10-2020 9:33pm

TP_CM wrote: »

You would demand they resign because they didn't have time to go through all the hobbies of Irish people during a pandemic, writing guidelines for each? Sorry, I am afraid you've lost me there. For me, 6 weeks is a short enough time for them to prioritise clarity over creating an encyclopaedia of hobbies in Ireland and what guidelines should exist for each. I am with you when it comes to golf. I'm not arguing it's a high risk sport in terms of coronavirus, I'm just saying that if their website had pages and pages of information it would create a lot more confusion and upset in the community. Unless of course you want things to be exactly the way they are now but with an exception made for golf only!

What hobbies? We are talking about a major industry in the country. I expect to have a grasp of every sport in the country, yes, its a Government department dedicated to sport. We aren't talking about 'hobbies', we are talking about zero planning from the Governments part after 8 months and we are talking about a Golf Union totally failing to have set the expectations month ago that should there be another lockdown that golf had no reason to be on it. Its called PR, they are a joke it's like they woke up yesterday and that was the extent of the campaign for their members and clubs, many will go to the wall because of their naivety and frankly because they are run by people who are friends with those in the Sports department and didn't want to

slingerz · 21-10-2020 9:39pm

TP_CM wrote: »

Yes but you need to understand that there are about 5 - 8 people trying to produce guidelines for millions of people and their hobbies at very short notice and against massive scrutiny. There simply isn't time to draft up guidelines for golf or tennis or rounders or basketball or running or skating or anything else which can wait for 6 weeks. It's not right but during a pandemic where hospitals are filling and people are dying, I don't think it's appropriate. It's not that they actively think golf is an issue, it's just about keeping things simple as opposed to massive lists of things which are allowed or not allowed.

The first time round I’d give them the benefit of the doubt on what you said there

But this isn’t new or hardly surprising. It’s a testament to the shoddy nature many of our public services work. The contract tracing debacle that came to light in recent days is case and point

TP_CM · 21-10-2020 10:05pm

John Divney wrote: »

What hobbies? We are talking about a major industry in the country. I expect to have a grasp of every sport in the country, yes, its a Government department dedicated to sport. We aren't talking about 'hobbies', we are talking about zero planning from the Governments part after 8 months and we are talking about a Golf Union totally failing to have set the expectations month ago that should there be another lockdown that golf had no reason to be on it. Its called PR, they are a joke it's like they woke up Yesterday and that was the extent of the campaign for their members and clubs that many will go to the wall because of their naivety and frankly because they are run by people who are friends with those in the Sports department

Out of all the millions of people in the country, I wonder what proportion of them were even set on playing golf in November and December? Even if they did create guidelines for golf specifically, they would spend all their time in the press conferences answering silly questions about the guidelines. "If someone gets a new putter, can his mate who lives with him try it out on the green?".

Anyways, at the end of the day, I personally think clarity is more important than golf in the next 6 weeks and I really think any guidelines published for anything specific like golf would raise questions from the likes of knitting clubs, kite flying clubs or outdoor music session groups or god knows what. They would be inundated because those groups care as much about their pastimes as you do about yours.

John Divney · 21-10-2020 10:08pm

likes of knitting clubs, kite flying clubs or outdoor music session groups or god knows what

They can do what they like down the park. Down the beach.

Seve OB · 21-10-2020 10:11pm

TP_CM wrote: »

Which other group sports are allowed? Genuine question. From the guidelines I have read, only individual sports are allowed unless you mean elite players (or kids)

golf is as much an individual sport as you can get

jelutong · 21-10-2020 10:11pm

Technically the complete golf course would have to be within a 5 km radius of your home,not just the entrance.

Doctor Bojangles · 21-10-2020 10:47pm

I’m a beginner myself, was hoping to get some practice in over the next few weeks.

Are there any good training aids? Particularly for the long game.

Thanks

jams100 · 21-10-2020 11:56pm

Petition to reopen courses

http://chng.it/yMDz2MKwSJ

prawnsambo · 22-10-2020 8:43am

jams100 wrote: »

Petition to reopen courses

http://chng.it/yMDz2MKwSJ

I think change.org is a waste of time personally. Just a method of collecting email addresses to spam them. I don't know anything that was actually changed as a result of a petition on change.org.

xgronkjabv6pcl · 22-10-2020 9:10am

prawnsambo wrote: »

I think change.org is a waste of time personally. Just a method of collecting email addresses to spam them. I don't know anything that was actually changed as a result of a petition on change.org.

I tend to concur that they are largely a complete waste of time.

A similar one floating around for gyms with almost 50k signatures: https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-move-gyms-to-essential-services-for-the-mental-physical-wellbeing-of-the-irish-people

It certainly doesn't seem like a medium that will have the powers that be reconsider their decision.

jams100 · 22-10-2020 9:35am

Mateo Greasy Tapir wrote: »

I tend to concur that they are largely a complete waste of time.

A similar one floating around for gyms with almost 50k signatures: https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-move-gyms-to-essential-services-for-the-mental-physical-wellbeing-of-the-irish-people

It certainly doesn't seem like a medium that will have the powers that be reconsider their decision.

You say this but when a politician sees a petition floating around with thousands of signatures they realise they are loosing/have lost the room, they may not change their mind this time around but we cannot just let this go or we'll be back in the same situation in January

amlinopta · 22-10-2020 9:36am

Social tennis allowed outdoors; just to compound that ridiculous decision on golf from yesterday

jams100 · 22-10-2020 9:41am

prawnsambo wrote: »

I think change.org is a waste of time personally. Just a method of collecting email addresses to spam them. I don't know anything that was actually changed as a result of a petition on change.org.

Email your TD so? It's a farce that tennis, horse racing, greyhound racing, gaa and rugby can continue but golf cant. There is zero evidence that I've seen that golf has contributed in any sort of significant way to covid's spread :mad:

TRS30 · 22-10-2020 9:43am

Sorry if I missed it, are driving ranges closed now as well?

finglashoop · 22-10-2020 9:46am

TRS30 wrote: »

Sorry if I missed it, are driving ranges closed now as well?

Nope

Individual practice is ok

xgronkjabv6pcl · 22-10-2020 9:46am

jams100 wrote: »

You say this but when a politician sees a petition floating around with thousands of signatures they realise they are loosing/have lost the room, they may not change their mind this time around but we cannot just let this go or we'll be back in the same situation in January

I don't agree that politicians pay much attention to online petitions of any sort.

An online petition or petition of any sort doesn't seem like the most productive medium to voice an opinion in the current era.

There are far more salient means of demonstrating ones grievances with this or other similar decisions. One strong voice in the right position is far more powerful than 50k faceless people submitting first & last name with their email address.
Online petitions are likely way down the list of what politicians believe are representative of "lost rooms".

GDK_11 · 22-10-2020 9:47am

TRS30 wrote: »

Sorry if I missed it, are driving ranges closed now as well?

I believe so, I was due to have a few lessons at the range but received an email from the instructor yesterday saying the range was closing down for the 6 weeks.

TRS30 · 22-10-2020 9:50am

finglashoop wrote: »

Nope

Individual practice is ok

GDK_11 wrote: »

I believe so, I was due to have a few lessons at the range but received an email from the instructor yesterday saying the range was closing down for the 6 weeks.

Not a go at either of you. Just shows the poor communication!

jams100 · 22-10-2020 10:03am

Mateo Greasy Tapir wrote: »

I don't agree that politicians pay much attention to online petitions of any sort.

An online petition or petition of any sort doesn't seem like the most productive medium to voice an opinion in the current era.

There are far more salient means of demonstrating ones grievances with this or other similar decisions. One strong voice in the right position is far more powerful than 50k faceless people submitting first & last name with their email address.
Online petitions are likely way down the list of what politicians believe are representative of "lost rooms".

Look I agree with you, but the GUI have proved useless and the sports minister catherine martin is the same...its not as if we can or should go out protesting with the virus but if people don't speak out the decision makers won't know the impact of their decisions.
Apparently the board of sport Ireland doesn't have anyone on the board with a golf background

REFLINE1 · 22-10-2020 10:07am

TRS30 wrote: »

Sorry if I missed it, are driving ranges closed now as well?

Checked with my local range and its closed.

Deeper Blue · 22-10-2020 10:12am

So tennis - a sport where people use the same ball and may be in close proximity (if both players are near the net) - gets the go ahead while golf gets shut down?

Complete and utter joke

Zedmann · 22-10-2020 10:32am

El Sueño wrote: »

So tennis - a sport where people use the same ball and may be in close proximity (if both players are near the net) - gets the go ahead while golf gets shut down?

Complete and utter joke

Just to point out tennis hasn't got the go ahead as such, more that they never got a specific no from government last night so are chancing their arm. It may well be shut down.

Wichita Lineman · 22-10-2020 10:33am

Groups of cyclists pass my house every day in close proximity to each other and they cycle together for hours. How are they allowed continue their sport / exercise / hobby while golfers are not?

I would be a lot less annoyed if ALL SPORTS were cancelled for the lockdown period but as usual in Ireland we manage to f**k it up and p**s half the population off by doing things a**eways.

finglashoop · 22-10-2020 10:37am

TRS30 wrote: »

Not a go at either of you. Just shows the poor communication!

Agreed

Elmgreen range is open according to email yesterday. Nothing further since

John Divney · 22-10-2020 11:03am

Zedmann wrote: »

Just to point out tennis hasn't got the go ahead as such, more that they never got a specific no from government last night so are chancing their arm. It may well be shut down.

Tennis read the rules and abide by them and didn’t ask permission. The GUI went hat in hand and got told to do one. I know which approach is the correct one. You have to force people to do what you want you don’t ask. Let them be the bad guys. The GUI is totally discredited over this debacle

TRS30 · 22-10-2020 11:09am

finglashoop wrote: »

Agreed

Elmgreen range is open according to email yesterday. Nothing further since

Will be rammed then as three ones close to me are all closed.

PabloAndRoy · 22-10-2020 11:13am

John Divney wrote: »

Tennis read the rules and abide by them and didn’t ask permission. The GUI went hat in hand and got told to do one. I know which approach is the correct one. You have to force people to do what you want you don’t ask. Let them be the bad guys. The GUI is totally discredited over this debacle

It's easier to ask for forgiveness later than permission before!

Tennis Ireland have played a blinder... fair play to them.

Dublin Spur · 22-10-2020 11:13am

golf okay in the north - not okay in the south

complete shambles

Dublin Spur · 22-10-2020 11:14am

can we chip around a tennis court ?

secman · 22-10-2020 11:20am

Wichita Lineman wrote: »

Groups of cyclists pass my house every day in close proximity to each other and they cycle together for hours. How are they allowed continue their sport / exercise / hobby while golfers are not?

I would be a lot less annoyed if ALL SPORTS were cancelled for the lockdown period but as usual in Ireland we manage to f**k it up and p**s half the population off by doing things a**eways.

All cycling clubs have advised members that group spins are to cease from midnight. Members can cycle solo within 5km from their home. School going members in academy can still go out for spins in groups of 15 but 5km loop still applies. That 15 grouping applies to soccer, GAA etc for school going children.

Golf Lockdown

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