Golf Lockdown Discussion No discussion of breaking Restrictions

opinionated3 · 12-04-2021 10:18AM

Looking forward to playing our course which currently looks like Augusta due to lack of traffic ðŸ˜€ . Not looking forward to the inevitable scramble for tee times if it's reduced to two balls or nine hole golfðŸ˜¡.
Also I reckon my swing will be pure rusty so I hope to get some fluidity back quick!

IAmTitleist · 12-04-2021 10:48AM

Found at my course (Lurgan) in the North here that the 2 balls and 9 holes only actually worked well as a reintroduction.

Our 10th hole comes back to clubhouse so we effectively had two timesheets. Loads of space available and the golf is enjoyable because 2 balls at 10 mins is ample time to ensure no hold ups on course.

The mad rush for tee times like last May never materialised.

Only issue of course was the spliting up of your usual 4 ball members but from today we're back to 4 balls and comps.

FixdePitchmark · 12-04-2021 10:56AM

IAmTitleist wrote: »

Found at my course (Lurgan) in the North here that the 2 balls and 9 holes only actually worked well as a reintroduction.

Our 10th hole comes back to clubhouse so we effectively had two timesheets. Loads of space available and the golf is enjoyable because 2 balls at 10 mins is ample time to ensure no hold ups on course.

The mad rush for tee times like last May never materialised.

Only issue of course was the spliting up of your usual 4 ball members but from today we're back to 4 balls and comps.

Depends on number of members in club I guess.

Kiith · 12-04-2021 11:21AM

Waking up like a kid at Christmas the morning we're back. Getting the clubs in the car, sausage roll on the way. Mentally preparing my game, visualizing my swing, and repeating to myself to slow everything down.

Then i'll get to the tee, completely forget everything i just told myself, and try to absolutely smash the ball. Guaranteed slice, and a proper chuckle.

Can't ****in wait

cjfitz · 12-04-2021 11:45AM

Golf often helps to recalibrate my mind. The world doesn't seem like such a bad place after I get to play a few holes. So I'm really looking forward to that.

My first round after the first lockdown my electric trolley broke on the 4th tee and I had to leave after six, so anything bad less than that is cool.

PabloAndRoy · 12-04-2021 11:49AM

Kiith wrote: »

Waking up like a kid at Christmas the morning we're back. Getting the clubs in the car, sausage roll on the way. Mentally preparing my game, visualizing my swing, and repeating to myself to slow everything down.

Then i'll get to the tee, completely forget everything i just told myself, and try to absolutely smash the ball. Guaranteed slice, and a proper chuckle.

Can't ****in wait

Sausage roll is fine, but DO NOT buy petrol or coffee. That's how you catch COVID apparentlyl

fred funk }{ · 12-04-2021 11:55AM

cjfitz wrote: »

Golf often helps to recalibrate my mind. The world doesn't seem like such a bad place after I get to play a few holes. So I'm really looking forward to that.

My first round after the first lockdown my electric trolley broke on the 4th tee and I had to leave after six, so anything bad less than that is cool.

I'm exactly the same, really clears/resets my mind.

Apart from the golf itself, I'm looking forward to some adult company (a part from the wife). Just talking rubbish, shooting the breeze.

newport2 · 12-04-2021 12:01PM

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

Sausage roll is fine, but DO NOT buy petrol or coffee. That's how you catch COVID apparentlyl

And once golf courses are closed, nobody buys any coffee or petrol!

fearruanua · 12-04-2021 12:05PM

cjfitz wrote: »

Golf often helps to recalibrate my mind. The world doesn't seem like such a bad place after I get to play a few holes. So I'm really looking forward to that.

I can totally relate to this. Knowing that I'm playing golf at the weekend really helps my mind and humour during the week.

RGS · 12-04-2021 12:20PM

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

Sausage roll is fine, but DO NOT buy petrol or coffee. That's how you catch COVID apparentlyl

No wonder we cant get golfing earlier, when we have people stopping for sausage rolls.

Can we not forget our sausage rolls until we hit level 2.

IAmTitleist · 12-04-2021 01:20PM

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Depends on number of members in club I guess.

We have a cap on our members at the moment so it's at full capacity.

Still the chaos of timesheet pressure during last year's return to golf in May didn't materialise this time around.

FixdePitchmark · 12-04-2021 01:34PM

IAmTitleist wrote: »

We have a cap on our members at the moment so it's at full capacity.

Still the chaos of timesheet pressure during last year's return to golf in May didn't materialise this time around.

I think it will be bad for us - but maybe way more people will be in work this time round.

pinkdoubleeagle · 12-04-2021 01:34PM

Are practice areas permitted to open on the 26th or is it course only?

gypsy79 · 12-04-2021 07:29PM

pinkdoubleeagle wrote: »

Are practice areas permitted to open on the 26th or is it course only?

Practice areas open

On another note.... Why do NIAC not want the society to reopen? Is ntthis really just incompetence from government departments

finglashoop · 12-04-2021 10:09PM

been browsing my shotscope feed and shows people have been out on my course and others during lockdown

i assume they would have to be pros to have access? or are courses closed to everyone.

the person who put up a score on my course is not on the members list on howdidido that i can see.

strange

blue note · 12-04-2021 10:23PM

I'd say every club in he country has had members sneak onto the course for varying levels of play during lockdown.

Kiith · 13-04-2021 07:39AM

I've briefly considered sneaking onto some of the local courses to play a single hole, but realised that'd be a bad idea all round.

Still considering it :pac:

opinionated3 · 13-04-2021 08:37AM

Anyone else hearing that the GUI have confirmed it's two balls or four balls from two households?

blue note · 13-04-2021 08:52AM

opinionated3 wrote: »

Anyone else hearing that the GUI have confirmed it's two balls or four balls from two households?

It was confirmed in their guidance when they issued it over a week ago. Our place are doing two balls most of the day, then allowing fourballs from about 5:30. In fairness, it's probably the way to get most people out onto the course, because very few play with members of their own household. So if you opened up the timesheet to fourballs, you'd end up with mainly two balls anyway, but at fourball intervals. And at fourball pace.

I don't think people realised, but it's only from yesterday that two households are allowed to meet up outside. So golf Ireland are outlining how clubs can reopen within the current restrictions.

I've a 7:38 tee time on the Saturday after golf opens. I can't wait. I'm going to fly around!

https://www.golfireland.ie/covid-19

The link to the guidance is on the above page.

Russman · 13-04-2021 08:57AM

blue note wrote: »

I'd say every club in he country has had members sneak onto the course for varying levels of play during lockdown.

The number of divots you see when we return will be the tell

:D

blue note · 13-04-2021 09:05AM

I'm expecting the course to be pristine when I get to it on Saturday. Even though there will be 5 full days of golf on it before I get to it. Room for 932 rounds. That's 932 potential divots on the first tee.

But I expect to see zero!

opinionated3 · 13-04-2021 09:13AM

blue note wrote: »

It was confirmed in their guidance when they issued it over a week ago. Our place are doing two balls most of the day, then allowing fourballs from about 5:30. In fairness, it's probably the way to get most people out onto the course, because very few play with members of their own household. So if you opened up the timesheet to fourballs, you'd end up with mainly two balls anyway, but at fourball intervals. And at fourball pace.

I don't think people realised, but it's only from yesterday that two households are allowed to meet up outside. So golf Ireland are outlining how clubs can reopen within the current restrictions.

I've a 7:38 tee time on the Saturday after golf opens. I can't wait. I'm going to fly around!

https://www.golfireland.ie/covid-19

The link to the guidance is on the above page.

Are you playing 18 holes or using a 9 hole course to try get as many members out as possible?

blue note · 13-04-2021 09:16AM

opinionated3 wrote: »

Are you playing 18 holes or using a 9 hole course to try get as many members out as possible?

18 holes. And there are still spaces left on the timesheet, so the demand wasn't nearly as crazy as I expected.

opinionated3 · 13-04-2021 09:21AM

blue note wrote: »

18 holes. And there are still spaces left on the timesheet, so the demand wasn't nearly as crazy as I expected.

That's good to hear. Having that said, I just ran through the FAQs in that document you linked. To me, it just emphasises how weak golf Ireland actually are, that they agreed to some of that rubbish. If they were a workers Union, you'd be telling them to pack their bags and taking your weekly subs off them.

blue note · 13-04-2021 09:35AM

To be blunt I think people are being daft with their expectations on golf Ireland. I didn't actually realise that in the restrictions up to yesterday you weren't allowed to meet up with another household outside even for exercise. The chances of golf Ireland managing to get the government to amend that restriction to include "unless you're golfing" were zero.

And now the guidelines are basically as before for golf. Clubs seem to be taking some initiative to ensure that members actually aren't playing with more than one household which is only right. If any other sport opened up and basically ignored some restrictions they'd be lambasted.

I don't know what people wanted golf Ireland to do. To be honest, I think people were just frustrated at not being able to play golf so took aim at golf Ireland, the gaa bizarrely, the golfgate lads. The government and NPHET too, but at least they were the ones making the decisions / advising.

opinionated3 · 13-04-2021 09:41AM

I expected them to stand up for the game using a bit of cop on which our government and nphet seem to be sadly lacking in at this moment. Standing in a wide open fairway with three other golfers is not going to fill ICU next week. That's not bluster, that's based on the science of studying outside activities during covid.
On a related issue, I've just been reliably informed that timesheets may not be as jammed as we thought they were going to be because so many members are not signing up this year. So there's the end result of this farce..... Revenue basically destroyed for many clubs. It was always going to happen I suppose

Soundshkin · 13-04-2021 09:46AM

blue note wrote: »

https://www.golfireland.ie/covid-19

The link to the guidance is on the above page.

Very interesting reading the FAQ on that page around competitive golf:

"Q. Can I play handicap qualifying golf?
A. Sport Ireland and the Expert Group on Sport have stipulated in their sectoral guidance
regarding the sports that are resuming on 26th April that no formal competitions should be
organised or promoted by clubs in the initial phase of reopening. Clubs are permitted to
administer handicap-qualifying activities which may involve collection of entry/registration
fees (which should be done online), a procedure for players registering to play a counting
round, and collation of scores and handicap adjustments in accordance with the Rules of
Handicapping. However, all such golf activities should be solely based on “arrival-play-
depart without delay"

Does that mean the usual weekly handicap competitions can be run by clubs?

blue note · 13-04-2021 09:51AM

I have no idea when you say you expect them to "stand up for the game" what you actually want them to do.

I will say that not having competitions is daft. They should just stipulate that the scores should be submitted through an app. I'm sure plenty exist, so just pick one. I'd be amazed if they didn't argue to allow competitions though. It's just out of their hands.

blue note · 13-04-2021 09:53AM

Soundshkin wrote: »

Very interesting reading the FAQ on that page around competitive golf:

"Q. Can I play handicap qualifying golf?
A. Sport Ireland and the Expert Group on Sport have stipulated in their sectoral guidance
regarding the sports that are resuming on 26th April that no formal competitions should be
organised or promoted by clubs in the initial phase of reopening. Clubs are permitted to
administer handicap-qualifying activities which may involve collection of entry/registration
fees (which should be done online), a procedure for players registering to play a counting
round, and collation of scores and handicap adjustments in accordance with the Rules of
Handicapping. However, all such golf activities should be solely based on “arrival-play-
depart without delay"

Does that mean the usual weekly handicap competitions can be run by clubs?

I suspect that's where the debate over competitions got to. It's probably a wider rule that competitive sport isn't allowed back but golf Ireland managed to sneak this in. It's not a competition but it is.

fearruanua · 13-04-2021 10:45AM

blue note wrote: »

I suspect that's where the debate over competitions got to. It's probably a wider rule that competitive sport isn't allowed back but golf Ireland managed to sneak this in. It's not a competition but it is.

How will this actually work? So I want to play a qualifying round in 2/3 weeks time at my home club , what do i have to do? Will the timesheet have a way of showing who is playing a qualifying round or do you need to register in pro shop? apologies if these questions have been answered before.

PS any update on the golf ireland app? I thought it was to be launched a few months ago

Golf Lockdown Discussion ** No discussion of breaking Restrictions **

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Golf Lockdown Discussion No discussion of breaking Restrictions