JUST 48 hours after a decision to close golf courses across NSW, the Government has had a rethink, and the great game can putter along - providing rules are adhered to.
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After reconsideration, the Office of Sport has advised that golf is considered an activity that can continue to be played in line with Public Health Orders relating to public gathering limits, social distancing, and the elderly, Golf NSW reports.
The statement from the Office of Sport - NSW Government is as follows:
The NSW Office of Sport would like to clarify the advice that went out on Monday 30 March 2020.
As you know, there are now restrictions around public gatherings and rules around leaving your home. These new measures are in place to keep the community safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. But it is important to note that people are allowed to leave their homes for the purpose of exercise.
At The Island Golf Course at Nambucca Heads, a number of measures had been introduced to minimise risk.
These included:
Eliminate a number of items which could be touched by more than one player - the rakes had been removed from the bunkers, the flag sticks were to be left in the holes, and no more than one player could ride in a motorised cart.
Island Golf Club secretary manager Johnathon Zirkler told the Guardian today that competition would resume, starting with the Thursday competition.
"But there's some additional things we'll be doing - like removing the sand buckets and encouraging people to bring their own bucket from home. We'll also be looking at alternate car parks," Johnathon said.
For more information on the new restrictions, visit https://preview.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/public-health-orders
Related:
What does this mean for sport and active recreation organisations?
The NSW Government has issued guidelines allowing people to go outside and exercise. Any form of exercise is to be undertaken in compliance with the Public Health Orders, meaning that people must not participate in groups greater than two persons at any point in time. Therefore, individual sports such as golf and tennis can continue provided the Public Health Orders are complied with.
Maintaining the public's physical and mental well-being is now as important as ever. Where possible, it is important sporting clubs and organisations continue to allow people to exercise, so long as social distancing is practised and rules around public gatherings of no more than two people are complied with.