“It has been a long tough road for the golf industry across the UK which has affected just about every area of our business,” says Doug Poole, CEO of the UK Golf Federation, “so it is great to see England joining Scotland and Wales opening its golf courses and driving ranges to members and the golfing community on 29th March.
“With the on/off openings we have had since golf closed last March, governments have put in place many new rules covering the safe management of staff, also staff coming back from furlough and our customers safety. The UK Golf Federation worked throughout the lockdowns to get golf opened as soon as was safe and now recommend all golf facilities ensure they cover themselves and businesses within these new government rules and recommend they ask themselves 7 questions before opening.
1) Are you confident you can conduct a robust risk assessment yourself considering all the risks presented at your course and facilities, your work activities, and the impact of welcoming members and customers back on the premises?
2) Does your risk assessment consider the need for face coverings?
3) Is your risk assessment easy to understand for all your employees and committee members?
4) Does your risk assessment consider the use of asymptotic testing where accessible? How will you train your employees in the risk assessment controls required for COVID-19 alongside your existing food safety and hygiene measures?
5) How will you communicate the risk assessment controls to your members, committee, and customers?
6) Are you able to update your website with your COVID-19 specific risk assessment to share key information with customers and other interested parties?
7) Have you displayed your completed COVID-19-secure certificate?”
More free support is available from UK GF business partner – Citation CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Doug Poole concludes: “Whilst it has been a struggle for many golf courses over the last year due to the lock-downs, we proved to ourselves in 2020 with the growth in membership and the busy tee time sheets that as an industry we have a great product that is that fits the lifestyles of so many. It is now essential that we all pick-up on that message and the surge in business that came to our industry and ensure all these new players to the game stay and continue playing.
“Let us hope golf courses, driving ranges, golf retail and PGA Professionals all enjoy a real boom in business and get back to golf’s new normal and make up for lost time and income.”
