How Golf Courses Are Looking During Lockdown

Since the UK Government introduced nationwide lockdown procedures on Monday 23 March, golf courses across Britain have been closed just when they should have been celebrating the start of the new season in springtime.

Golfers are understandably longing for the day when the game will be reopened - and that magical moment will come - but they may be left wondering just how their local courses are looking during this extended period of no play at a time when venues are typically bustling with excitement.

Now, while shut to the public, the UK Government has deemed that "essential maintenance" may continue at golf clubs, recommendations that have been articulated by The R&A and BIGGA (The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association), meaning that some greenkeepers are working in a limited fashion, ensuring that courses are ticking over and will be ready for when restrictions are lessened.

That guidance is continuing to evolve as this unprecedented situation progresses, but we have reached out to discover what has been going on, and what condition golf courses are in at the moment.

The team at Coventry Golf Club is working hard to maintain their course in accordance with what has been outlined by The R&A, and you can see the appetising results of their efforts in this image gallery.

At Little Lakes Golf Club, basic maintenance is being followed, including cutting greens three times a week, tees once a week, aprons twice per week, and fairways once a week. Watering of putting surfaces may have to be introduced should the dry spring weather continue.

Check out Patshull Park Golf Club in Shropshire.

Gary Barnfield, Head Greenkeeper at Oswestry Golf Club, said: "We have been following BIGGA guidelines and spoken to our STRI contact, so in essence cutting the greens two or three times per week, and fairways, tees and approaches once a week, all at winter height. We are down to a skeleton staff of just two of us, with the rest of the team having been furloughed, so it's a lot of work to keep on top of.”

Take a look at Romford Golf Club in Essex, a historic layout designed by the legendary James Braid.

And what about the acclaimed Olton Golf Club in the Midlands.

Illuminated in the sunshine, we love these snaps of Hollywood Golf Club near Birmingham from Lee Brotherhood.

This is a frustrating time for golfers, but the regulations we are now following should help to ensure that normality returns sooner rather than later, and that will include the reopoening of our beloved courses. Whenever that special time comes, looking at these examples, it's fair to say that it shall be an absolute joy to experience immaculate fairways again.

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