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GOLF FOCUS

made it easier to get the golfers back to a
safe environment.
Golf RSA was a huge help to clubs
in sending through information and
guidelines on risk mitigation strategies
and re-opening rules and procedures.
These were based on the presentation
they had made to government, proposing
golf’s return. They also bought the rights
to a mobile application called HealthDocs,
which they made available to all golf clubs
at no cost. The app allows clubs to monitor
Covid symptoms for members and staff,
and provides the ability to track and trace
people who may have been at the club on
any specific day. I believe golf clubs have
taken Covid-19 very seriously and have
abided by the rules and regulations set out
staff and others took advantage of bank R1.6 million. These initiatives are ongoing. by government and Golf RSA.
or government offerings to assist them. We will continue to provide relief to the
Unfortunately, some were forced to either vulnerable workers until everyone can Golf RSA’s proposal to government
lay off staff, cut salaries or reduce working return to work. included reducing the number of golfers
hours to ensure their survival. playing at any one time, spacing them
Q: WAS MAINTENANCE ALLOWED TO out with bigger time intervals and rules
Golf RSA put together a relief fund to help TAKE PLACE DURING THE LOCKDOWN? regarding safe distancing. Golf RSA
support the most vulnerable staff at clubs, IF SO, WHAT FACTORS WERE TAKEN INTO was without question a leader in the
namely caddies and casual staff. This has CONSIDERATION TO PAVE THE WAY FOR sports industry in terms of having its
continued and they now have an auction RE-OPENING: documentation ready for clubs when the
site which raises money for this fund. CC: Maintenance was limited to essential re-opening was permitted. They had a
Many clubs also received donations from services only. Watering and cutting of thorough plan which was submitted to
members during lockdown in support of the greens was our priority, followed by government and that formed the basis
their own caddies. mowing of tees, fairways and any short of the guidelines to clubs for re-opening.
cuts. This was only done when absolutely We are grateful to them for the immense
DC: Members were critical to each club’s necessary and no projects or any other amount of work done by Golf RSA behind
survival. Our local representative golf services were allowed. We were able to closed doors.
union provided a rebate on some of the keep most of the courses in a reasonable
annual fees that members pay through condition with limited staff because we DC: Essential maintenance was allowed to
the club. We were fortunate that at Eagle did not have golfers to contend with and be done during lockdown, such as greens
Canyon, the Homeowners Association also the weather was a huge help. and other mowing, as well as irrigation.
supported the club during lockdown. Only limited maintenance staff were
IL: Special permission was granted for allowed to work under highly regulated
GH: The South African golf industry golf course maintenance to continue health and safety restrictions.
immediately came together to provide for throughout the lockdown period. We cut
the most vulnerable workers hit hardest back on the maintenance schedule and GH: In April, Golf RSA submitted a
by the lockdown. Many clubs around the retained only four staff to do essential comprehensive Risk Mitigation Strategy
country initiated food parcels or financial work. They were required to stay on site to the Department of Sports, Art and
assistance for their staff, caddies and throughout the period and to leave site Culture. This made provision for the
casual workers. The Sunshine Tour and only for food purchasing and medical return of golf at every alert level and was
Ladies Sunshine Tour launched a monthly reasons. supplemented with various documents
payment scheme for those players and outlining the health and safety protocols
caddies left with no source of income. DH: Fortunately, maintenance was allowed which would be observed to ensure a safe
from the start of lockdown, although it return to golf. In order to re-open, each
Golf RSA founded the Golf RSA Help Fund was very restricted. Classed as an essential club had to appoint a compliance officer
to assist caddies and casual workers not service, only the very basics could be who was given compliance training via
receiving financial aid or food parcels. done such as watering and mowing of video conference to ensure the safety of
The fund was initially established with R1 greens, tees and fairways. Clubs were members, visitors and staff.
million from salary cuts from the staff and also limited to having between 1-5 staff
service providers, as well as operational members to perform these tasks. This The permission to re-open hinged on
savings from our cancelled national basic maintenance meant that we were the approval of the National Institute
tournaments. The fund was further able to keep our courses in a reasonable of Communicable Diseases (NICD), who
boosted by donations to the amount of condition for members. commented that the measures put in
R1.5 from the Golf RSA National Squad place by Golf RSA “meets and in some
Fund, the South African Golf Development When we were initially able to re-open, instances exceeds the required protocol.”
Board and an anonymous international the clubhouses remained closed except They further thanked us for “taking the
benefactor. Golf RSA continues to for access to the toilets and halfway house time to prepare and present such an
supplement the fund with auctions and stations where pre-packaged food was excellent application”.
raffles, which to date have raised just over allowed to be sold. These restrictions

Landscape SA • Issue 95 2020 13