Golf - no travel limit for club members

If golf courses re-open please resist imposing an arbitrary travel distance/time limit for members of clubs. My arguments for this are as follows:-
1) Many club members do not live in the local area of their club but still pay full subscription rates.
2) As long as they behave correctly and safely when they are at the course, it seems irrelevant to me whether they drove 10 minutes or 30 minutes to actually get there. They will be travelling alone in their own cars.
3) Manygolf clubs have substantial numbers of “country members” who live outside the main postcode designation of the golf club and play the course less frequently than “full” members - but provide valuable revenue for the clubs. Again, consideration should be given to allow travel.
4)

Why the contribution is important

1) It is so important that golf clubs survive this year. A huge amount of jobs and leisure/tourism revenue is generated by golf in Scotland - and we need it to be intact for 2021 when hopefully life will return to something approaching “pre-covid” normality.
2) Therefore it is very important that clubs do not lose members and subsequently revenue.
2) All golf club members recognise that if golf is to re-open it will be with restrictions on social distancing (much like was the case for the few weeks prior to the full lockdown of 23 March). And they will live with that - and just be glad to be out enjoying the game again.
4) Allowing members to travel to their own golf clubs is a key enabler to retain membership numbers and revenue.
5) The physical and mental health benefits would be maximised if and when golf re-opens - by not excluding certain club members who may fall outside some arbitrary travel restriction.

by Sinky1960 on May 05, 2020 at 11:13PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.0
Based on: 16 votes

Comments

  • Posted by kezzy08 May 06, 2020 at 09:30

    No way, golfers can do their bit like the rest of the community. Once you start letting certain elite groups travel you build up resentment in the general public

  • Posted by Brownboy1 May 06, 2020 at 09:57

    Agreed

  • Posted by simonnorris May 07, 2020 at 16:12

    While most people play at a course in their area, they often have to travel some distance to play there. However they are in their own car not causing any danger to others. It would be unhelpful to limit the distance to travel to your own course.

  • Posted by neelie May 07, 2020 at 18:40

    I totally agree with Sinky's original comments. It would be wrong to say that golfers are an elite group, Subscription fees are hefty and I have to travel 35 mins to play a game, its a great outdoor sport that can be played purely on an individual basis, I know that a few of my friends also have to travel to their courses.

    The Scottish Government could always ask golf clubs to submit postcodes for their memberships and if it did turn out that only a minority had to travel that then gives another problem in terms of discrimination and possibly return of subscriptions and golf club really need to survive.

  • Posted by barwellfleet May 08, 2020 at 07:54

    I don't see why this should be a difficult issue. Playing golf presents no risk if precautions are observed and that is easy on a golf course. But driving in a car doesn't present any risk either. Public and shared transport are clearly going to be a real challenge until a vaccine is available but that is a long way off so positive moves to safely release the population from lockdown are needed. Allowing low risk, outside activities is vital for the mental and physical health of our population so the question is how to achieve that whilst trying to minimise the amount of congregation. Allowing driving to quieter areas is certainly one aspect which will help.
Log in or register to add comments and rate ideas

Idea topics