Golfers: You are not alone, but...

Dear golfers,

We get it, you are itching for a cheeky 18 holes, but we are all itching do do things we love but cannot. Before you post another "GOLF SHOULD NEVER HAVE STOPPED" comment, please consider that you turning up for a socially distant round of golf isn't as simple as you walking round the links by yourself.

Travel to and from the course: You'll be driving, right? More traffic on the roads, potential for more accidents, increased risk for emergency services.

Golfing injuries: Risk of Injury in Golf is Higher than in Rugby according to this golf website.

https://golfsupport.com/blog/sports-related-injuries-golf-more-dangerous-than-rugby/

Imagine, you pop your back as you attempt a thunderous tee-shot at the first hole and can't walk. Again, potential for greater risk to emergency services due to avoidable injury.

Support workers who make you round of golf possible: Are they "essential workers"? Should we really expect them to travel top work every day, potentially putting themselves at risk just to keep the golfing community happy?

I get your frustration but please, stop flooding this forum with more golf posts and try and think of something that would benefit everyone.

Why the contribution is important

Golf is not as risk free as golfers think.

by MaighstirTodt on May 08, 2020 at 12:57PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 2.2
Based on: 24 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Macca2011 May 08, 2020 at 13:32

    Golf unlike rugby is a non contact , mildy physical sport at the amateur level. I have played golf for over 20years and have never known anyone to have gone to hospital as a result of playing golf. The advantages far out way the disadvantages.

    As I have posted elsewhere on my walks as I have seen more people out and about than I would ever see on a golf course... these accidents you mention are very infrequent and at the moment you have more chance of causing injury by falling off a kerb trying to avoid people on pavements and paths.

    Stay safe, avoid those with symptoms.

  • Posted by mariekilmarnock May 08, 2020 at 13:33

    Golf is definitely not a necessary activity and it would be very difficult to ensure that social distancing is complied with. I see no reason why golf should be starting up anytime soon.

  • Posted by davidbegbie May 08, 2020 at 13:34

    All I would say is that it is very frustrating that cyclists can roam for exercise (and potentially have an accident), as can walkers (and fall over and sprain an ankle), yet other sports, including golfers where social distancing can be practised as easily as walkers etc, somehow have to be excluded.

  • Posted by Golferronnie May 08, 2020 at 13:35

    Perhaps the reason people are flooding the forum with golf pleas, is that it is a very low risk activity, with tremendous health and mental health benefits, and quite frankly astonishing that it not allowed when you can congregate with hundreds of people at supermarkets, and that walkers and joggers and cyclists are quite free to roam the countryside, equally at risk of injuring themselves.
    The assumption that the roads will be clogged with motorists on their way to golf courses is quite frankly laughable.
    I have popped my back gardening before, but never at golf, which is quite theraputic rotating gently around the axis of my spine.

  • Posted by Dmkeith61 May 08, 2020 at 13:42

    As long as the clubhouses remain closed and that only those who live together can play together then golf clubs should allow golf to be played on their courses.

  • Posted by JohnInGlasgow May 08, 2020 at 13:50

    To answer the poster's questions:

    1. We don't all have to drive to our local golf club.

    2. I've been playing golf for over 40 years and have never had a golf injury, or played with anyone who has injured themself playing golf. I have had a couple of operations after injuring myself running, which isn't banned.

    3. My local club already has greenkeepers working on the course, so they won't suddenly have to start putting themselves at risk. What risk anyway?

    4. This site is to provide ideas, not to find a few things that will benefit everyone in the country. Do you really want to ban golf just because lifting the ban won't benefit you?

  • Posted by JBAKER May 08, 2020 at 13:52

    At least you are still able to keep a distance from other players. Why would roads be clogged with drivers going to a golf course ? I’m pretty sure that bookings for a tee time would make sure that appropriate distancing was talking place allowing a reduced number of golfers on a course.

  • Posted by Adoctor May 08, 2020 at 14:23

    Firstly regarding injuries I played senior rugby for 10yrs and went A&E 14 times I have played golf 44yrs and never needed hospital treatment!!
    Travel restrictions are listed in the proposed guidelines,I can walk to my home golf club but will probably not be eligible to play my other club due to it being 8 miles away.
    We are a sporting activity ruled buy rules so who better to trial relaxing lockdown and to lead the way for others if all is not good we go back to lockdown.
    Check the guidelines the R&A have proposed

  • Posted by Adoctor May 08, 2020 at 14:26

    Firstly regarding injuries I played senior rugby for 10yrs and went A&E 14 times I have played golf 44yrs and never needed hospital treatment!!
    Travel restrictions are listed in the proposed guidelines,I can walk to my home golf club but will probably not be eligible to play my other club due to it being 8 miles away.
    We are a sporting activity ruled buy rules so who better to trial relaxing lockdown and to lead the way for others if all is not good we go back to lockdown.
    Check the guidelines the R&A have proposed

  • Posted by MaighstirTodt May 08, 2020 at 14:53

    Thanks for the sensible feedback!
    I agree with many points, others not so much. To be clear, I don't want golf banned, but you must consider that if golfing is allowed then many others may demand that their favorite pastime, which they consider "low risk", is also allowed.
    Wait another three weeks and things will look a lot rosier (I hope!)

     

  • Posted by Kylesku May 08, 2020 at 21:42

    jeeez why is driving 2 miles to a golf course such a big risk ? I have driven 30000 miles every year for the last 20 years and never had an accident, now if you listen to some people you think we are taking our lives in our hands every time we get behind a wheel.

    I bet the guy who posted this has quite happily driven for years without a care in teh world, but now they are trying to make out it is like Mad Max or Chariot Racing in Ben Hur, people need to get real & stop believing all the propaganda that is being churned out.

  • Posted by MICKYD8881 May 09, 2020 at 08:16

    Since the lockdown there has been a huge increase in DIY accidents in the household along with a massive increase in accidents involving cyclists and walkers, so much so it was raised by the CMO in parliament so to say golfing would increase the load on the nhs is nonsense.

  • Posted by C5tuk May 09, 2020 at 16:17

    GOLF SHOULD NEVER HAVE STOPPED
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