Play Safe

Safety whilst on the course

Teeing Areas
Golfers to keep two metres apart at teeing areas due to the normal close proximity of golfers to one another when tee shots are being played
Avoid the accumulation of separate tee time groups on the same tee box

General
Golfers to stay more than two metres apart when walking to the ball, searching for a ball and playing shots
Remind golfers not to touch stray balls
Scorecards will not be available

Bunkers
With no rakes allowed on the course, remind golfers to make their very best efforts to smooth the sand using their club and/or their feet

Greens
Golfers to keep two metres apart on the putting greens.

After the Round
Social distancing is as important after a round as it is during the round, so when the round is over all golfers must leave the course and the resort immediately so that there are no gatherings around the clubhouse area.

Rules of Golf-Related Matters

Forms of Play and Scoring
Only non-competition play is to be used during the initial period of golf being played at The Belfry, stroke play competitions involving players in different groups are avoided.

Bunkers
Preferred lies in bunkers is in use. A player may place a ball in the bunker within one club-length of the original spot and not nearer to the hole than that spot.

Flagstick and Hole
Flagsticks will be in place with foam inserts in the hole. DO NOT TOUCH THE FLAGSTICKS.

Playing golf is a great way to exercise and to have some limited social interaction at a time of restriction. However, to keep golf courses open golfers must exhibit best social practice before arriving at the golf club to play, at the golf club and on the golf course.

For Your Health and Wellbeing

The following guidelines have been issued by the World Health Authority, following these will substantially reduce the likelihood that you will contract the virus becoming a carrier.

• Stay at home and self-isolate even if you only have minor symptoms such as; such as cough; headache; mild fever; if you need to leave the house, wear a face mask and avoid contact with others.
• If you have a cough; fever or breathing difficulties, and feel you cannot cope at home, use the NHS 111 helpline.
• Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub to kill any viruses that may be on your hands.
• Maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from other persons (social distancing) in case they, or you cough or sneeze spreading the virus through droplets.
• Avoid crowding or crowded places where social distancing cannot be maintained.
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose; these are transfer points for the virus from your hands into the body.
• Cover your mouth and nose if you sneeze, disposing of the tissue immediately, then clean your hands as above.

At the golf club and on the golf course

The above guidelines apply at all times when at the golf club and on the golf course, remember if you want to keep playing strict adherence is essential, additionally and until further notice how we play the game and prepare golf courses must change, this means as a player you must;

• If you can, carry with you an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
• Arrive ready to play, do not attend the Clubhouse for any reason, if you have a query, make it online or by phone through the usual channels.
• If you have a tee time, please arrive in the advised time, if you have to wait anywhere, ensure good social distancing at all times.
• Follow any instructions and safety signs that are in place; they are there to ensure the best possible practice.
• On the putting green, remove your balls without contacting the hole cup.
• Do not shake hands or make physical contact before, during or after your round.
• Do not crowd around tees, if as you approach a tee; it is occupied, stay well back maintaining a suitable distance from the tee while keeping a distance of 2 metres from your paying partner.
• On the tee, maintain good social distancing from your playing partners at all times.
• Do not share; pencils; tees; scope finders; umbrellas; phones or any other golf paraphernalia with other players.
• Avoid contact with the hole cup; we will clean the hole cups on a regular basis and foam inserts have been placed in the hole to prevent the ball from going below the surface.
• Do not pick up another players golf club or, contact their golf bag or golf trolley.
• Do not pick up any golf ball other than your own, even if you find what you are certain is a lost ball.
• Accept the bunkers as you find them. Rakes have been removed for your safety; the green staff will rake the bunkers when they can.
  Please take your own litter home.
• Ball washers have be taken out of commission until further notice.
• If you meet walkers or members of the public on a public footpath, stand aside at a safe distance and allow them to pass whilst practicing good social distancing comfortably.
• After your round go straight to your car practicing good social distancing at all times.

Any player observed not following the above code of conduct will be asked to leave the golf course immediately by staff.

Remember to practice good golf etiquette at all times, a reckless shot could place an unnecessary demand on already stretched emergency services.

Note if you are showing any of the symptoms of Covid19 such as cough; headache; mild fever; anosmia (loss of taste and smell) for your safety and for the safety of your friends and their families stay at home, we will see you soon.