Coronavirus has golf clubs in fight to stay alive

Far North Queensland’s golf clubs are at risk of permanent closure if they are forced to lock the gates, according to FNQ Golf Association president Stewy Woth.

• FNQ sporting groups work together for way through COVID-19 crisis
• Williams puts league on hold; health, wellbeing comes first
• 40+ of the best sports movies and how to watch them

Far North Queensland’s golf clubs are at risk of permanent closure if they are forced to lock the gates, according to FNQ Golf Association president Stewy Woth.

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT FOR FNQ AFTER PCYC VIRUS CONNECTION

The majority of golf clubs in Far North Queensland will keep the doors open despite the advice released by Golf Australia on Monday, which advised clubs to close.

Some of the region’s biggest golf clubs, including Cairns, has shut the doors for at least the near future, but smaller clubs will keep playing.

“Some of those smaller clubs won’t open again if they’re forced to close,” Woth said.

“GA came out with advice, and many acted on that. But Queensland is exempt.

“We’ve been caught between advice from GA and the directives from the (Queensland Chief Health Officer).”

It’s the latest update in an ongoing on-again, off-again, saga for golfers across the state.

Golf clubs threw up the “closed” sign lsat Monday after licensed venues were forced to close.

With liquor licences extending across entire golf courses, the advice at the time was to close up shop.

The next day, the bigger clubs were rsigned to keeping the doors shut as smaller clubs played on.

LACK OF CLARITY HURTS QUEENSLAND’S GOLF CLUBS

Last Tuesday, the advice was play could continue at the regoin’s golf courses provided strict health guidelines and social distancing rules were observed.

By the Wednesday, clubs were given the green light by the Queensland Government.

Clubs got through the end of the week and weekend competitions before GA released advice to close, with some of the region’s biggest clubs pulling the pin.

In Tuesday’s update from Queensland’s CHO Dr Jeannette Young, golf clubs can operate for outdoor sporting-based activities provided hygiene measures and social distancing are observed.

Originally published as Coronavirus has golf clubs in fight to stay alive