Essential Maintenance Statement for Golf Courses During COVID-19 Outbreak – Version 4 Update

Posted on 28/05/2020

Introduction to Update

The following update (Version 4) to the Essential Maintenance Statement for Golf Courses has been produced in association with BIGGA and is published in view of alteration to Government regulations in Scotland and Northern Ireland following those made in England and Wales. 

Safe Routine Maintenance Practices for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Alterations to Government regulations mean golf clubs have either re-opened or are re-opening. Consequently, routine maintenance practices can be restored providing safe working practices are in place that are in line with Government safe working guidelines, and all golf facilities implement stringent measures to ensure staff members are not at risk. The number of greenkeeping staff and the amount of time they spend at work should be tailored to fit with safe working practices.  These include but are not limited to:

• Focus on hygiene and social distancing
• Ensure staff members work separately
• Allocate individual machinery to one worker only
• If multiple staff are on site, then stagger working hours and break times
• Limit or prohibit use of communal areas
• Regularly disinfect any surface that is contacted e.g. door handles, fuel pumps, communal machinery
• Ensure there is a robust lone working policy
• Ensure that golfers and greenkeepers are kept separate from each other and observe social distancing

Updates

Updates will be provided as necessary in accordance with any changes to Government regulations. 

Ends.

Version 4. 28 May 2020