COVID 19 – HLSGC LATEST 11/05/20
Members update 11/05/2020
England Golf, following the Prime Minister’s statement on the 10th May, have confirmed that golf will be able to resume in England on Wednesday 13th May 2020 with the following limitation that it must be played alone or within a household group.
The Committee have been preparing and planning for this restart making the facility and golf course ready for play for its members. These preparations are well advanced.
The next steps, now we understand the strict limitation on numbers imposed upon us, is to review and adjust our BRS on-line booking system so it is compatible with these playing restrictions. You will all appreciate the limitations on numbers are not what we hoped for and ask for your patience at this time while we consider all options to try and build in fairness to the booking system.
We will of course be totally reliant on our volunteers to enable our plans with the priority on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved. Volunteer schedules will be drawn up using our pool of existing volunteers in the first instance and gradually expanded using our new volunteers going forward.
The Covid 19 sub-committee will be meeting by video conference at 12 noon today to discuss all the above and to determine the earliest, and safest time the course can re-open.
We will update you later today.
The Committee
HLSGC
Members Update 10/05/20
Following the latest statement from Boris Johnson this evening the Committee wish to clarify the club’s current position.
In their statement tonight, England Golf have said ‘England golf acknowledge the Prime Minister’s statement this evening and his updated guidelines on outdoor recreation. We will continue to work alongside the R & A, home nations, PGA and industry partners to liaise with government and assess how lockdown adjustments impact on golf.’
The Committee now await official advice and guidance from England Golf and the Durham County Golf Union. Until we receive this official guidance Houghton Golf Club will remain closed.
The Covid 19 sub-committee will continue in the interim to plan and prepare for our eventual re-opening.
The committee will continue to update you throughout this period and publish our Play Safe-Stay Safe plans for your information and in a timely manner prior to any agreed playing return date.
Finally, thank you once again to all our members for your patience and messages of support received during this difficult period. The committee look forward to seeing you all enjoy the sport you love at Houghton Golf Club again and soon.
The Committee
HLSGC
Members Update 30/04/20
Following the latest information released by England Golf (https://www.englandgolf.org/playsafe/) the Committee wish to inform members of the next steps it intends to take in preparing and planning to have Houghton Golf Club ‘golf ready’ once a return date for playing has been confirmed.
From previous updates members will be aware that plans were put in place to ensure essential maintenance of the golf course continued so it would be playable and in a good condition for when we do begin playing again. The Committee believe we have succeeded in this and thanks must go to Wayne Ingledew and all the green staff in making that happen.
Next steps now must involve preparing our facility to receive members and visitors once more and agreeing the playing golf parameters. The committee will be using the tools provided by England Golf while also reviewing what worked well in our own experiences during the competitions we held at Houghton Golf Club on the 21nd and 22rd March to follow social distancing guidelines.
The Covid 19 sub-committee set up by the club at the beginning of this public health crisis will now meet in the very near future to start planning and preparing for our long-awaited return. Any meetings arranged will of course follow government guidelines on social distancing.
The committee will continue to update you throughout this period and publish our Play Safe-Stay Safe plans for your information and in a timely manner prior to any agreed playing return date.
Finally, thank you to all our members for your patience and messages of support received during this difficult period. The committee look forward to seeing you all enjoy the sport you love at Houghton Golf Club again and soon.
The Committee
HLSGC
15/04/2020
As we enter our 4th week of lock down restrictions the Committee feel it is important to update you with information on what actions the club have taken during this period to both support the club’s financial position and preparing for the eventual lifting of these restrictions.
Firstly, as our daily operations have been severely affected because of the club closure, and with the agreement of the staff affected, the committee took the decision to place most of its employees on ‘furlough’ . ( see link for further explanation gov.uk – job retention scheme .)
This was done in two stages. Stage 1 included all its bar staff and cleaners as initially the bar and restaurant had to be closed. Stage 2, more recently, included two members of the green staff.
However, to ensure the course is protected and remains playable at the point we can reopen two green staff employees, including our head green keeper, continue to work, all while complying with government and England Golf guidelines on social distancing and essential maintenance. Our Greens Chairman will update members soon on the work that has been completed since the course has been closed and will be taking place in the coming weeks.
Secondly, the club has successfully applied to the Small Business Grant Fund/Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund. As you will appreciate the club’s daily income streams have ceased and this grant will be vital in supporting the club with its financial commitments during this lock down period.
The committee will continue to update members as the current situation changes and develops and in readiness for the day the club can operate normally again.
Finally, the committee hope that all our members and their families remain safe and look forward to the day we can all meet again.
Sincere best wishes,
HLSGC Committee
0900 25/03/20 – Durham County Golf Union.
As of 20th March, all DCGU activity is suspended until 25th April at the earliest.
See the DCGU website for updates.
1100 24/03/20
England Golf – Club Guidance re Course Maintenance during closures
Officers and the Green’s Chairman will now be formulating plans with our Green’s staff to begin a programme of essential maintenance as soon as possible.
HLSGC Committee
23/03/20 – 2055
Following tonight’s Government announcements we feel the time has come to recognise our social responsibility and as such we are closing the course with immediate effect until further notice.
We hope we can all return to the sport we love as soon as is possible.
Please could all members follow the Government advice and take seriously their responsibility to protect the lives of others.
HLSGC Committee.