Stanedge Golf Club looking to showcase sport after easing in restrictions

Golfers took the tees at the Ashover course on 13th May following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

And, with team and contact sports unlikely to be back up and running any time soon, Fame says golf can capitalise on new interest.

“We have had an awful lot of membership enquiries and some new members have joined, which is a real positive,” she said.

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“We are a golf club catering for everyone, so it is a fine line. I am mindful of giving members priority, but on the flip side we also want to welcome visitor bookings.

“Now is a great chance to showcase all of our facilities and what we offer, and give people a choice in terms of price and the type of course that they want.

“We just have to take our time with it and see what the next two or three weeks brings. Our tee sheets are full and we are getting enquiries for next week and the week after which is really great.

“You question as a golf club manager whether it is the initial excitement from people that they can play golf and whether the novelty will wear off.

“I don’t know, we have just got to be mindful of that and still keep promoting what we have got and doing a good job.”

Twenty minute intervals are in place between tee times Stanedge, with golfers told not to arrive until 15 minutes before their tee time.

They are then met by car park marshalls to go over the new guidelines in place and to check not suffering from COVID-19 symptoms.

And, for Fame, it is a necessary step as the club plots it’s road to normality.

“The health and safety of our staff and visitors is of the utmost importance,” she said.

““It is great to be back up and running, it has been a long seven weeks for everyone.

“It seemed strange working on a golf course with no-one there so it is nice to see some people out there again.

“It’s so unusual, we have got a full tee sheet but you are kind of hardly seeing anyone.

“People are literally getting out of the car when it’s almost time to go, going straight to the tee and off they go.

“Everything has to be pre-booked.It is one step at a time at the moment, the players are just grateful to be playing again.”

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