Scottish golf courses like Colville Park GC given green light to reopen on Friday

After over two months of inactivity, venues like Colville Park Golf Club in Motherwell will be open to members again, although social distancing and other measures will be in place to protect players against the pandemic.

Colville Park GC match secretary David MacFarlane (59) told the Times and Speaker: “The pro (Sam Cairns) tells me the course is in very good condition.

“The head greenkeeper has been doing essential maintenance over the last 10 weeks. Other greenkeeping staff could maybe be back this week.”

From 6pm today (Thursday), members can access Colville’s online booking system daily to reserve tee times for the next day, with the option also available to book by phoning the professional shop.

Players must book in advance, reserving their slots a minimum of one hour before their desired tee time.

Times can be booked in 10-minute slots between 8am and 7pm.

Initially, play will only be permitted to healthy members living a maximum of five miles from the course, with no more than two people in a group and bounce games only being played.

Players must arrive for play a maximum of five minutes before their tee time.

A closed clubhouse, no bar or toilet facilities, no handshaking, 2m distancing and no bunker rakes will also greet players in golf’s initial return in the Covid-19 era.

David added: “It’s not ideal, but it’s people back playing golf. And I think there’s a lot of people going to be delighted to be back.”

With a further Government lockdown easing review due in three weeks, David said Colville Park would have no hesitation in swiftly easing measures further – including increasing the number of golfers who can play together and letting people play who live further than five miles away.