Uncertainty continues after Thursday’s announcement that professional non-contact sport will be allowed to proceed under alert level 3, writes ANDRE HUISAMEN.
On Saturday morning, the director-general of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Vusumuzi Mkhize, said at a media conference that more clarity will be provided on the state of golf in South Africa as it ‘is one of the core sports that is allowed to take place in level 3 as a non-contact sport’.
Mkhize, however, didn’t shed any light on what that entails for the social operation of golf courses around the country.
‘At this stage we are talking about professional, we will provide further directions on this matter in clarifying golf,’ he said.
As reported on Friday, GolfRSA released a statement after meeting with Mkhize to seek insights into how level 3 will practically affect the game of golf.
‘Please be assured that we are still in ongoing discussions with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture on your behalf. The department is in turn actively engaging with the National Command Council in order to seek more clarity on golf and other non-contact sports ahead of the Minister’s briefing on Saturday, 29 May.
‘GolfRSA, the Sunshine Tour, the PGA of South Africa and the Club Management Association of Southern Africa are firmly united in their belief that golf courses and facilities should open for all golfers. Best Practice in other parts of the world has seen golf return for recreation and exercise in accordance with Covid-19 protocols. These bodies all support the belief that golf for all should return before any professional golf tournaments resume.
‘It was reiterated in the conference call with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture today that the survival of the golf industry is dependent on a bottom-up approach. Revenue generated by amateur participation is what funds the facilities that, in turn, employ thousands of people. The professional game is entirely dependent on this eco-system for its existence,’ read the statement.
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Mkhize on Saturday also said that contact sports such as rugby will be allowed to resume on alert level 1 but only for professional players and not for recreational purposes.
