GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn says that despite the uncertainty regarding the Minister of Sports’ announcement over the weekend, they remain optimistic of getting more than just professional golf running again.
Hepburn was speaking on SAFM on Monday, when he raised the serious concerns within the golf industry if clubs continue to remain closed, which could lead to further large-scale retrenchments across the country.
GolfRSA disappointed by latest regulations
‘There’s definitely uncertainty that’s been created,’ said Hepburn on the announcement that only professional non-contact sport would commence under alert level 3.
‘It is challenging that only professional golf has been allowed back, because in the grand scheme of things there is only probably 140,000 club members and golf clubs need the money to survive.
‘It really is a massive challenge. We are near weeks away of losing possible 50% of our golf courses. They are literally drowning at the moment. There is no way that they are going to survive.’
A GolfRSA statement following the department’s announcement on Saturday stated that 85% of the more than 40,000 employees working at the country’s golf courses are at risk in the vulnerable economic sector.
The governing body has already implemented various health and safety protocols for clubs to follow once they reopen, while a database has also been created – through the use of a health app – to test members and players at these courses.
‘If we don’t get golf back for all, then it won’t survive. The only place where you can play golf is at our facilities. We control access to the facilities, we control the numbers, we can control what time you arrive and what time you leave. We know we can return safely, we know we can monitor it,’ added Hepburn.
Sporting bodies have been given 14 days to make proposals to the Department of Sport on how they want to return, with Hepburn adamant that engagements are still a critical part in this time to further the cause for golf to reopen under normal circumstances.
‘There is room for the Department of Sports to make changes before then [the 14-day deadline]. It is time for everyone to be patient, which we are doing. But, obviously there are thousands of people out there, who want answers and many of the sports want answers.’
