Staff at City of Derry golf club have been out over the last few weeks getting the course ready for reopening
Last week, the five step plan to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic lockdown had indicated non-contact sports such as golf and tennis would be among the first sports to return as part of phase one.
Over the weekend, the Golfing Union of Ireland released its protocol for a return to action in the North of Ireland, with First Minister Arlene Foster urging all players to stick to those guidelines.
Included were stipulations that no club competitions take place and only members are allowed onto the course. There is no travel restriction in place.
Golfers should play in groups of no more than three players, although individual clubs can further limit those numbers.
And they can play with people from outside their own households providing social distancing is observed.
Players should, however, not travel to courses in the same vehicles as people from outside their own households, not arrive at clubs more than 15 minutes before their tee-time and leave the club immediately after their round is finished.
On course measures should be put in place such as the removal of rakes from bunkers and altered cups so that flagsticks do not need to be touched.
Signage should also be erected to remind players to observe social distancing practices at all times.
The GUI has also strongly recommended that juniors should only be permitted to play if accompanied by an adult.
In step two of the Executive plan, fourballs will be permitted, featuring members as well as their guests, while closed club competitions can also resume.
Team sports can return to training in small groups as part of step two, with larger training permitted in step three and competitive team sports returning in step four, albeit with limited supporters.
‘Close physical contact sports’ can only return in step five which may not be until July or August, depending on the rate of spread of Coronavirus in the coming weeks.
