Golf club in plea to 'respect the course'
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A BUCKIE golf club has urged people to respect the course during the coronavirus lockdown and appealed to members and the public for help in keeping an eye on it.
The appeal was launched by Buckpool Golf Club captain John Adam as part of a wider round-up of how the organisation is faring during the enforced shutdown to combat Covid-19.
“[A] big concern for us is the idiotic behaviour of some of the local population who are using the course as though it is a public park,” he said.
“We found a family of four with the mother sitting in a bunker playing in the sand with her two kids.
“Dog walkers are making use of the area, and while some pick up their dog dirt others are just leaving this lying, or worse, bagging it and chucking the plastic bag aside. We have had two dog walkers grooming their two large dogs on the 18th green.
“And then we have the local kids out on bikes using the greens and fairways as a race track and skidding on the surface. We have had to chase mothers with prams from the greens, as well as others just strolling across with no consideration at all.
“So we need your help! If you are able to take a walk around the course please try to discourage this inconsiderate behaviour. Do not, under any circumstances, get into any altercation with the protagonists. The local police have been informed of the problem and will try to patrol the area, but [we would] remind people that this is a golf course and not a public park.
“Thanks for your help and stay safe. Keep on the right side of the grass, and I look forward to seeing you all again in the clubhouse and out on the course where we belong – playing golf.”
Turning to the club’s financial wellbeing Mr Adam stated that it entered the lockdown in a “relatively healthy financial state” and paid tribute to the prudence of the current and previous management teams. Buckpool are to take advantage of the government's Job Retention Scheme, with eight staff in all furloughed. The club have also applied for a £25,000 grant from the small business scheme which, at the time of writing, was expected to be paid soon.
It is hoped that between these two funding sources it should help keep the club going for the next two or three months.
Mr Adam continued: “Some work at the club is still continuing. The clubhouse is regularly checked over and, of course, this is under 24 hour security camera surveillance, inside and outside.
“We have had instance of fly tipping beside the bin and we have had to padlock this stop others dumping here. We were fortunate to receive sponsorship for 18 new tee markers and work on the design of these has continued. These will smarten up our course once they are installed.
“We are also continuing to make progress with Scottish Golf and their VMS system. This will be the replacement for Handicapmaster. The VMS is provided to us by Scottish Golf free of charge. It will control all our competitions, handicaps, book on line for all golf, not just competitions and allow us to do much more.
“The VMS stands for Venue Management System, and it will allow us to book on line the function hall, lounge area, swing studio, squash and order our bacon roll or lunch or dinner. Have a look at the Scottish Golf app, get yourself registered, and watch this space as Buckpool Golf Club goes live on it.”
Mr Adam went on to add that while the club have been in lockdown there has been no rest for the greenkeeping staff, who have, in accordance with guidance given to the club, been cutting the greens three times a week, the fairways once a week and the rough every second week.
For more information about the club, visit their website at www.buckpoolgolf.com
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