Please disinfect your balls after playing a round: British tourists face strict new rules when they return to the golf courses in Spain
- Professional golfing bodies have drawn up regulations for post-coronavirus era
- Golf courses are now reopening as the country relaxes its lockdown rules
- No date has been given for the return of foreign travellers, but hoped to be July
- New rules will see players disinfect balls, buggies and trolleys while playing
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Brits visiting Spain to play golf will face a whole new set of rules when they are eventually allowed to travel abroad and tee-off again.
Golf courses in holiday hotspots, including the Costa del Sol, are now reopening as the coronavirus rules are relaxed and although no date has yet been given for the return of foreign travellers, it is hoped to be July.
Professional golfing bodies have got together to draw up regulations for the post-coronavirus era which will see players having to disinfect their own balls, buggies and trolleys continuously cleaned, no raking of bunkers and flags remaining in the holes at all times.
Golfers will also be told not to touch anything on the course, including benches, to always wear masks and gloves and to go straight on to the greens via the clubhouse but not the bar which will still be closed.
Golf courses in holiday hotspots, including the Costa del Sol, are now reopening as the coronavirus rules are relaxed and although no date has yet been given for the return of foreign travellers, it is hoped to be July (file image)
They will also be told to abide by social distancing at all times, teeing off times will be extensively staggered, to pay their fees on-line and never in cash and definitely no pen-sharing.
There will also be no hand shaking or hugs, locker rooms will remain closed as will the social section of the clubhouse.
Players will have to carry their own spray, a brush to remove any remaining dirt and a cloth to dry the ball. They will have to use an accessory to get the ball, which will only go half-way down because of a special bung, out of the hole.
There will also be no hand shaking or hugs, locker rooms will remain closed as will the social section of the clubhouse (file image)
The organisations, together with international experts, have drawn up a detailed document which sets out the rules for clubs and players and also contains a plea to the Spanish government for cash aid and reduced VAT.
The professionals say the go-ahead for the opening of golf courses will ‘favour the Spain brand abroad, taking advantage of the image of golf as a healthy sport, outdoors and free of viruses, which will contribute to a more rapid reactivation of tourism’.
Golf clubs can open under phase one of Spain’s de-escalation plan which most of the country is now in with the exception of about one third of the regions.
Some golf courses which are totally reliant on tourists have not yet opened, saying it is not viable until international golfers return.
Players will have to carry their own spray, a brush to remove any remaining dirt and a cloth to dry the ball (file image)
President of Turismo Costa del Sol, Francisco Salado said: ‘Despite the mandatory closure of golf clubs, during these two months of confinement of the Costa del Sol-Costa del Golf courses, the professionals have been scrupulously caring for the lawn and keeping the facilities in perfect condition been, with fewer staff and with reduced hours, in order to prepare their fields for reopening, which are in perfect condition.’
And he added: ‘The reactivation of the golf courses will be key to the economic recovery of the Costa del Sol, since it is a safe sport, where it is easy to maintain a safety distance of two metres between people, and also develops entirely individually.’
With more than 70 golf courses, the Costa del Sol has been established in recent years as ‘the first European destination for golfers’ and has become known as the Costa del Golf.’
More than 1.4 million tourists choose Spain to play golf every year which contribute to generating an income of 2,500 million euros and more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs.