One issue settled another not
The clubs have been closed since the Covid-19 lockdown has been in place.
Royal Oak Country Club seems to have sorted out the problem it had with illegal miners.
Earlier this year the club had incidents of ‘zama-zamas’ digging up the course. The club has now hired security personnel to take care of the problem.
While illegal mining seems to be a thing of the past, the club is still faced with the issue of having to pay bills while there is not much of an income coming in.
Royal Oak, like other golf clubs around the country, has been hoping that the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture lets courses open.
The clubs have been closed since the Covid-19 lockdown has been in place.
GolfRSA has had ongoing talks with the government as they hope for positive feedback from the powers that be.
“It is very tough for the clubs,” says Royal Oak’s Club manager Kenneth Dube.
Dube pointed out that the club is still paying salaries as they are maintaining the course.
“Golf is the one sport which encourages social distancing. Players are 20m to 30m away from each other. You can’t compare golf to other sports,” said Dube.
“The government has opened up churches but there is real social distancing in golf.
“While professional players have been allowed to practice, it is no good for the clubs.
“Nobody is going to open a golf course for one professional player,” said the club manager.
“I don’t think the government thought about this. It’s not the professionals who bring money to the clubs. Our President (Cyril Ramaphosa) has played golf so he knows this.”
The club members and casual golfers are usually the people who provide funds for the courses.
GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn recently said that 50 per cent of golf courses in South Africa would go out of business if golf was not played soon.
Considering that golf clubs employ thousands of people, one can see why the likes of Dube are concerned.
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