Sports return to The Country Club Johannesburg

Tennis, squash, bowls and croquet are back at The Country Club Johannesburg’s Auckland Park venue.

Only the gym and swimming pool are still closed while the running and cycling clubs have virtual activities and cricket lessons will resume soon. The restaurant, which was initially only offered takeaways and deliveries during the early months of lockdown, now has sit-downs as well.”People have been happy to return to the country club and we have more members now than at the same time last year,” said Auckland Park club manager, Jeff McKie.”We have had a few hundred people come throughout the day for the Sunday lunch and they spread out on the lawns with their picnic baskets. Social distancing is easy to maintain and you will see people wearing face masks when not eating or playing sports.”

The club has instituted a range of safety protocols that include registering and taking temperatures at the door, sanitising stations placed at various locations around the venue, and the wiping down of sports equipment and tables and chairs at the restaurant between uses.

Sports manager at the club, Claudia Richard said the Auckland Park venue had a 1.5km walking route and a 2.5km mountain bike trail.”These are short but nice for families and youngsters,” she said.”We used to do club-to-club rides and cycles between Auckland Park and Woodmead and we look forward to hosting those again.”She said the sport had grown since she started working at the club five years ago and more families had joined as members.

Basketball and netball hoops are on the tennis courts and there have been social games played. The club did not escape the harsh financial climate during the first few months of lockdown, when it had to close its doors. Some staff were put on temporary leave but it is expected all staff should return to duty soon.

Details: The Country Club Johannesburg Auckland Park 011 710 6400.