Caithness clubs see a 'fantastic turnout' as golf swings back into action
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Hundreds of local golfers took advantage of brilliant weather to enjoy the opening of the four courses in the county after the easing of lockdown to allow non-contact outdoor sports, providing social distancing rules are followed.
At Thurso Golf Club around 80 players teed off at intervals throughout Friday. starting at 7am and not finishing until after 9pm.
Club captain Alan Coghill said: "We had a particularly fantastic turnout – people were champing at the bit to get out.
"Our booking system has worked very well and the course was busy all weekend as well as Monday. All booking slots have been taken up."
He explained that it had been so successful that the greenkeepers requested that the start time be put forward by half an hour so they could get more time in the morning to prepare the course.
Mr Coghill added: "We have had a number of members who have written to compliment us on the condition of the course."
Normally the course at Thurso would be ceremonially opened at the start of the season by the club captain and vice-captain with around 50 to 60 players looking on, followed by a competition.
However, this year with social distancing restrictions that could not happen. Instead a photo was posted on Facebook of Mr Coghill and his vice-captain James Taylor as they teed off mid-morning on Friday.
The story was similar at Reay Golf Club where 60 players were happy to get back in the swing of things on the opening day.
"Everything went really well," club captain Andy Bain said. "The 10-minute slot for social distancing is working a wee bit smoother than normal golf."
The first to tee off on Friday at 6.30am were father-and-son duo Alex and Ian Mackay, who were making a return to golf after a break of a few years. They had previously played at Reay but took up bowls instead. However, that pursuit is closed to them at the moment.
"They were as keen as mustard," Mr Bain said. "They are looking to get their three rounds in to get a handicap and play in competition."
Players were quick to praise the greenkeeper Jimmy Macadie for his maintenance work during the lockdown.
Members at Reay were also delighted with the new golf ball lifting devices attached to the flags which were donated by local company Hunter's Promotions.
Mr Bain said: "The devices were actually perfect – they worked really well."
He added that the membership at Reay had shot back up with more money coming in from subscriptions this year than in 2019.
"It is a really positive thing for us," the captain said. "It was a wee bit of a worry with the uncertainty of when the course would reopen. Now the course is open everybody is all smiles."
The club is now looking in to getting competitions up and running as soon as possible.
Players were also anxious to get back in action at Wick Golf Club on Friday, with the first to tee off being Stewart Ross and Sandy Sutherland who are also well known for their football exploits.
Cat McLeod, the club captain at Wick, said: "All the members were delighted to have the chance to be back out on the course and the weather was wonderful as well. It couldn't have been a better day."
Michael Macallan said it felt "better than Christmas Day" to be back.
"I'm just waiting for someone to come [to play with] but I've been down on the practice area for a quick hit already," he said in the Friday midday sunshine.
"We've got our tee-off times and we've got to stick to them. [Before lockdown] we played competitions every Sunday and in all weathers."
Lybster Golf Club also had a great first day with around 20 players venturing out on the nine-hole course. Getting things off to a start at 9.30am were James Baillie and James Macleod.
Treasurer Jeanette Calder, who is taking the bookings and putting a list up at the clubhouse each morning, said: "They were that delighted to get back out and we had one or two new members. The course is looking lovely and the weather has been great."
By Monday of this week the course at Lybster was already booked up for the weekend.
If anyone is looking for a partner at the time of requesting a slot the treasurer will usually try to pair them up with somebody.
