Golf is back . . .

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

DISTRICT golf clubs are swinging into action for tomorrow's change to Alert Level 2 which allows players to tee off and enjoy a round in “non-bubble” groups.

Poverty Bay Golf Club is leading the charge under general guidelines set out by NZ Golf.

The major change is the easing of “bubble” restrictions.

From tomorrow, players will be able to play in groups of four. They must, however, book online or by ringing the pro shop at Poverty Bay.

It will be a one-tee start only, in intervals of 10 minutes from 7am to 4pm.

The pro shop will reopen for business.

The club is already looking to get back into competition play as soon as it is able to under the guidelines.

On its Awapuni Links Facebook page and gisbornegolf.co.nz website, Poverty Bay is promoting the resumption of one club competition and looking for entries for two of its major club events — the men's club championships (May 23-24 qualifying) and Barns-Graham Cup men's pairs (June 13 qualifying) — and its flagship men's championship, the Emerre and Hathaway Poverty Bay Openon September 24 and 25.

Social distancing (two metres) and hygiene regulations continue to be encouraged during Level 2, along with restrictions of numbers in indoor facilities (a maximum of 100) and the three S's when in a clubhouse — separation (groups limited to 10 people), seated and single servers.

Electrinet Park Golf Club, which reopened for play last week under Level 3 guidelines, was to have a meeting today about Level 2.

Several country courses, including Patutahi, have been open in Level 3 and will also be discussing Level 2 play.

The issue for all courses bar Poverty Bay is the lack of an online booking facility or full-time presence at the club.

Park president Tony Leggett said one lesson they had learned from the Covid-19 alert level situation was the need to improve communication.

Other NZ Golf operations guidelines for golf clubs in Level 2 include washing and drying hands before and after play; avoiding physical scorecards if possible; removing pins from practice putting greens; having flagsticks on the course but not touching them; a local rule if clubs decide not to have rakes in bunkers; and closure of drinking fountains, ball washers and shared sunscreen stations.