Last night the Board of directors of Gosford Golf Club met to formalise measures in relation to COVID-19 coronavirus. We have taken all advice given to us very seriously and as a result we are implementing the following measures to secure the well-being and safety of all our members, guests and staff. Our primary concern will be to protect people, ensure our obligations under the WHS Act 2011 and maintain our duty of care to our staff and all persons visiting our premises and golf course.
All persons who have returned from overseas travel from midnight Sunday 15th March 2020, or been in contact with people who have returned from overseas travel are required by the government to self-isolate for a period of 14 days and as a result will not be permitted to enter the Gosford Golf Club course or premises for 14 days from their date of return or contact.
All persons whose place of employment, education or socialisation has been closed due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 are not to enter the Gosford golf club course or premises for a period of 14 days.
All persons who experience or show signs of flu like symptoms are not to enter the Gosford Golf Club premises or play golf either competition, socially or for practice. These symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness and shortness of breath.
Persons who are onsite and showing flu like symptoms will be asked to leave the premises and or the golf course
We encourage all persons who are experiencing flu like symptoms to follow the advice of NSW Health. For more information on COVID-19 visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/coronavirus
We encourage all staff, members, guests and visitors to practice good hygiene at all times.
Gosford Golf Club Staff will be discouraged from engaging in personal contact, such as the shaking of hands with fellow Team Members, Members, Guests and Visitors. Please do not take this in any other way than as a preventative and control measure to help prevent the spread of viruses.
The Gosford Golf Club will continue to monitor the advice of ClubsNSW and implement advice accordingly.
What does this mean for Events, Competitions and Functions?
The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve rapidly. Following advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) on 13 March 2020 it is recommended that non-essential, organised gatherings be limited to fewer than 500 people.
This includes events such as concerts, sporting fixtures with large crowds, exhibitions and religious celebrations.
While all Australians are encouraged to exercise personal responsibility for social distancing, there are no current restrictions recommended on attending other settings, such as shopping centres, using public transport, or visiting your local club.
For non-essential organised gatherings with fewer than 500 attendees, NSW Health recommends that organisers:
- remind attendees and staff not to attend if they are feeling unwell
- remind attendees and staff that they must not attend if they have travelled overseas in the past 14 days
- ensure emergency management practices are up to date
- brief staff on how to practice good hygiene and making it easy for staff and attendees to practice good hygiene
- have adequate hand washing facilities available
NSW Health also offer this advice for attendees,
- stay home and not attend if you are feeling unwell
- stay home and not attend if you have travelled overseas in the past 14 days
Should the advice from AHPPC change, the Gosford Golf Club will update its policy accordingly.
While at the Golf Club or on the course, members, guests and visitors are encouraged to practice good personal hygiene including,
- cleaning your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow.
We encourage attendees of organised functions and events at the Gosford Golf Club to liaise directly with those organisers, rather than Gosford Golf Club.
Bistro
The Gosford Golf Club and our Bistro are taking our responsibilities serious and have introduced a series of temporary measures.
- Removal of self-help cutlery. Cutlery will be delivered with you meals.
- Removal of “help yourself” sauces.
- Removal of the “buzzer system” meal will be brought to your table.
- Loyalty coffee cards cannot be used till further notice.
- Introduction of single use menus.
- Increased sanitation of all work and public spaces.
- Additional staff training.
- Increase use of gloves.
- In the bar area staff will not handle membership cards or debit/credit cards. Members are required to mention their membership number to obtain discounts.
- Friday night raffles will be suspended till further notice.
Poker Machines
Staff are conducting increased sanitation of gaming machines where possible.
Staff, Members, Visitors and Guests are expected to follow basic good hygiene practices.
Golf
The Board of the Gosford Golf Club have implemented the following measures to ensure the safety of all our golfing members, visitors and staff.
Where possible pay for you competition or social rounds by Debit or Credit card and avoid cash as much as possible.
On Course
- All rakes will be removed from the bunkers and the golfers are required to smooth the surface as well as possible with their feet and golf club.
- All pins are to be left in the holes during putting and cannot be touched. When removing the ball, the GGC suggest using you gloved hand
- Golfers are discouraged from marking their fellow players ball.
- All NTP competitions are suspended, as this requires the measuring of distances and the additional monies will be used in ball competitions
- All water bubblers on the course will be turned off and the Pro-shop will have discounted water for sale.
- The sunscreen stations on the 1st and 10th will be removed.
- Dollar betting will be banned till further notice as will the Wednesday five-dollar club.
- Golfers are advised against sharing carts. There will be a cost reduction for single use cart hire.
- Golfers are advised against shaking hands.
- Till further notice there will be no golf presentations.
We realise that many of these procedures will inconvenience members, visitors and staff and we urge that we all help by adhering to these measures.
Further stringent actions may have to be taken in the future and you can rest assured the board will do all in its power to look after the safety of members, visitors and staff.
We are aware that if this pandemic worsens, we may have to shut-down sections of our club. The board are aware of the potential financial implications of its decisions for staff of the club and will endeavour to support all our staff, within the resources it has available.
We are in this together and we are sure that with the right measures and help and understanding of our members we will ride this out. The Club needs ongoing patronage to remain fiscally healthy.
If you have any questions please contact GGC management
We will also closely monitor the situation and advise if further actions will be required.
Board of Directors
Gosford Golf Club
