Dear EGC Members,
Yesterday (Thursday) the committee was informed by SSCC that ESTEC Management has decided to allow some outdoor sports clubs to resume their activities. Initially only in a limited capacity for active employees and only during the weekends. Furthermore, the clubs have to ensure that only a limited number of participants are present at any given time,
Yesterday evening the committee had a meeting to decide when and how we could re-open the ESTEC golf club.
The re-opening of the sports facilities requires the clubs to implement a capacity management system, sports-specific recommendations and a full protocol conform the ESA instructions on site-access and health protection. Furthermore, due to the ESTEC lock-down, our green-keeping has been in a reduced mode, so even though the course is playable some additional work is required to have it back in the usual good shape. Consequently, it has been decided that the re-opening of the golf course can take place Saturday June 13 from 11:00.
Please take note of the following instructions given by ESTEC/SSCC and what it means for us:
- Access to ESTEC is only granted to active employees for the moment. (So, no pensioners, family members, guests or external club members until further notice.) This follows the ESA gradual access to site policy, which hopefully will be extended to include all as we go along.
- ESCAPE remains closed. No gathering, no events, no drinks etc.
- ESTEC sports facilities will be open on the weekend from 11:00 – 20:00 only, and potentially extended to workdays 17:30 – 20:00 in the future.
- Reserving a tee time will be mandatory. The club is required to supply a list to security of players that will play and when they play. So, we are setting up a tee-time booking system for this. We expect that next week on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest we will be able to inform you on the process.
- Players must not turn up more than 10 minutes before their planned start time. This is required to avoid the forming of groups around the Check-Inn hut. This also means that after your round you are expected to leave ESTEC as soon as possible.
- At all times maintain the standard social distancing of 1.5 meter while on site.
- Access to ESTEC goes through the standard ad-hoc entry process. At security you will be given 3 masks, instructions, and a separate bag to use to throw away the masks.
- Hand sanitisers will be placed around the Check-Inn hut and Training Centre. Use them.
- The sanitary facilities in the Training Centre will be available. The EKO toilet at hole 4 is not to be used until further notice.
Reflecting the recommendation of the Dutch Golf federation (NGF) (https://www.ngf.nl/coronafaq ) and some additional hygiene measures to take on the course:
- Only use your own equipment
- It is mandatory to leave the flag pole in the hole
- Holes will be made shallow to minimise further contact. We advise to pick up your golf ball when you’re within the “gimme” range.
- Rakes in the bunkers will be removed and ballwashers covered. Bunkers should be considered as a waste area allowing for the grounding of the club.
- The usual shaking of hands after a round is a no-go these days naturally.
- Limited use of the Check-Inn hut is allowed, but should be avoided as far as possible. There should never be more than 1 person inside the check-inn hut at any given time.
- Scorecards can be submitted online in Proware or through the Golf.nl app. Please limit the use of the paper scorecards.
- Do not make use of the garage for storage of your clubs if not absolutely necessary.
The rules above may change in the future as the situation around the coronavirus evolves or upon request from ESTEC management. With the measures in place, and a strong appeal to all participants to follow the instructions, we can hopefully assure a safe and permanent return to golf on the ESTEC grounds.
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions. Further information for the booking of tee times will follow next week.
With best regards
The Estec Golf Club committee
