The European Club in Co Wicklow has thrown out the welcome mat to visiting golfers after Minister of State Jack Chambers contradicted Golf Ireland’s Return to Golf Protocol on the Dail record last week.

According to Golf Ireland’s Return to Golf Protocol, “Golf Clubs can reopen from Monday 26th April for members only” but Minister Chambers said on the record on April 21 that ‘the public health regulations do not draw a distinction between members and non-members in the case of golf.”

Golf Ireland issued grants to help many clubs through the COVID-19 pandemic but it appears to be in the contradictory stance of allowing the purchase of new memberships but prohibiting clubs from earning an income from greens fees, which is something far beyond its remit.

Pat Ruddy, owner of The European Club, said in a statement: “Golf Ireland has issued statements to the effect that golf is open to members only. They have been encouraging people to buy club memberships and so gain playing rights. But the same people, they say, cannot play on a guest fee!

“The clearance for visitor golf is contained in the Parliamentary Questions record of April 21, 2021 when Jack Chambers, Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media stated concerning the reopening of golf on April 26 that:

".....golf, is to be allowed subject to adherence to the generally applicable measures concerning social distancing, mixing between a maximum of two households and the travel limits within counties or within 20kms of one's home if crossing county boundaries.

“The public health regulations do not draw a distinction between members and non-members in the case of golf, which is a matter for the NGB concerned, Golf Ireland, and its affiliated clubs to manage the available capacity in each club in accordance with the above-mentioned measures."

Golf Ireland has promised to issue a reply to a request for clarification on this apparent contradiction today.

The European Club added: “As a club with a small membership mostly based outside County Wicklow we have just about twenty golfers daily and this makes The European Club one of the safest places to be.

“We are offering dramatic discounts on guest fees for the months of May and June subject to prevailing health restrictions and behaviours.

“Our standard Summer Guest Fee remains at €230 and applies to international visitors. While the County Wicklow golfers only situation pertains we are offering a rate of just €90 to visitors.

“In May and June only and once inter-county travel resumes, the guest fees will go to the Winter Rate of €120. If still confined to Wicklow golfers, the special local rate will apply to the end of June. Tee times must be prebooked on info@theeuropeanclub.com or at 0404-47415 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Minister Chambers’ reply emerged in a written response to a question from Deputy Catherine Murphy, who asked if Minister Catherine Martin planned “to revisit the way in which outdoor golf may resume in the context of allowing clubs to permit non-member fee-paying visitors to use their courses that live within the county and or within 20km from their home as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that this arrangement will provide immediate potential to raise revenue and mitigate further losses due to not being in a position to facilitate social and society golf; and the reason for restricting the number of persons that can play together per tee time.”

But Minister of State Chambers said that while golf is allowed “subject to adherence to the generally applicable measures — social distancing, a maximum of two households and the county or 20km travel limit — there was no distinction between members and non-members.

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS April 21, 2021 Question (654)

Catherine Murphy Question: 654. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to revisit the way in which outdoor golf may resume in the context of allowing clubs to permit non-member fee-paying visitors to use their courses that live within the county and or within 20km from their home as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that this arrangement will provide immediate potential to raise revenue and mitigate further losses due to not being in a position to facilitate social and society golf; and the reason for restricting the number of persons that can play together per tee time. [20050/21]

Written answers (Question to Tourism)

Jack Chambers, Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

In the context of the Government’s COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021 – The Path Ahead, it has been agreed that the public health restrictions will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. Any easing of measures should be slow and gradual with sufficient time between phases to assess impact and to respond if the epidemiological situation was to deteriorate. It will take account of emerging international and national evidence and experience and with a specific focus on supporting mental health and wellbeing.

As part of that gradual easing of measures, from the 26th of April participation in a range of outdoor sporting activities, such as golf, is to be allowed subject to adherence to the generally applicable measures concerning social distancing, mixing between a maximum of two households and the travel limits within counties or within 20kms of one's home if crossing county boundaries.

The public health regulations do not draw a distinction between members and non-members in the case of golf, which is a matter for the NGB concerned, Golf Ireland, and its affiliated clubs to manage the available capacity in each club in accordance with the above-mentioned measures.

I would refer the Deputy to Golf Ireland's website, which contains the detailed protocol developed for the gradual resumption of golf from the 26th of April.