After a long wait, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio reportedly approved Davao City’s golf courses to resume operations provided they will strictly follow safety protocols.
The city’s golf courses namely, Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club, South Pacific Golf and the Apo Golf and Country Club are optimistic to open their doors this May 28, 2020 Thursday.
Davao City was put under General Community Quarantine last May 16 however, Mayor Duterte-Carpio opted the golf courses not to operate with the fear of a possible virus spread on the sharing of carts, golf equipment and players interaction within games.
Eaglemaster Golf Club President Leo Abellera Magno, who spearheads one of the country’s biggest golf tournament yearly, reportedly had a chat with Mayor Durterte-Carpio and discussed the three golf courses –Rancho Palos Verdes, South Pacific Golf and Apo Golf and Country Club safety protocols which will be used during the GCQ period.
According to Tommy Inigio, General Manager of the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club, among discussed were the temporarily doing away with caddies in which they will be assigned per flight acting as spotters or markers and as well tasked to repair divots and rake bunkers. Also discussed were the use of face masks, social distancing, avoid large gatherings on the first tee, driving range or after the rounds; ball marking, avoid handshakes and high fives, no use of lockers , one player per cart, bring your own towel/water container and the golf schedule for golfers playing per day.
Senior golfers are also allowed to play provided that they do not pose any health risk. Senior golfers are to fill-up a waiver specifying their health condition and that they know the risks. Senior golfers must proceed directly to the golf area if they intend to play.
‘We are happy that Mayor Inday has approved the opening of the golf courses and we surely would strictly implement our protocols to our members,’ Inigo said.
Golf clubs in the country which are in GCQ opened for their members as soon as they secured approval from their Local Government Units (LGU). This was also of the approval of the IATF guidelines recognizing golf as a non-contact sport along with swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian and skateboarding.
