• GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn revealed that they are weeks away from losing 50 percent of courses nationwide.
• Hepburn stated that over 85 percent of the employed staff in the golf industry are from the vulnerable sector.
• Hepburn is currently working with the government to ease restrictions on recreational golf.

GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn remains concerned over the impact the coronavirus pandemic will have on the golf industry in the country. 

As of 16 March, the Sunshine Tour suspended all action as South Africa went into an initial nationwide 21-day lockdown.

At present, South Africa is at Alert Level 3, which saw the easing of certain restrictions in order to regulate the spread of Covid-19.

Under Level 3, professional non-contact sport is permitted, but with no recreational or amateur sport allowed.

GolfRSA has been in constant communication with the government and is fighting for the reopening of golf courses as soon as possible.

"The longer it (lockdown) takes the more courses we will lose... we're talking in days or weeks," Hepburn said in a video interview.

"It's the (amateur) golfers that bring in the money for the industry to survive, it's them paying to play that allows the clubs to have an income and it's that income that sustains jobs."

Last week, Hepburn said the country was weeks away from losing 50 percent of its courses.

Hepburn stressed the importance of opening up all golf courses immediately.

"That figure of 50 percent will grow, because right now these clubs are closing and they're not closing for a few weeks," he said.

"We're talking about clubs that will be closed and lost forever. The jobs that go with that will be lost as well... there's close to 40 000 people and 85 percent employed in the golf industry are from the vulnerable sector."

No plans have been communicated as yet by the Sunshine Tour regarding action during the winter season.

The European Tour released their rescheduled season last year with the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City now expected to take place from 3-6 December 2020.

Hepburn believes that the ongoing lockdown could financially impact the multiple Sunshine Tour golf courses around the country. 

"Where are we going to have golf tournaments if the facilities do not survive?" questioned Hepburn.

"If we can get the go-ahead then we can rescue these golf courses and the industry then a few months down the road, we'll start looking at golf tournaments."

- Compiled by Lynn Butler