Spanish golf courses have started to open once again, however, a number of strict guidelines will be in place to protect players from any further spread of COVID-19.
The Royal Spanish Golfing Federation (RFEG) has set up the new protocols, which golfers will need to adhere to if they want to play on the country’s courses from July.
The main points of the safety guidelines are:-
- Social distancing must be maintained throughout your round
- Flagsticks must be left in the holes and not touched
- Only the player can pick up their own ball
- Holes will have a backstop to stop the ball reaching the bottom of the cup
- No equipment may be borrowed between golfers including gloves, markers and tees
- No handshakes
- Rakes must not be used in bunkers
- Other objects on the course must not be touched such as drinking fountains and benches
- Players will be asked to wait in the car park and five minutes before tee-off can make their way to the first hole
- Players must leave the course as soon as their round finishes
- Any buggies and trolleys will need to be disinfected before and after each round
- Changing facilities, pro-shops, bars and restaurants will remain closed.
The Costa del Sol’s Tourism Association confirmed in May that 90% of the regions golf courses were ready to open with over 70 resort owners saying that they were ready to open to the public.
The association’s President, Francisco Salado said that courses were ready to welcome golfers back and at the same time guarantee their safety.
He said, “Although golf resorts across the Costa del Sol were forced to close during the pandemic, the owners have been working hard to maintain their golf courses in meticulous condition, albeit with less staff working reduced hours to ensure that their resorts were ready when restrictions were lifted,”.
Salado confirmed that the Costa del Sol’s golf resorts would ensure the safety of their golfers and that they would “follow the new health and safety protocols established by Spain’s Royal Golf Federation”.
A number of courses have already published their own guidelines based on those recommended by the RFEG including these by Mijas Golf and Cabopino Golf.
Two-week quarantine removed from July
From June 1, most of the regions of Spain entered into phase two of the four-stage de-escalation process.
Initially, the Spanish authorities implemented a two-week quarantine for overseas visitors entering the country. However, after some consideration, the Spanish government decided to remove this from July 1 allowing the country’s tourism industry to get back on its feet.
Spain’s tourism minister María Reyes Maroto said that Spain’s tourist activity would be resumed ‘gradually‘. However, she said that Britain’s coronavirus figures would need to ‘improve’ before Spain would permit British holidaymakers to return to the country.
With the UK’s infection rate falling all the time, we are confident that golfers from the UK will be able to return to the Costa del Sol and the other regions of Spain from July.
At Golf 4U, we are looking forward to welcoming you back to Spain’s sunshine coast.
Please see our latest golf offers in the Costa del Sol or use our custom quote form if you have any specific requirements.
Stay safe!
Image Credit: (Santana Golf) Christer Melkerson from Pixabay
