Edinburgh Leisure golf courses may not reopen in city until June 8

Golfers who play at municipal courses in Edinburgh are waiting to find out if they will be back on the fairways at the same time as members of 
private clubs.

Restrictions on playing golf should be lifted at the end of the week, but some courses may not open then

Subject to the green light being given by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday, golf clubs in Scotland will reopen on Friday after being closed en masse due to the coronavirus since March 23.

However, it remains to be seen if the Edinburgh Leisure courses at the Braids, Carrick Knowe, Craigentinny, Portobello and Silverknowes will be back in business at the same time.

They all closed a few days before the private clubs as restrictions started to be introduced before Scotland and the rest of the UK went into lockdown.

There are now rumours circulating that they might not be reopening until June 8 at the earliest.

“We understand that many customers want to get back to using our services as soon as possible, however it will take time to work through what any announcement means for our services – what we can deliver and how,” said a post on Edinburgh Leisure’s website.

“Our number one priority is ensuring we can provide a safe environment for customers and employees.”

Unlike in South Lanarkshire, all the Edinburgh Leisure courses have been maintained by a skeleton staff over the past nine weeks, but, in another post, it has been pointed out that has been to a “basic level”.

Edinburgh Leisure added: “Many of our staff are currently on furlough and we have to ensure that our staff are given sufficient time to come back to work to introduce all the new and necessary operating arrangements and receive the appropriate training before reopening.

“There are a number of changes we have to make to ensure the safety of customers and staff – these changes are informed by guidance from Scottish Golf and the Scottish Government.”

Club captain John Pow is “optimistic” that members of Carrickvale, which is based at Carrick Knowe, will be back out on the course before too long.

“Other than what’s on the website, we’ve not heard a thing about when the courses will be reopening, though I have heard a rumour about June 8 for Carrick Knowe” he said.

“I tried to get some idea a couple of weeks ago because, once the stories started going around about them opening, I wanted to try and manage their expectations. I got a bounce back saying the person in question was furloughed.

“They updated the 
details after last Thursday when we were told golf courses might be reopening, and now they are obviously were waiting on this Thursday for the go ahead.

“I check on their updates every day, every few hours, in fact, but there’s been nothing said since May 21.

“I’m hoping we will get some guidance from Edinburgh Leisure soon as our members are obviously hoping they are going to be open.

“I’ve got my doubts in as much as though I’m not sure they can comply with the government and Scottish Golf’s recommendations.

“I’m hopeful because they didn’t come right out and say they are not going to open.

“Personally, I think they can open, but I am keen to see how they can make it happen.

“The course looks fantastic, to be fair. It won’t take make to get up and running, though they’ll need to do some work in the bunkers as folk have been using them as beaches.”

Over on the other side of the Firth of Forth, it seems the municipal courses at Auchterderran, Cowdenbeath, Dunnikier Park, Glenrothes, Kinghorn, Lochore Meadows and Scoonie in Leven could be opening on Friday.

“Preparations are well underway for golf returning to our courses next week,” said a post on the Fife Golf Trust Facebook page on May 21.

“We are currently finalising our reopening plans to take into account the Scottish Government’s phase 1 guidelines for exercise and guidance from Scottish Golf.”