Allow Essential Maintenance of Golf Courses During Lockdown Period

Comments

#1604

I'm a golf member and would hate the course to be ruined by not allowing one green keeper in an isolated area to maintain the course.

Mike Loynes (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1605

My family backs onto #14 at Paraparaumu Beach golf course and golf is a huge part of our lives. The greens in particular need attending to 😊

Monique Percy (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1607

It's important to maintain our beautiful courses, and to have them in a state that are ready to be used once this awful period is over so that we can begin to get our lives back to normality.

Sunit Keshwara (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1608

My golf club might not survive the cost of not doing essential work

Glenn Wilson (Tuakau, 2020-04-08)

#1609

Ex greenkeeper understand concerns

Tony French (Christchurch, 2020-04-08)

#1610

I am signing because of the essential need of maintenance of the golf greens with the lock-down protections as required being respected.

Colin Campbell (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1615

I'm signing because there is no risk of greenkeepers contracting Covid19,or spreading the disease,as they work alone and have no public around them.
Maintenance of golf courses is essential!

Ross Davidson (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1617

Courses can be maintained while maintenance staff continue to abide by high levels of self-isolation and in so doing avoid incurring prohibitive future costs to repair.

Peter Lye (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1618

I am signing because its a bureaucratic blanket decision by people that cannot be bothered looking at each instance on its merit and with common sense. Typical of this incompetent government and its ministers. Irreversible damage will occur that is avoidable without significant risk. Courses will be forced to permanently close because of pure stupidity. Bring on the election.

Serge Ritossa (Upper Hutt, 2020-04-08)

#1619

If turf maintenance continues to not be completed I fear the demise of many golf clubs. Also golf courses will be unplayable for months after lockdown.

Cam Miller (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1621

With all the hard work the green keepers have put in it will go to waste and be very costly to bring the greens back up to standard

William Osborne (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1622

Golf maintenance now would save money long term and would be within isolation 2 metre restrictions

Susan Reed (Greenlane, 2020-04-08)

#1631

Imperative greens do not die

Grant Godbaz (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1632

I have played at the St.Clair course for 53 years. I would hate to see the course and the club be ruined. When it can be saved by just 1 greenkeeper working.

Cushla Colquhoun (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1633

This is an absolute no-brainer. Courses in general, but greens specifically, must be maintained sufficiently, or we'll all be without golf for a lot longer than this pandemic lasts

Huw Anderson (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1634

because it's just common sense.

Paul Merton (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1635

I support my local club

John Mitchell (Paraparaumu, 2020-04-08)

#1636

The cost of repairs damage to our golf courses need to be considered for the sake of allowing 1 person to do this job
Government is totally shortsighted

Roy Hyland (Tauranga, 2020-04-08)

#1639

It needs to be done

Tom Buchan (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1644

I am concerned about this as I have witnessed a week ago, council cemetery staff mowing around plots, however for sum strange reason sports clubs are not able to maintain their grounds whilst keeping to the distancing rules. Surely for the greater good of community spirits, common sense should prevail. We need some sanity to exist during and after this lockdown

Ian Flynn (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1646

I like golf

Oliver Smith (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1651

Turf maintenance at this time of year is very important. Most golf clubs can't afford a recovery programme after the lock down ends.

Greg Chapman (Porirua, 2020-04-08)

#1657

We pay so much money for annual fee's, we need to protect the investment of thousands of Kiwi's

Robert Rasch (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1663

As a member of a golf club I am looking forward to getting back to a place of exercise and social activities. If we had our groundsman there now, in a low risk isolated open area, we will have something to look forward to rather than what will be a time consuming period of trying to bring the course back to life, if we are lucky??

Tony Short (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1664

As a club we are already on a knifes edge financially and having to spend money on getting the course back up to a playable state could push us over the edge

Tony Doile (Lower Hutt, 2020-04-08)

#1671

Turf maintenance on greens is important

Tony O'Donnell (Nelson, 2020-04-08)

#1672

I am a greenkeeper at a bowling club and we have the similar issue. Greens need more maintenance than the bowling green and can be done without fear of spreading covid 19

Murray Barron (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1673

Golf course needs to be maintained so green’s don’t deteriorated. Otherwise it will cost a lot of time and money to restore them to playing conditions.

Elizabeth Mcintyre (Oamaru, 2020-04-08)

#1675

If the Council can go around cutting the reserves,surely the greenkeepers can do the same as long as they keep a social distance among other workers.

Ken King (North Shore City, 2020-04-08)

#1676

this presents no danger to the public, but is an essential service to ensure sports clubs (and golf clubs) can continue to survive

Grant Lester (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1678

The golf played by older people is the best way to get exercise.

Ron Coles (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1683

The number of players in the game throughout NZ is enormous. This affects too many people’s recreational activity

Russell Berry (Christchurch, 2020-04-08)

#1684

Of the cost to bring the greens back after a lack of maintenance for a few weeks. Greens need constant attention

Judith Crawford (Whangamata, 2020-04-08)

#1685

The club will experience high costs to renew the greens etc, or it will close down. This is a great sport for all ages.
The green keepers work on their own.

Jennifer LaTrobe (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1686

The golf courses will be terrible if at least the greens are not maintained over this period

Michelle Borren (Waikanae, 2020-04-08)

#1687

I'm a golfer & believe this is important to maintain th greens

alison miller (paraparaumu, 2020-04-08)

#1689

The long term financial impacts for golf & bowling clubs. The cost will be to prohibitive if we keep the same plan. There is almost zero chance of passing the virus to green keepers as they will be isolated but its a necessary role and skill set that urgently needs to be utilised.

Mike Irving (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1690

It the right thing to do

Zak Phaipanya (Porirua, 2020-04-08)

#1691

Golf is an essential sport in our community, that brings alot of people together and offers companionship, excercise and well being to many people of all ages.

Phillippa Deans (Hororata, 2020-04-08)

#1692

Courses need some maintainence to prevent huge extra cost after the lockdown.

Alan Kearns (Levin, 2020-04-08)

#1698

The wellbeing and longevity of golf courses depend on their ability to maintain the grounds. As long as it is undertaken responsibly they should be allowed to do so.

QUILLAN AHERNE (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1710

I think maintenance done bu one person on the courses now will relieve the pressure to bring the courses up to playing standard in the future.

yvonne coughlan (dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1711

The course needs looking after for the future

Geoff Garside (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1712

Tania Hatton

Tania Hatton (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1714

It doesn't make sense - one greenkeeper cutting the greens with mean a return to golf earlier for many thousands - with minimal risk

Peter Guest (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1719

I’m signing because I believe opening the courses to maintenance in the right thing to do.

Marcus OConnor (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1720

It makes common, practical and economic sense

John Riley (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1724

Golf courses are critical for all communities urban and rural alike, surely Greenkeepers could practice social distancing. Courses in AUS are allowing play with the following parameters.
- Tee times 10 mins apart
- only 2 people can play in a group (pairs)
- flagstick must be left in
- special hole cups so ball doesn’t doesn’t drop into the hole (mitigating physical contact)
- no scorecards allowed (some courses use an app where scores are entered).
- Clubhouse closed, but pro shop open.

James Brocklehurst (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1726

All Golf Clubs deserve to survive this hard time, the space of a few weeks of no maintenance can and will be detrimental to this sport.

Shane Ryan (Paraparaumu, 2020-04-08)

#1728

I want normal golf course use to resume as soon as possible, it's an important part of the social fabric of NZ society

Darren Wind (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1729

Maintenance of greens is unlikely to have any negative impact on COVID 19 isolations but will greatly benefit golfers when the isolation limits are lifted

Brian Chrystall (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1731

careful maintenance of golf courses is a no brainer compared to the financial cosequences if they are not maintained

wayne adsett (auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1732

This is absolutely an essential service not only for maintenance of our course but also for our mental health. We are all worried and becoming depressed that nothing is being done.

Lail Emmerson-Smale (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1734

I feel that golf, bowling and similar sports fields should be kept up to perfection. All
New Zealanders, young and old, are going to benefit from sport when we come through this lockdown.

Margaret Greco (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1735

Although I am not a golfer many of my wider family & friends are. This is a major sport which has a large following not only of players but also spectators either on course or via TV coverage. The ongoing maintenance of putting greens is essential and if this cannot be carried out on a regular basis the future restoration costs will be enormous. This will place a severe financial burden on clubs, many of which would not have the funds to meet these restoration costs and likely fold. The Corvid-19 transmission risks from one maintenance employee per golf course working in isolation would be absolutely negligible. Let common sense prevail and allow this exemption. The same scenario would apply to bowling clubs too.

Graeme Wilson (Christchurch, 2020-04-08)

#1739

I’m signing because I want our club Maungakiekie to survive.

Daniel Williams (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1740

Am member of Kapiti Golf Club and it is imperative that our course is maintained to its pre lockdown standard.

vel Martin (Kapiti, 2020-04-08)

#1741

this is common sense

Trish Isgar (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1749

I am already seeing results of the neglect during my daily exercise walk past my local course

Mark Bridges (Lower Hutt, 2020-04-08)

#1755

The cost to rectify the courses will ruin some courses if they live on site what's the problem

Mike Soulsby (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1761

I'm signing because I am a golfer. The course maintenance is important.

Woosik Chung (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1762

Golf is an important leisure activity for all Kiwis and the membership levels are declining so need as many people as possible still able to play at an affordable level

Nigel Hillier (Porirua, 2020-04-08)

#1763

For no risk at all to personnel I think it is imperative that fairways and greens get mowed at least once a week for the duration of the lockdown.

Beryl Gentleman (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1769

After the lockdown there will he no tourism for ages, if the golf courses are not maintained people wont play. Alot of golfers through out the country travel to other parts of the country to olay golf which boosts local economy around the place. NZ will struggle as it is atleast give us hope of somthing fun that we normally do to look foward to after the lockdown

Mitchell Duncan (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1772

I play golf.. and it's hypocritical that Ventia and other contractors are out maintaining parks around Auckland which probably won't be used yet golf courses are not maintained causing financial ruin to many clubs and they won't be ready to be used when this lockdown ends..

Brett Craies (Auckland 0632, 2020-04-08)

#1774

This will ruin so many golf courses otherwise..

Troy Datson (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1775

I am signing because I love golf and I have many beloved golf courses in NZ and to see them not maintained and massive negative impacts on turf and other facilities is disappointing and fustrating to see. I understand we are in unprecedented times and we are under strict quarantine but there must be a responsible way we can get our hardworking maintenance turf men time on there beloved courses. Cmon

Joshua Carmichael (Sapporo-Shi, 2020-04-08)

#1781

Golf courses & bowling greens are necessary for recreation purposes. To delay upkeep will incur thousands of dollars and delay play after lockdown is over.

Kathleen Oneill (Waitakere, 2020-04-08)

#1785

Green keepers are an essential workforce.. a lot like the council who keep the city bins clear of rubbish and the streets swept

John Hauraki (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1787

Because this rule is share stupidity. One greenkeeper mowing greens alone. Give me a break. The council is still mowing Griffin Park Auckland. Which adjoins Maungakiekie golf course.

Richard mcphatter (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1788

I’m signing to save our greens

Laraine Hand (Auckland, 2020-04-08)

#1790

Its essential maintenance to our recreation.

Robert Coy (Martinborough, 2020-04-08)

#1792

I believe that the work can be done safely - by an individual greenkeeper - and that the impact of not doing the work woudl be significant for all clubs.

David Deacon (Wellington, 2020-04-08)

#1793

There is no question that greens need constant attention to best standards

Ian MacRury (Paihia, 2020-04-08)

#1794

i live beside the golf course and love it being here and do not want to lose it as it is a huge asset to our community.

Deb Scoles (Dunedin, 2020-04-08)

#1797

There couldn't be anything more self isolating than mowing golf greens with no-one else on the course. Current policy is causing damage for no benefit at great cost

Mike Brunner (Porirua, 2020-04-08)