North golf fixtures are facing delay as Covid-19 impact continues
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The North Golf Winter Alliance (NGWA) have said it will be able to rearrange the remaining fixtures this season if February’s matches are postponed.
The Scottish Government have extended restrictions until at least mid-February in a bid to halt the spread of Covid-19 across Scotland.
The season was due to restart at Brora Golf Club on Sunday, February 7, with the two remaining fixtures at Portmahomack on Sunday, February 21, and Tain on Sunday, March 14.
The lockdown measures already resulted in the January fixtures at Golspie and Reay being postponed.
But NGWA secretary Ally Melville says they are awaiting for further clarification on the conditions of lockdown before deciding on whether matches can go ahead.
He said: “It will all depend on what the government says on travel restrictions.
“We will wait to hear if golfers are unable to travel over five miles before we make a decision.
“If it is the case, we will look to squeeze in the Alliance fixtures some time in March.
“To be fair, January would have been a waste of fixtures because the weather has been so bad we would not have been able to play games anyway.
“Golf courses are closed every day due to the weather just now.”
Melville says they are determined to see matches being played as it is financially beneficial for clubs to be part of the tournament.
“We want to see the matches being played,” he said.
“Golf clubs make money out of being part of the alliance tour.”
“On average there are between 60 to 70 players at each fixture.
“Some of the golf clubs are desperate to take in money, so we have to look at holding these matches.”
Ideally, Melville says they would like to have completed all fixtures before the beginning of spring.
“We usually have the campaign finished by the end of March, as that is when the summer season starts,” he said.
“We could look at hosting two fixtures on the same weekend on a Saturday and Sunday to get them played.
“People are desperate to get out and playing golf again.
“Even in the worst scenario, we can probably get all the fixtures played during March, if restrictions aren’t lifted until end of February.”
