Course Manager’s resumed last week at the Nation’s Golf courses while the Covid Level 4 Lockdown continued.

Many returned to assess the state of their courses after nearly a month of no maintenance. While adhering to strict working guidelines there will no doubt be task in getting courses back into playing standard.

At Howick Golf Club in their weekly newsletter Course Manager Geoff Sisson reported “Going forward we will be operating staggered shifts for the staff and applying liberal amounts of sanitizer and practicing social distancing. Our main focus will be to returning the greens back to where they should be, but at the same time making sure the bulk mowing is controlled. In my view we will have the course ready for play for when we are able to open again to the members and public.” (abridged).

Whangaroa Golf Club from Colin Smith, Course Superintendent

“The lockdown occurred just after coring which meant seeding, fertilising and extra sanding did not take place, but the greens have recovered well and with some fertiliser applied today should come away well.

There was the beginning of some disease in the green which Colin sprayed out yesterday, so we were lucky he was able to get back on the course and deal with it before it took hold.

Overall, Colin is confident that when members are able to get back on the golf course, they will be very happy with the condition of the course.”