Changes in the Golf Operating Process Due to COVID 19

In line with governmentguidlines, we have a number of changes to the current operating practices in golf.

They range from your arrival at the Club, through to your Food and Beverage bookings to complete your day, and most items in between. Please read the below carefully to understand how we are now operating.

Face Coverings

Please ensure you have your own face covering for use in all indoor areas. A new Club rule has been implemented at Woodcote Park which states that when indoors, unless at your table within one of our catering outlets, a face covering must be worn. This includes arriving at Golf Reception, the Club Shop, or even using the toilet facilities around the Club. There will be an opportunity to purchase disposable coverings on arrival at the cost of £1 each, but we would prefer for all to arrive with their own mask.

Face coverings do not need to be worn when playing golf or outside, but I restate that all indoor areas will require a covering from this Saturday.

Current Operations

The Stables building will be  open for Golf Reception, the 19th Hole from May 17th, the Spike Bar Terrace and the Men's Locker Room. The Ladies’ locker room is also open.

Starters

Starters have reverted back to normal practices so we ask in terms of checking in for golf, you do this with either Golf Reception or the Club Shop. Any green fee payments or retail purchases will be completed as they usually would have been prior to the lockdown operation.

Operating Hours

Golf Reception will open at 7.00am, closing at 5.00pm.

The Club Shop will open at 7.00am, closing at 7.00pm.

The Driving Range

The Driving Range is open with a revised operation to ensure safety and cleanliness for all. The operation is as follows:

Golf Reception will be maintaining a booking sheet for range use which will open 12 days in advance in conjunction with when the tee sheet opens. All members will be required to pre-book one of the available range slots which will be available between the hours of 7.30am and 5.30pm. Guests will be able to share the range slot with a member but not book one in their own right. We must however insist on the member being responsible for social distancing if a bay is shared with the “non-user” being stood at least 2 metres away from the playing hitting, and, that only one of the two persons will touch any baskets or balls.

Each slot will be for 30 minutes and will cost £4 or £2 for 60 or 30 balls respectively.

For those who have booked a slot on the range or would like to enquire if one is available when you are onsite at the Club, you must report to Golf Reception on arrival. (The Club Shop will not be facilitating the driving range operation). Upon arrival at reception, pre-cleaned, baskets of balls will be made available for you to collect and you will be informed of the bay number you have been assigned to play from. On completion of your range session, we ask all golfers to leave their baskets in situ which will be collected and sanitised by the Golf Operations Team.

Please contact Golf Reception directly via email, or on the phone, to book your range slot.

golf.reception@royalautomobileclub.co.uk

01327 229243 or 01372 229245

With apology, those of you with pre-paid digi cards won’t be able to use them at this stage. The cards don’t expire so please keep hold of them for use when we return to normal operations.

On Arrival

A new one-way system will be implanted to enter the Stables building and report to Golf Reception. The large door on the left will be IN, with the right-hand door being exit only.

At Golf Reception there will be a sign asking you pause momentarily and a “please stop here” sign on the floor. Please adhere to these signs so we can maintain safety for yourselves and the team upon your arrival.

There will also be a “foot operated” hand sanitiser dispenser located at Golf Reception. Please sanitise your hands on arrival and on departure.

Equipment Hire

Golf Buggies can continue to be booked as normal and will be made available for collection around the Fountain Lawn as they have been for the last two months. Both electric trolleys and pull trolleys are now available and can booked at the point of booking or on arrival via the Club Shop. (subject to availability if not pre-booking)

Golf Concierge

Golf Concierge will remain closed at this time in order to minimise touch points for both members and the team.

Bins and Benches

Benches and bins have now been placed back out on the courses for use.

Player Information

To help us with the traceability of our golfers we will be asking you to supply names and contact phone numbers for any guests you may bring to the courses. These will be taken at check in and retained on the system for 21 days. The information will only be used should we need to contact you or your guests.

Contact Information and Phone Numbers

The contact details for the Club and Golf will now be reverting to what they were prior to lockdown and are as follows:

Golf Reception – Tee Time Bookings, General Enquiries and Booking Changes – 01372 229243 or 01372 229245 - golf.reception@royalautomobileclub.co.uk

Club Shop – Retail Enquiries, Lesson Enquiries and Golf Support – 01372 229248 - proshop@RoyalAutomobileClub.co.uk

Please make sure you update your contact details for us so we can help you in a timely fashion when you call by your call reaching the correct department.

Food & Beverage Services and Bookings

The Spike Bar Terrace is now open and the 19th Hole will open from May 17th. The following rules will be in place:

19th Hole – Bookings available from 7.00am to 9.00pm

Spike Bar Terrace – No Booking Required but still advised – Service from 11.30am to 9.00pm

Halfway Houses – These will continue to be in operation from 9.00am to 5.00pm daily.

Booking Numbers – Outdoor seating areas can accommodate groups of up to 6 people from different households, with social distancing measures being observed. Indoor bookings are limited to people from just two households only, not a 4 ball of golfers all from different households. Details will be taken at the time of booking to ensure the reserving parties comply to the rules.

IMPORTANT 19th Hole – Within the 19th hole you must reserve an area for your breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks to ensure availability. Walk-ins will only be accommodated if there is space at a table but with no standing at the bar and capacity limited due to social distancing rules, we advise you to plan your day and book with us prior in order to avoid disappointment. This can be done by calling the Club’s Central Reservations Line on 0207 9303 476 or by going to the Club Website Booking portal.

Reservations in the 19th hole will be limited to 90-minute slots to allow members an equal opportunity of enjoying the service.

IMPORTANT Spike Bar Terrace – The Spike Bar Terrace will operate some tables on a first come basis, with the majority of tables being bookable. All service will be completed at the table and it is noted that with the potential demand for tables in this area, all members are respectfully asked to accommodate other members’ needs by vacating their table after a suitable period. 60 Minutes is the Golf Committee’s suggested length of time.

Please Note: Unfortunately, neither Golf Reception nor the Club Shop team will be able to make any outlet bookings for you as these will be controlled by Central Reservations. Please ensure you have saved the phone number listed above so you can easily make your bookings.

General Golf Information

All other rules currently in place will remain. Members can continue to book their golf 12 days in advance, members can continue to bring three guests at all times of day except Saturday and Sunday mornings on the Old Course when it is just one guest. 

Competition Golf 

The revised calendar of events can be found by clicking the competitions page on the website.

Entry sheets and rules for these competitions will be released 4 weeks in advance. These will appear on the website in their usual location from this date once final details have been confirmed.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding during this new and challenging time, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.

Philip Worthington

Director of Golf