Things slowly returning to normal at golf courses

Slowly but surely things are returning to normal at NSW golf courses.

Playing groups doubled in size from Friday following a Golf NSW announcement last Wednesday which gave clubs across the state the green light to allow their golfers to once again play in groups of four.

Narrabri Golf Club, where golfers played in pairs since the course re-opened on Friday, May 8, was one of the clubs to put the change into effect and for the first time since March players were able to go around the course alongside three others.

Another was the Wee Waa Golf Club where golfers have played in pairs since Sunday, April 12.

Pictured playing in a group of four at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday are Fiona Smart, Peg Penberthy, Chrissy Southwell and Gail Richardson. Pictured playing in a group of four at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday afternoon are Fiona Smart, Peg Penberthy, Chrissy Southwell and Gail Richardson.

Pictured playing in a group of four at the Wee Waa Golf Club’s individual versus par event on Sunday afternoon are Kevin Baker, Mark Hennessy, club captain Robert Downey and Matt Swansbra. Pictured playing in a group of four at the Wee Waa Golf Club’s individual versus par event on Sunday afternoon are Kevin Baker, Mark Hennessy, club captain Robert Downey and Matt Swansbra.

Chase Magner chips onto the green at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday. Chase Magner chips onto the green at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan O’Neill drives at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon. Ryan O’Neill drives at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon.

Robyn and Dan Spence at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday. Robyn and Dan Spence at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday afternoon.

June Lang, Rob Clutterbuck, Bill Lang and Jim Hatton at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon. June Lang, Rob Clutterbuck, Bill Lang and Jim Hatton at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon.

Josh Orman drives at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday. Josh Orman drives at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday afternoon.

Toby Bentley drives at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon. Toby Bentley drives at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon.

Fred Atherden at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday. Fred Atherden at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday afternoon.

David Russell, Will Baker, David Cruickshank and Sam Knight at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon. David Russell, Will Baker, David Cruickshank and Sam Knight at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon.

Brad Streeter, Ben Finnigan and Bradley Matherson at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday. Brad Streeter, Ben Finnigan and Bradley Matherson at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday afternoon.

Sam Knight lines up a putt at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon. Sam Knight lines up a putt at the Wee Waa Golf Club on Sunday afternoon.

Tony Nott, Bobby Taylor and Peter Dewsbury at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday. Tony Nott, Bobby Taylor and Peter Dewsbury at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday afternoon.

Chase Magner, Will McInnes and James Albert at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday. Chase Magner, Will McInnes and James Albert at the Narrabri Golf Course on Saturday.

Many other COVID-19 rules are still in place at NSW courses including Narrabri and Wee Waa, including 1.5-metre social distancing, one player to a cart, one set of sticks per player, the clubhouse being off limits to golfers and golfers still being unable to touch the flag poles.

All golfing action in Narrabri is still currently social golf, however local golfers were pleased to learn on Friday that competition golf is likely to return in June. The Narrabri Golf Club announced that its match committee was aiming for a June 6 resumption of competition golf.

Wee Waa Golf Club on the other hand continues to host competition matches and on Sunday 15 players contested an individual versus par event.

The winner was David Avery who was victorious with score of plus two, narrowly edging out his father Greg Avery who totalled plus one.

Greg was named the runner-up following a countback after both Matt Swansbra and David Cruickshank also had plus one. Cruickshank also claimed the pro pin.

Wee Waa Golf Club president David Russell told The Courier that groups being extended to four and the ability to have shotgun starts made things a lot simpler.

“It was great to be back in groups of four,” Russell said.

“It makes it easier for us, otherwise we have to wait around and send everybody off in individual groups of two.

“It gets pretty time consuming.”