THE Murray Darling Golf Association (MDGA) has called off its pennant competition for 2020 but is committed to running club championships and open events later in the year.
The MDGA met its member clubs, including Broken Hill, via Zoom on Thursday night when clubs decided to forgo pennant for 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At this stage clubs have voted not to and I think at this stage that’s the sentiment of the clubs to do that,” MDGA president Greg Rhodes said.
“It’s not a decision I made, it’s a decision that everybody in pennant decided was the best thing to do this year, it’s an extraordinary year but that’s what’s happening.”
“Some things have got to give, as far as clubs go that’s what they decided and that’s what we are going with.”
“It’s disappointing when you miss out on any sort of sport, there’s a lot of people – like footballers and netballers – who are going to be a lot more disappointed than golfers who can actually play the game but miss out on a few games of pennant.”
Golf Australia has postponed events until after June 30, with MDGA clubs voting to start club championships for men and women in August and run until September.
Open tournaments will then be held until the end of November.
“This is contingent on government regulations, if they say we are not allowed to have gatherings of more than X number of people then we won’t be able to run opens, or have to run them in a different way,” Rhodes said.
“We’ve made a program subject to what is happening with Golf Australia and the government.”
Golf has been able to return in Victoria in recent weeks, following on from New South Wales re-opening courses, with social distancing and hygiene measures in place.
These measures include holes being made shallower, restrictions on the touching of clubs, no rakes in bunkers and smaller group sizes.
In Victoria, clubhouses are still unable to be opened.
Rhodes said there had been a high demand for golf in the region, with plenty of players taking to local courses which have been reported to be in “immaculate” condition due to the lack of traffic while COVID-19 restrictions have been in place.
“I guess because they can’t play hockey and football and netball and other things, golf is one of the few sports you can play safely, it’s more about the social gathering before and after golf,” Rhodes said.
