The Wanaka Golf Club has welcomed the news that essential maintenance will be allowed from next week.

Sport and recreation minister Grant Robertson announced that urgent maintenance of turf and care for plants in non-plantation nurseries will be able to go ahead under alert level four. This includes non-plantation nurseries, stadia turf, and golf and bowling club turf maintenance.

In a letter to the minister Wanaka Golf Club president David Smallbone said that without basic maintenance golf greens will be unplayable, and will take some weeks to get back to a condition that can be played on. He noted that enabling golfers to get back on the course will be good for their health and wellbeing and minimise the cost to the club of reinstating the greens to a suitable playing condition.

“One greens person could successfully do this on his/her own in probably no more than two days a week. There would be no other member of the staff or other person on the course with them, which will satisfy the distancing requirement. COVID-19 safety requirements would also be fully complied with,” David said.

Grant Robertson said in his announcement, “I understand the implications if the maintenance does not occur regularly, including for community organisations, which is why we have moved quickly on these decisions.”

Wanaka Golf Club course superintendent David Mahoney welcomed the decision. “It is definitely a positive for the club and will give us the ability to watch over the greens and speed up reopening after restrictions are lifted,” he said.

While the government is giving the green light to turf maintenance, Grant said no such activity is to be undertaken until clear guidelines have been released. “There will be clear restrictions on any activity that is allowed,” Grant said.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will release the criteria after the Easter Weekend.

PHOTO: Wanaka App