COVID-19 Update 25/8/2021

Update on Covid19 and the impact this has had on the Club and many Carnarvon Members

Just prior to the onset of the Covid19 pandemic in 2020, Carnarvon endeavored to make reciprocal agreements with 5 local golf clubs with no positive responses from the clubs that we approached.

The NSW Government has placed Health Orders that have affected registered clubs throughout the Greater Sydney Area from 26 June until the latest order on 20 August 2021.

The first Order closed all licensed clubs from 6.00pm on 26 June 2021 and this effectively has stopped any worthwhile trade from our club and will continue until the Order is lifted.

Amendments to the original Order have been added which has impacted many of our members. Initially the Order allowed all members to travel to Carnarvon to exercise from anywhere in the Greater Sydney area. The Order was amended on 9 July 2021 with an exemption to allow golfers to travel only 10km from their residence to play golf (exercise) and golf was to only be played in pairs. This had the effect of halving the number of Carnarvon members who were allowed, under the order, to play golf. Declared Local Government Areas (LGA) with more stringent restrictions came into force at the same time and Carnarvon was in a declared LGA. There was no compensation offered or given to golf clubs for this restriction by the Government.

The Board endeavoured to engage nearby golf clubs to allow some sort of temporary reciprocal membership between golf clubs so that our members and members of the clubs we approached could at least play a game of golf.

The next amendment was added on 30 July which allowed travel within your own LGA or to a declared LGA but only if the travel was from a non-declared LGA and within the 10km radius. If you reside in a declared LGA or LGA of concern, travel was only permitted for exercise 5km from your residence to the place of exercise (golf course).

Again, there was no compensation offered or given to golf clubs for this restriction by the Government.

The Order was amended on 20 August to only permit exercise for one hour in total from the time you leave your home until the time you return to your home. This amendment is in force from Monday 23 August 2021. Temporary reciprocal agreements with two nearby clubs were ready to be finalised when the Order was put in force. The Board decided that it was not possible to remain open for the purpose of exercise as defined in the order and we closed the course from Monday 23 August until the order is withdrawn or amended to allow golf to be played.

The club, throughout this period and into the future, must still maintain the golf course, clubhouse and keep up lease payments. While we do get some financial support from the Government, the loss per month is $65,000 which is $30,000 more than the budgeted loss of $35,000.

The club has written to the Premier regarding the severity of the restrictions placed on our golf club, but we have not yet had a response. We have also had communication from Golf NSW on how they are seeking legal advice on options for golf clubs regarding the impact on the members of clubs from the orders.

We sympathise with those members, and there are many, who are severely affected by the Health Orders and unable to play golf at Carnarvon, but we can’t offer any respite or financial relief to individual members who have been restricted from playing because of the legal requirements of the Registered Clubs Act.

We realise that membership fees are due this month and that the course is closed. I do remind you that we can’t put membership on hold or offer any remittance or discount because of the Government Health Order that we have no control over. If you decide to put off paying your fees until the golf course opens again you will be put on the waiting list if you have not paid you fees by the end of September. There are currently 70 prospective members on the waiting list. We, as are other golf clubs, bound by our rules and constitution which does not allow advantages to be given to individual members.

We are all in the same situation, as none of us can play golf until the Health Orders are withdrawn. Let us hope that changes are forthcoming so we can get back to normality.

The Board of Directors,
Carnarvon Golf Club Ltd