Business booming at Buxton and High Peak Golf Club

Golfers were allowed back to the Fairfield course in mid May after individual sports were allowed to resume with social distancing guidelines in place.

It has resulted in a large influx of floating golfers keen to take advantage of the cheap fees and warm weather.

Richard Pattrick, local media manager at Buxton and High peak Golf Club, said: “Right from the start we made it clear that visitors were welcome, and not all clubs did that.

“We just said come and enjoy. At £20/25 a weekend it is a bargain and it puts money in the coffers.

“We have spare capacity on the course normally. We had no idea what would happen because so many people have been furloughed.

“The course is fairly busy and some days it is fully booked. It is pragmatic, it is sensible, we need the money to keep it ticking over.

“We have unfurloughed some of the staff and the club pro and secretary, they need to be paid.”

During lockdown only senior greenkeeper Steve Norton was on hand to look after the course and make sure it was good to go as soon as permission was granted.

Initially only two ball matches were allowed, but restrictions have since been relaxed further meaning three and four ball groups can now play.

But the club is still some way off from being able to open their lucrative clubhouse, bar and function rooms.

“That is a challenge that will be a challenge for all golf clubs,” Mr Pattrick added.

“We can’t see the bar and function room opening in the near future.

“On course activities will ramp up, but off course activities wont happen for a while.

“There is talk that if social distancing is allowed in pubs and bars, we will turn the putting green into an open air beer garden, where you can social distance.

“So many players are coming off the course and wishing they could just have a pint.

“That is the next plan, people would be coming in off the course in dribs and drabs rather than big lumps when you have a competition day.”

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