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This club is offering free golf during the corona-crisis

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Golfers will be welcome free of charge every Monday to keep people active during the coronavirus crisis

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You thought Happy Mondays were just a band. As fear and anxiety grips over the coronavirus crisis, one Somerset club has tried to lighten the mood – and keep people active – by offering free golf.

For an initial period of four weeks starting from March 23, Orchardleigh Golf & Country Club will “welcome members of the public for games of golf, completely free of charge, all-day, every Monday”.

Owner Chris Vincent said the club wanted to help foster a sense of community spirit by helping people to maintain activity levels and get out in the fresh air.

“We’re living in difficult and uncertain times at the moment,” he said. “Like all businesses, we’re taking precautions, however we’re also keen to do our bit to support the public’s need to be outside for their own mental wellbeing, without compromising the Government’s social distancing efforts.

“We hope that by offering free weekly golf sessions we’ll encourage visitors to make the most of the vast open space on offer at Orchardleigh whilst keeping active, mentally stimulated and honouring social distancing as per the Government advice.

“Of course, if stricter measures come into force and we’re all advised to stay at home then we’ll need to stop the initiative. However, we’re hoping to offer it for as long as possible. We’re all keen to keep things going, and this was one way we felt we could potentially use our facilities to help people keep their spirits up in very testing times.”

While the golf course will be open, the clubhouse will be closed to the public and players are encouraged to bring any necessary refreshments with them

For more information, visit Orchardleigh Golf & Country Club’s website. Follow NCG on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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About the author

Steve Carroll
Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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