Victorian golfers were furious to discover all indoor facilities – including toilets – had been banned due to strict Covid-19 guidelines.
Victorian golfers were left fuming on Thursday after “ridiculous” Covid-19 restrictions banned the use of all indoor facilities – including toilets.
Melbourne golf clubs welcomed guests back after the Victorian government allowed them and tennis courts to open for the first time in several weeks.
However, indoor areas of the clubs, including toilets, remained shut to patrons under the restrictive guidelines.
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On Wednesday evening, Golf Australia (GA) informed members in an email: “Please note, toilets must remain closed at your facility.
“This is different from previous advice received on this topic, and GA will make urgent representations to government on this point as we understand full well that this is a significant impost.”
Speaking on radio station 3AW, Royal Melbourne Golf Club captain Andrew Kirby called the restrictions a “joke” and a “breach of human rights”.
“I know the blokes can do a number one in the trees, but there are lots of women playing,” he said.
“We’ve been through this opening and closing and opening again so many times that you’d think they’d get it a little more down pat. To be honest, I think the problem I see is too much micro-regulation of it.
“Golf courses have really gone out of their way to embrace Covid-safe, scores are done on an app, you don’t touch anything, we’re vaccinated, so we’re trying to work with it and make it safer.
“Maybe there’s been a miscommunication or something has been misconstrued but we have staff there, we have lots of women playing, we have people with medical conditions – they need to use the toilets.
“It’s just a bit disappointing after the excitement of opening yesterday.”
3AW radio host Mark Allen tweeted: “Seriously – the toilet ban that @VicGovAu wants at golf courses in Melbourne is the stupidest thing I‘ve ever heard … I’m assuming that all the toilets in parks across our city will be closed as well?”
Albert Park Golf Course resident professional David Diaz said the toilet ban was “quite ridiculous”.
“I know some courses, they have to lock their toilets. It’s just odd,” he told The Age.
“But anyway, we’re happy to get out there and play.”
The Herald Sun’s Caleb Bond tweeted: “If the shambolic reopening of golf and tennis clubs in Victoria is any indication of how the rest of the state will open up, then God help us all.”
On Thursday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he’d asked the public health team to look into the toilet ban.
“That team works as hard as they possibly can,” he told reporters.
“These directions are a good deal more complex than they might seem sometimes, but the good news is, there’s a query been raised, it’s being followed up, and, hopefully, there can be a positive response to that quite soon.”
Earlier this month, before golf clubs were permitted to open, Mr Andrews said the sport was “not safe” in Victoria, announcing that “recreational activities that require the use of a facility” would remain prohibited.
“You can’t allow everything, you can’t agree to everything, we essentially have prioritised family time, so people being able to connect with another family, another household, outdoors,” he told reporters at the time.
“I would love nothing more than to be able to go and hit a golf ball, but that’s not safe. It will be, though, at a point in the future.”
