From the https://www.timeslocalnews.co.uk By Andy Tong, 11th May 2020.

Tonbridge golf course will not reopen until it's ready.

Poult Wood golf course near Tonbridge has announced it will not be able to reopen this week after the sport's governing body said play could resume.

Boris Johnson revealed that sporting activity could resume under specific conditions from Wednesday [May 13] when he outlined the government's plans to ease the coronavirus lockdown on Sunday evening.

But golf clubs are likely to struggle to meet that deadline because of the high maintenance requirements for greens and fairways.

The Prime Minister said the public could take unlimited exercise provided they were on their own or with members of their own household, in order to preserve social distancing and prevent a renewed spread of the disease.

That model fits golf as a leisure pursuit, and later that night England Golf, in conjunction with the Royal & Ancient and Professional Golf Association, gave the green light for course to open again.

It insisted that the safety of players, clubhouse staff and greenkeepers remain the top priority and called for all golf clubs to act responsibly.

But there were words of caution from Martin Guyton, chief executive of tmactive, the leisure arm of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council which owns Poult Wood.

He said: "I know that every golfer is desperate to get back on the course, and I suspect that many will be perfectly happy to play alone if that is all that may be allowed initially.

"However, getting everything back into action is not an overnight job. The course has to be brought back to playing standard.

"We have to understand how the guidance may be applied for the benefit of all, bring staff back to work after furlough, adopt new working practices and implement revised booking and payment procedures."

He added: "We are aiming to do this as quickly as possible; however, we will not be re-opening on Wednesday this week.

"I know it's been a long time but please bear with us as I believe it will take a few more days to re-open in the safe and responsible manner referred to above.

"Critically we need to see the detailed guidance from Government [expected on Monday] before implementing plans.

"This will help us interpret the very brief announcements of yesterday and formulate a plan for re-opening in a safe and responsible manner as soon as possible.

"This will be based upon the Play Safe, Stay Safe guidance already issued by England Golf that covers amongst other matters communication, preparing the facility and the actual playing of the game."

He pointed out that some of the team who maintained Poult Wood's two public courses had been placed on furlough so the course was not in prime condition for an immediate resumption.

"Please be aware that during the lockdown period we have retained a smaller team of greenkeepers with others placed on furlough to protect our financial position," he said.

"The course has been maintained to a reduced standard in line with technical guidance from England Golf."