Burnley Golf Club reopens for members as £10,000 'lifeline' lottery grant secures future

It comes as the Glen View club reopened its course to members today with a series of measures implemented in order to comply with social distancing.

Alan Green, honorary secretary at Burnley Golf Club said: "It is great news that golf will recommence at our club today, although current restrictions will only allow our own members to play at the moment.

"Even so, I know that all our members are keen to get out for a game and so our course will be very busy. During closure a lot of people have taken to enjoying walking around the course without the need to stay on the designated footpaths.

"As there is now a real danger from flying golf balls, and as we have lots of blind holes where golfers cannot see if anyone is there, it is vital that people stay safe and stick rigidly to the proper, designated footpaths.”

The Sport England grant will go towards covering the club's maintenance costs while ensuring essential workers are paid during the on-going pandemic.

Mr Green said: “We are so grateful to receive this award from Sport England.

"During the pandemic we have had to close our clubhouse and golf course and have therefore been unable to raise any forms of revenue.

"This funding is a lifeline to help us to keep our successful and long-standing golf club going through these troubled times and I thank Sport England and all our members for their ongoing support.

"Golf offers such fantastic opportunities to enjoy a healthy, outdoor sport, whatever your age, and provides lots of social interaction at our warm and friendly club."

At the end of March, Sport England announced a £195m package to help the sport and physical activity sector through Covid-19.

Within the package is a £20m Community Emergency Fund, of National Lottery money to deliver immediate funding to those who have a role in supporting the nation to be active, but are

experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus.

Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s chief executive, said: “As the body responsible for the growth of sport and physical activity participation, we want the vital grassroots organisations that make sport and physical activity happen in this country to not just to come through this crisis but to be in a position to thrive again in the future.

"The £20m Community Emergency fund, made possible by National Lottery players is part of a multi-million pound package of support we are providing to ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations who are central to the nation’s health and well-being.”

“We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to Burnley Golf Club to help it through these extremely challenging times.”