Golf at Searles

The most accessible golf course on the Norfolk Coast

Searles Golf Club is open daily to all and offers a friendly, welcoming atmosphere to all levels of golfers. Beginners, improvers and experienced golfers are all welcome at our course located in Hunstanton, on the North Norfolk coast.

Course Status: 9 holes OPEN We are very happy to be open again, please telephone the clubhouse to make a booking Tel: 01485 536023

All visitors must book & pay prior to arrival.

England Golf have issue guidance that we can start to recommence fourball play from Monday 1st June.  All other conditions in the play safe procedure remain in force.

The driving range is closed.

Golf Course Code of Play Safe – Stay Safe.
Amended 2nd July 2020.

Introduction
Searles Resort Golf Club ‘Play Safe’ procedure based on guidance from the Golf industry
governing bodies.

This procedure will include all aspects of the golfing experience, from arrival in the car
park shortly before the round to departure straight away on completion of the round.
Golfers will be required to comply with the rules on social distancing throughout. Some
temporary provisions in relation to the Rules of Golf will also be necessary to ensure
safe play (see 6).

Content
1. Course Set Up
2. Reserving Tee Times
3. Arrival and Waiting to Play
4. During the Round
5. After the Round
6. Rules of Golf Related Matters

1.0 Course Set Up
1.1 Introduction
1.1.1 During the coronavirus crisis the golf governing bodies set an essential
maintenance policy which focused on frequency of cutting regimes. Green for
example were only allowed to be cut twice a week, Therefore when play is
resumed the green speed may play slightly slower than you are used to for the
time of year, but we will build up the pace as a when we are allowed to increase
the number of cuts.
On the golf course you will find a number of differences. These are aimed at
reducing the contact points where players could potentially transfer the virus.
Therefore all bunker rakes have been removed, please try to smooth out your
marks as best you can. Our golf course staff will be monitoring bunkers during
the day.
1.1.2 Ball washers are out of use.
1.1.3 Benches are out of use, bins can be used but please don’t touch them.
1.1.4 Hole signage is on the course, but all players are reminded not to touch these.
1.1.5 On the course the Flagsticks are being retained. We are putting in place the ball
retriever system so that you can still putt out, always leaving the pin in the hole,
and lift the lever with your putter and the ball we come out. You must not touch
the flagstick at any time.
1.2 Practice Areas
1.2.1 The driving range is not currently open to the players, we aim to bring this back
into service shortly.

2.0 Reserving Tee Times
2.1 Bookings
2.1.1 The golf office will be open from 8am – 4pm Monday to Sunday. Please use the
existing number. 01485 536025
2.1.2 Players may now arrive before play to access the Fountain bar. Please be aware that
due to social distancing rules there may be less chairs available than normal and
therefore please enjoy the facility but be considerate of other guests.
2.1.3 Our staff will monitor tee bookings on the Handicap Master Tee booking system
to ensure that players are keeping to the playing conditions as set out in this
procedure.
2.1.4 Players will be required to book in to play online before travelling to the course.
2.1.5 Players will need to access the course through the resort through the main
entrance, security will check on your booking to ensure you have pre-booked
before access can be granted.
2.1.6 Tee Times have been arranged for 10 minutes intervals. Visitors will be allowed
to book 1 tee time per day. This will be reduced on 11th July to 8 minute intervals.
2.1.7 The player booking the tee time will have to specify who they are playing with.
2.1.8 The club are required to have a record of who is playing.
2.1.9 The maximum number of golfers in a group per tee time is 4, these can be from
different households.

3.0 Arrival and Waiting to Play
3.1 Car Park
3.1.1 On arrival at the golf course please drive to the sign posted car park. Please
arrive no earlier than 15 mins before your tee time. Please change shoes in the
car park.
3.2 Clubhouse
3.2.1 Accessing the Clubhouse
3.2.2 Golfers are invited to use the facilities of the Fountain Bar under the social distancing
rules as set out in the current guidance. There will be a one-way system in place for
all persons entering the building, the entrance will be the door on the decking area
to the fountain bar and the exit will be the door to the golf area. The Fountain Bar
furniture will be laid in accordance with the regulations and members and visitors
will be reminded not to move the chairs from their designated tables.
3.2.3 Due to the government policy on track and trace, the steward on duty will be
required to take all your names and contact details and record them against the
table you are sitting at. We are required to keep these details for 21 days.
3.2.4 To minimise the risk of contact, one person from your table will order and pay for
their purchases at the section of the bar where the screen is in place. Please adhere
to the social distance rules at the bar.
3.2.5 We recommend that all payments are made via contactless card whenever possible.
A remote PDQ machine is available for use and will be wiped down by the Steward
on duty.
3.2.6 Visitors are requested to utilise vacant tables outside whenever possible.
3.2.7 A limited menu will be available at the reintroduction of the food service.
3.3 Toilets and Changing Rooms
3.3.1 Visitors are requested to follow government social distancing rules when accessing
the toilets. Changing rooms are currently closed.
3.3.2 The toilets will be cleaned in line with our Covid secure procedures on facility
cleaning.
3.3 Buggies
3.3.1 Buggies will be available if they have been booked and paid for prior to arrival,
please call the golf office on 01485 536025. The member of golf staff on duty at
the hotel shall ensure that the buggies are prepared for use. The Member of Golf
Staff will have the buggy waiting next to the putting green 10 mins before play.
3.4 Practice putting green - priority of use to the players in the next group due to tee
off. Please ensure the 2 metre distance rule is strictly followed.

4.0 During the Round
4.1 Social Distancing
4.1.1 Players need to ensure that they keep at least 2 metres apart during the round.
4.2 Teeing Areas
4.2.1 Golfers to keep 2 metres apart at teeing areas due the normal close proximity of
golfers to one another when tee shots are being played.
4.3 General
4.3.1 Golfers to stay more than 2 metres apart when walking to the ball, searching for
a ball and playing shots.
4.3.2 Golfers not to touch stray balls.
4.4 Bunkers
4.4.1 With no rakes allowed on the course, golfers to make their very best efforts to
smooth the sand using their club and/or their feet. The member of golf staff on
duty will monitor the bunkers.
4.5 Putting Green
4.5.1 Golfers to keep 2 metres apart on the putting greens and not to touch the
flagstick.

5.0 After the Round
5.1 Accessing the Clubhouse
5.1.1 See clauses 3.2, 3.3
6.0 Rules of Golf Related Matters
6.1 Amendments
6.1.1 Until further notice, the following provisions are considered acceptable on a
temporary basis:
6.2 Flagsticks
6.2.1 Golfers are required to leave the flagstick in the hole at all times and not to touch it.
It is a matter for the Committee to decide whether it establishes this policy by way of
a Code of Conduct or Local Rule, and whether it provides a penalty under the Code
of Conduct or for a breach of the Local Rule.
6.2.2 As a temporary provision, flagsticks can be used for the purpose of player safety
which do not meet the specifications in Part 8 of the Equipment Rules.
6.2.3 On the course the Flagsticks are being retained as the ball retriever system is
installed, so that you can still putt out, always leaving the pin in the hole, and lift a
lever with your putter and the ball we come out. You must not touch the flagstick at
any time.

These rules will be amended as guidance from the golf governing bodies change. These
rules are there to protect the safety of yourselves and fellow golfer at Searles Resort golf
club.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, we hope you enjoy your return to golf.