FACEMASKS

Please note: The Government are now recommending that face coverings are worn in additional indoor settings and this will be enforceable in law. 

Ensure you read the safety guidelines before playing

We want to ensure you have a great game of golf, but we must all consider the health and safety of all visitors, members and staff even more so during the current health pandemic. Therefore, we are taking the below rules extremely seriously. If you do not adhere to the guidelines below you may be asked to leave the course with no financial reimbursement. Thank you for your understanding.

PRO-SHOP

From Friday 24th July it is
mandatory for customers to wear a face covering inside a shop.

This will apply inside stand-alone professional shops where a fine of up to £100 may be imposed on anyone breaking this rule.

There are some exemptions to wearing face coverings including children under the age of 11 and those with certain disabilities.

If you require assistance or don’t have a face covering, please wait by the door and ask for a member of the team who will be happy to help.


COURSE SET-UP

ON-COURSE ITEMS
All rakes and ball-retrievers will be removed from the course bunkers are to be played as a local rule of natural waste areas, please use your club head or foot to smooth out the sand the best that you can after play.

Ball washers will be covered up and will not be useable on the course.

Benches and bins will be removed from the course as they are a touch surface.

All other removable items will be removed, except that stakes defining areas of the course can be treated as immovable obstructions.

The shoe cleaning area will be closed.

HOLE AND FLAGSTICK
Flagsticks will be retained but you will not be allowed to remove the flag. There will be a sign on the flagstick stating that it is not to be touched. Failure to comply will see the Flagsticks removed and you will be playing to a green.

A method of inserting the hole liner to be used that means all the ball does not fall below the surface of the putting green and can be easily retrieved by handling the ball only. Practice areas, driving range including practice nets will be closed until it is deemed safe to re-open these.

DURING THE ROUND

TEEING AREAS
Golfers to keep two metres apart at teeing areas due to the normal proximity of golfers to one another when tee shots are being played.

GENERAL
Golfers to stay more than two metres apart when walking to the ball, searching for a ball and playing shots.

Golfers not to touch stray balls.

BUNKERS
Golfers to make their very best efforts to smooth the sand using their club and/or their feet.

PUTTING GREEN
Golfers to keep two metres apart on the putting greens and not to touch the flagstick.

AFTER THE ROUND

Social distancing is as important after a round as it is during the round, so when the round is over all golfers must leave the course and the club/facility immediately so that there are no gatherings around the clubhouse area.

RULES OF GOLF-RELATED MATTERS

To enable some of the changes to the way the game is played, there are likely to be several changes to the Rules of Golf. Some of these are outlined below.

FORMS OF PLAY AND SCORING
There will be no competitive golf for the initial months until it is deemed safe to do so.

This rule can be assessed after June with the view to the below: If competitive stroke play is played, then scorecards won’t be exchanged, the lowest handicap player will fill out the card for all players in the group, at the end of play that player is to email the card to golf@oldthorns.com for processing. Any disputes will be taken up with the marker. Players will be asked to verbally make there scores known after each hold to the marker.

BUNKERS
If golfers take due care when smoothing bunkers, there should be no need to provide a Local Rule for bunkers.We can introduce preferred lies in bunkers and provide that a player may place a ball in the bunker within one club-length of the original spot and not nearer to the hole than that spot.

FLAGSTICK
Golfers are always required to leave the flagstick in the hole and not to touch it. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a 1 stroke penalty.

HOLE AND HOLED
The hole liner (sometimes referred to as the hole ‘cup’) will be set in a way that means that all of the ball cannot be below the surface of the putting green, the ball is considered holed if any part of it is below the surface of the putting green.

To minimise the need to lift the ball from the hole, the ball is holed with the next stroke if it is within 12 inches of the hole (which is just over the length of a standard putter grip).This does not prevent a player in match play conceding a stroke that is outside this length.

RESTAURANTS
Our table allocations ensure guests are physically distanced from one another. Please do not move the tables or chairs from their positions.

We have heightened our already stringent practices around food handling, sanitization, disinfection and cleaning in our kitchens.

Restaurants and bar areas will follow social distancing guidelines and outlet opening hours may be altered to accommodate all diners

Table service only, no buffets in place – there may be reduced menus in place

Room service is currently unavailable.

Increased frequency of cleaning is in place of tables, cutlery, crockery and glassware after each guest use

SUNDAY LUNCH
Our Sunday carvery will be served 12-3pm. Tables have been spaced out to allow for social distancing.

Advanced booking is essential - please arrive at your allocated time.

On arrival, you'll be greeted by your host who will show you to your table.

You will be invited up to the carvery one table at a time.

You'll find sanitiser stations and a plexi-glass screen across the carvery units and our chef will serve your vegetables and trimmings along with your choice of meat.

Sadly our salad bar is unavailable at this time.

All our chefs have been trained in Covid-19 safety practices and will be equipped with PPE.

BARS
At the reception and bar areas contactless card payments will be preferable. Perspex screens will be present to minimise any risk during interactions between staff members and guests.

Please also pay attention to floor distance markers when queuing and follow any instructions indicated by the hotel.

We’ve enhanced our in-room cleaning programmes to pay extra attention to critical touch points and removed some soft furnishings

Once the room has been cleaned, it will be sealed so you know no-one has entered your room until your stay

No access will be made to your room during your stay. If you require housekeeping or maintenance you will be asked to vacate your room.

We are rotating room allocations between each guests stays, to allow for deep cleaning and additional cleaning paying particular attention to touch point, ensuring a safe haven and much needed reassurance. For further information please refer to the StaySafe cleaning procedure card located in your room.

Our fantastic Housekeeping Team has been fully trained on the use of PPE. We clean all of our surfaces thoroughly and regularly with anti-bacterial products.

HEALTH CLUB
Gym equipment has been re-arranged or some machines may not be in use to ensure social distancing is maintained. Please adhere to the one way system that has been put in place.

Fitness classes will take place outdoors where possible and with reduced numbers.

We have put in place 45 minute time restrictions in our pool (allowing a 15 minute deep clean between sessions) and 90 minute time restrictions in the gym, with limited number of guests in each session. We will require guests to book their visit in advance.

Some facilities may be unavailable depending on government guidelines. During the first phase of reopening, the Wellness Suite which includes the sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, foot-spa and heated loungers will remain closed.

Disinfectant products will be available throughout the health club and we ask that equipment is cleaned and disinfected before and after each use. Please use the bins provided to dispose of any blue wipe.

We ask you do not use sweat towels and use blue roll tissue provided.

Residential guests are encouraged to use their rooms for changing and members to arrive “gym/swim ready” where possible.

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You may feel a little uneasy about heading to a health club right now, but rest assured the Elevation team have implemented a whole host of measures that not only help keep you safe during your visit, but may even enhance it!

Reduced capacity with member priority booking
We've reduced how many people can be in the gym and pool at one time and members can book their sessions 7 days in advance. So if you loved a Saturday swim but were always put off by a busy pool, you'll be able to enjoy it once again!

Reduced class sizes
We've reduced our class sizes too - it almost feels like small group personal training so you should get lots of enjoyment from this more personalised class. Plus, where possible, we will hold the class outside!

Enhanced cleaning
You'll pick up a dedicated santiser bottle as you enter the gym floor to keep the equipment you use clean for your fellow gym goers. In addition to a dedicated health club cleaner, all staff will be involved with keeping all areas of the health club extra clean.

Space
Our 26,000 sq ft gym floor has always meant there has been plenty of space to workout, but we've added workout zones so you can clearly see where to exercise.

We’ve adjusted our cancellation policy on all Best Available Rate 2020 arrivals that allow for 24 hour modification or cancellation of new bookings with no charge.

Also, if you book direct on our website, you will be able to modify/cancel your stay online very easily.

If you are booked onto a promotional rate or package then please check the cancellation policy of that deal. 

How you can help during your stay:

If you display symptoms
Please do not come to the resort if you or a member of your household have displayed any of the following symptoms within the last 14 days: a cough, fever, breathlessness, sore throat, headaches, loss of taste or smell – unless they are symptoms of a pre-existing medical condition. Instead, please call our reservations team at your earliest convenience to reschedule your stay. Please note that we reserve the right to refuse entry or cancel your reservation should you display any symptoms on arrival.

If you develop symptoms during your stay
Please remain in your room and call the reception desk for further assistance from our team.

Social distancing
Please adhere to social distancing throughout the resort, use the markers and guides to help you.

Please follow one way systems and use the correct entry and exit doors that are marked.

Hygiene
We ask all guests to regularly wash their hands for 20 seconds

Please make us of our sanitiser stations throughout the resort – especially before dining

Contactless payments
Please use card payments and contactless where possible

Decline housekeeping
We will not service your room during your stay. You can request this service and if you require housekeeping during your stay you will be asked to leave your room so social distancing can be maintained