Due to the covid-19 corona virus we all went into lockdown in Spain on the 13th March 2020 and golf courses were allowed to re-open as from the 11th May 2020 under a golfing safety protocol.
With the lack of the tourist golfer the local golf courses have survived with a mixture of members and local golf societies but the problem with this is that the income from members was received earlier in the year and golf societies can only spread themselves thinly across the golf courses.
The summer months of July and August are usually generally quiet for the local courses as most tourist’s head for the beach rather than the golf course to get away from the heat and humidity.
Usually as soon as we hit September and October we see an influx of golfing tourists to the area for the high season and the courses increase their prices for the Autumn months before the prices reduce again in December.
The problem that the golf courses now face is that overall Spain now has the highest rate of new covid-19 infections in Europe with a rate of circa 170 persons per 100,000 inhabitants which is way higher than the figure of 20 persons per 100,000 inhabitants necessary to re-open the air bridges from the UK and other North European countries.
Already the months of September and October have been decimated as either air bridges remain closed or airlines have simply cancelled flights to Spain.
Without doubt the remainder of the year 2020 is pretty much a write off for the local golf industry and the courses will again have to survive on the income from members and local golf societies but this could be in the region of 80% down on normal income levels.
Like all other industries and businesses here in Spain at present the question is just how long can the golf courses and associated businesses survive with income at such low levels?
This could be to the benefit of resident golfers because I am sure that the golf courses will need to retain prices at nearer to the low season prices rather than high season prices to secure what little business is available but even then will this be enough for the local golf courses?
I am sure the next few months will be difficult for everyone involved and I doubt that the local golfing industry will be the same again but lets all hope we are all here healthy and safe if a little poorer for the experience.