COVID-19 cases leave golf in bad lie

MANILA, Philippines — The Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa and the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Cavite have reported COVID-19 cases among their players and guests over the weekend, bringing to three the number of golf clubs hit by such cases since the easing up of quarantine restrictions last May.

Unlike Orchard, which was forced to temporarily close operations for disinfection and other safety measures, Alabang has opted to keep its facilities, including the clubhouse, open, maintaining the continuous sanitation and disinfection measures are enough to protect the club members and their respective families.

The Ayala Greenfield in Laguna also imposed a two-day lockdown last week after a guest was tested positive for the virus. After the fumigation of the clubhouse and the tee houses, the club re-opened last Saturday but only members were allowed to play.

“We have conducted contract tracing on all our employees who have come in contact with the individual concerned and they are all subjected to a 14-day quarantine,” said the Ayala Greenfield in a statement.

“They will also be required to undergo a COVID test before they are allowed to return to work while all members who came in contact with the person will also have to follow the protocol,” it added.

The Alabang CC has actually reported two COVID cases in three days after the club informed its membership of two members contracting the virus with Alabang COVID committee chairman Dr. Marc Reyes reporting a third positive case yesterday.

In the club advisory, Reyes said that “based on the information provided, this member had contracted the virus outside our premises.”

Reyes, however, still urged the members to “act responsibly and be more forthright about the health declaration as required by the club.”

“If you suspect that you have exposure and/or if you have taken the COVID-19 test and are awaiting results, please self-quarantine already. It is always better to err on the side of caution rather than endanger yourself and others,” said Reyes.

Orchard, meanwhile, was again hit by another COVID-19 case of a member, prompting the Sta. Lucia-owned club to impose a two-day closure (yesterday and today) for disinfection and sanitation protocols. It will resume operations tomorrow (Wednesday).

The member, who took a swab test last July 13, went on to play on July 14 and then again on July 18 at Orchard, before his positive result came out yesterday.