Morley Hayes to be among first golf centres to reopen

Golf complex Morley Hayes is set to become one of the first in England to reopen when it stages a midnight charity tournament.

Like other courses across the country, the Derbyshire venue has been closed since the current lockdown came into force on 5 January.

However, on Monday, March 29, golf courses will be allowed to reopen – and Morley Hayes will be among the first to swing back into action.

At 12.01am, it will be staging a charity golf tournament, in aid of Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre.

It will be played on its Tower Course – one of only a handful of courses in the country with its own floodlights, which will illuminate seven of the nine holes on the course.

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Golfers will also play with special balls that light up as soon as they are hit.

Seven teams of four players will be taking part in the tournament, which will have a ‘shotgun’ start, with all teams teeing off from a different hole at the same time. A silent flare will be let off at 12.01am to start the event.

Strict safety measures will be in place at the golf complex. Hand washing stations must be used upon arrival and when leaving.

Perspex screens have also been installed to keep staff and players safe.

Andrew Allsop, managing director at Morley Hayes, said: “We’re thrilled to be the first golf facility in England to reopen at 12.01am on 29 March, which marks a significant moment for the golf industry as we take our first steps on the road to recovery.

“The shotgun tournament will be a great chance to kick-start golf again at Morley Hayes and will raise money for a vital charity too.

“We can’t wait to welcome back existing golfers and welcome new players to our facilities over the coming weeks.”

Golf facilities at Morley Hayes include the championship length 18-hole Manor Course, nine-hole Tower Course, golf pavilion and the recently refurbished 26-bay all-weather floodlit driving range.

It is also home to the highly respected East Midlands Golf Academy.