DELIGHTED Ayrshire golfers returned to the links last week, after months of COVID-19 lockdown.

And members of Kilmarnock (Barassie) Links, just outside Troon, couldn’t be happier.

Last Friday, the club was able to invite members back on the course after Nicola Sturgeon allowed the sport to be played under phase one of the Scottish Government route-map allowing some lockdown restrictions to be lifted.

General Manager David Addison, 33, was keen to see the players back out, after a tough time for the club.

He told the Advertiser: “It’s great to have the course back open again.

“When we released the first seven days there was a high demand to play, probably the most we’ve seen in the last 10 years.

“At the moment, we’re members play only to give them all a good opportunity to get back out playing, but we’ve had a few enquiries.”

It is usually snow which forces the club to close.

And this year, after a long winter of ferocious storms battering South Ayrshire, golf clubs like KBGC were looking forward to a new season.

But come March everything changed, with COVID-19 forcing golfers to put their clubs back in their sheds.

David added: “It was quite surreal, but the main things was ensuring everyone was safe.

“The good thing was with the guidelines we were still able to maintain the course. So we have kept it in great condition.

“Then you hear the rumours that it was coming back, and we were ready for it.

“That’s a credit to the team here.”

KGCB joined famous course Royal Troon in reopening as the golfers returned to the fairways.

Courses looked after by South Ayrshire Council also allowed players to tee off from Friday, May 29.

The course reopened with rules of just two tee times per week for players, and other restrictions to ensure social distancing is still maintained.

Councillor Brian McGinley, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure said: “I can’t stress enough that we are not back to business as usual and it is important that everyone works with us to ensure our facilities can re-open safely in line with current COVID-19 advice."

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