NORTH Berwick Golf Club is asking residents to no longer use the West Links as “green space” for exercise as it prepares to reopen to members.

While many town residents have used the famous course for exercise, including ball games and cycling, club general manager Elaine McBride has requested that this no longer happens, allowing the club to “reclaim the course and use it for what it was intended for”.

A post on the club’s Facebook page said: “We welcome the news that golf will resume very shortly.

“Due to this, it means that the golf course will no longer be available for you to roam freely and enjoy as you have for the past nine weeks. You will, of course, be able to access the beach via the designated crossing points.

“From everyone here at the West Links we hope you have enjoyed your time using the West Links and we would like to thank you for looking after it during these difficult times.

“We look forward to welcoming our members back to play golf.”

Elaine added that those at the club were “very mindful of associated health and safety issues” when golfers returned to play on the course.

She said: “We are delighted to hear about the resumption of golf, albeit with a number of restrictions.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our members back onto the West Links and hope that, over the forthcoming weeks, we can all adapt our behaviours to our new normal.”

Having walked the course regularly during lockdown to check its condition, she added: “Given the limited resources and the fact that we were only able to carry out essential maintenance, the course is in good shape to welcome members back.”

Members at the town’s Glen Golf Club cannot wait to get back onto the fairways, says the club’s marketing convenor Mick Hunter.

He told the Courier that tee times for tomorrow (Friday), which were available from 7am-7pm, have been fully booked.

Mick said: “It’s been frustrating for us but our members have been supportive.

“We had a number of visitors booked in over the last few weeks which we have had to cancel.

“Unquestionably, golfers are chomping at the bit to get back on the golf course, which will hopefully be later this week.

“We have introduced new guidelines to make sure we keep our golfers safe and our staff safe as well.”

Members can play with a guest but golfers are asked: not to remove or touch the flagstick; to stay at least two metres away from their playing partner when walking between shots; and not to shake hands, ‘bump’ elbows or ‘high five’ their partner.