Traditional rivalries resumed on south-west golf courses on Thursday.
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Outdoor non-contact sport for adults and those under 18 - with gathering and density limits - is allowed under the state government's latest coronavirus restrictions for regional Victoria.
Step three of the Andrews' government roadmap came into play on Wednesday at 11.59pm.
Golfers can play competition again and the car park was full at Warrnambool Golf Club at Thursday lunchtime.
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Club professional Craig Bonney said the club had resumed competition for twos and would allow competition for fours from Monday.
"We can play in fours because restrictions have eased how many people can play or walk or gather together," he said.
Bonney said the club was well prepared for the change.
"Obviously we've got to social distance and we've got a COVIDSafe plan at the club," he said.
Only members can play the course at present.
"We are restricted to members-only until the club gives us further notice that we'll allow visitors to play," Bonney said.
The club professional said it was exciting for the club on Thursday.
"It is because the club's missed out on a lot of revenue because we haven't been allowed to play competition," he said.
"And members like to play in fours because it's more social."
Bonney expects the numbers to grow next week.
"This is usual for a Thursday and we are restricted because we're only playing in twos so that field size will bump up next week," he said.
This is usual for a Thursday and we are restricted because we're only playing in twos so that field size will bump up next week.
- Craig Bonney
"Today we've got 150, we'll have 180 to 200 next week."
There's been a silver lining for the club during the pandemic.
It's gained new members due to absence of other sports.
"We've had a lot of footballers playing, all these new members playing, which is great," Bonney said.
"There's obviously no community sport on so they've taken up golf."
Port Fairy Golf Club also resumed competitions in twos from Thursday.
Operations manager Stephen Demartin said the club would move to fours on Wednesday.
Like Warrnambool, it's members-only for now.
"We're still going to remain members-only for the rest of this month at least," he said.
"That will be reviewed at the end of this month."
The operations manager added it was important for the club to look after its members who had supported it through the pandemic.
Demartin said members had been grateful just to get out for a swing of late.
He feels competition will give them an extra incentive to get to the seaside course.
Competition wasn't allowed under regional Victoria's stage three lockdown restrictions which commenced on August 5 and finished September 13.
Golf was one of the few sporting activities allowed alongside the likes of tennis and surfing.
It was only allowed to be played socially with one other person or household members providing 1.5 metres of distance could be maintained between participants.
Sporting facilities, such as golf courses, where public gatherings and physical distancing limits could be adhered to, remained open.
There could be no use of shared equipment or communal facilities.
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