Why the pandemic could spark a renaissance in golf club memberships across the UK

The Southwick Park Golf Club professional was afforded a close view of the numbers creeping back onto courses when restrictions were eased after the first lockdown in the summer.

Harding, 52, also saw business go 'mental' in the retail shops he manages at various different clubs.

Huge numbers were attracted to courses across the country with golf one of the few sports which has continued for the majority of the past year, though clubs were ordered to close last month for the third nationwide lockdown.

Once those restrictions are lifted, Harding is optimistic participation will return to the levels reached for large parts of last year.

‘It was so busy, it was mental (golf after lockdown),' he recalled.

‘I couldn’t get stock and the sport as a whole was having a good time.

‘We were on a massive downward spiral of participation and then this one thing happened.

'What happened, for me, all the young guys that were playing football, cricket, rugby or going to watch football, whatever it might have been - they started playing golf because it was one of the only things they could do.

‘We got this whole new generation of lads, which is what it needed - the average age of a golf club is always mid-60s.'

Horndean-based Harding, who spent 28 years as club pro at East Horton prior to moving to Southwick Park, believes courses should be permitted to open despite the current lockdown restrictions.

He does not understand why clubs have been ordered to close when the sport was being managed so 'safely' amid the pandemic.

And Harding - also a professional boxing trainer - cannot fathom why courses cannot open yet he can continue to undertake his work in the gym with elite performers.

He added: ‘If you’re an old guy living on your own who doesn’t get out much, those one or two rounds a week where you meet up with a mate and knock it around is good for the soul really and exercise-wise.

‘But I don’t really understand in this lockdown - we were managing golf so safely - playing with two people blah, blah, blah and all these rules.

‘I can go outside and give someone a boxing PT but I can’t give them a golf lesson?'