Grim’s Dyke Golf Club opens as a Covid-19 vaccination centre

Grim’s Dyke Golf Club at Oxhey Lane in Pinner has opened as a vaccination site offering vaccines to people mainly between Hatch End, Pinner and Wealdstone, alongside parts of Watford.

In late January, the club announced that it had offered its space to the NHS to continue the national vaccine roll-out programme.

Since its opening from January 30, the club has reported that weekends have been busy, but in general the club is preparing for when lower age bracket groups are eligible to be vaccinated.

Louise Glasgow, the office administrator, said: We got approached by a local pharmacist (Dales Pharmacy) who enquired if we would hire out the clubhouse.

“They set up four vaccination stations and launched it on 30 January. We were more than happy to help in these times and it’s helping us out as well.

“And when golf comes back it won’t interfere with the golf side of it. When the clubhouse reopens, we can still use one side of the building for access to the vaccine centre.”

Inside the vaccination centre at Grims Dyke (Photo: England Golf)

Four staff members at the club have utilised their furlough time to chip in and volunteer at the vaccine centre, while a lot of members at the club have also volunteered to do their part.”

Talking on the success of the hub, the office administrator said: “It’s really set-up well and the only thing we’ve lacked at times is a few patients, but they are really preparing for when the lower age brackets come in to be vaccinated.

“The weekends have been busy, though, with 150 people in on a Saturday and Sunday.

“There is capacity for 300 a day and its open seven days a week 8am to 8pm.”

Businesses in the community have also rallied round as a local Wenzel’s is serving up pastries and sandwiches free of charge to the staff in the centre.

Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas also visited the vaccination centre on February 11 to share support of its progress.

Gareth Thomas, Harrow West MP, at the site (Photo: Gareth Thomas)

With the golf club shut due to lockdown restrictions and its 470 members unable to use its facilities – club chairman Adrian Frigot hopes people will be tempted to join once the site can reopen.

He said: "Even if they are non-golfers they can look to rent the facility for a wedding or party or come for lunch or whatever in the future.”

Anyone invited to book a Covid-19 vaccination appointment and who lives near the site is asked to search for the HA5 4AL postcode.

For further information, contact vaccine@dalespharmacy and to offer volunteering services, click here.