The announcement by Wales Golf was a surprise. Only two days before, as part of a joint response by UK golf bodies to the PM's announcement that golf could re-start in England, Wales Golf had confirmed that the golf courses in Wales would "remain closed for now".
The u-turn came after the Welsh Government's Director of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Jason Thomas, informed a Welsh Government committee yesterday morning:
"[The] Legal clarification is that golf courses are not included on the list of businesses or establishments that must remain closed - they have never been on that list. It's been other measures in force that has restricted the ability of the clubs to open - travel measures etc, so we have clarified this on the Welsh Government website. Do they have to be closed? No."
In a statement released yesterday afternoon Welsh Golf announced:
"Following recent Welsh Government announcements and the revision of certain Covid-19 related restrictions golf clubs are permitted to open if they so wish. It is entirely at each golf club’s discretion as to whether they choose to open and if so when they choose to do so. We would advise that clubs that do wish to re-open do not do so immediately so as to ensure they have sufficient protocols in place to adhere to these guidelines, which we will be on hand to assist with. This would allow for a managed and co-ordinated reintroduction of golf across Wales from next Monday 18 May at the earliest."
Wales Golf went on to urge all its member clubs and golfers to follow the latest guidance published by the Welsh Government for travel and exercise and the current guidelines published by The R&A for golf facilities and golfers returning to golf under Covid-19 restrictions. There was also a warning:
"If clubs or members are found to be in breach of these guidelines then it could lead to [the] Welsh Government introducing measures that force golf courses to close."
Last week, the UK Government gave golf clubs in England the green light to open from 13 May. This week, the Welsh Government and Wales Golf have given the golf clubs in Wales the green light to open from 18 May. There is no word yet on when golf clubs in Scotland and Northern Ireland can re-open.
To read the full statement from Wales Golf click on the link below:
https://www.walesgolf.org/covid-19/
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