ENGLISH GOLF COURSES SET TO REOPEN NEXT WEEK

English Golf Courses will be able to reopen when the four-week national lockdown in England ends next Wednesday, 2 December 2020.

Yesterday, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced in a statement to Parliament that outdoor sports can resume when the 2nd national lockdown in England comes to an end on 2 December and the country returns to a new three-tiered system of restrictions.

England Golf later confirmed:

"The announcement paves the way for golf to return in England at all COVID-19 alert levels within the Rule of Six, permitting fourball play without restriction on number of households."

"Coaching, fitting and ranges will also be allowed to open, as will indoor hospitality facilities in tiers one and two (those in tier three can continue a takeaway service only)."

The announcement came as Parliament debated a petition, signed by more than 257,000 people earlier this month, which called for golf courses to be made exempt from the list of venues required to close during lockdown.

Speaking after the Prime Minister's statement, the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf, North Warwickshire MP, Craig Tracey, said:

"I am sure all involved in golf in England welcome the sport's return and the industry has yet again pulled together to form a coherent message to Government articulating why it was safe to do so."

"As was seen both before and during this lockdown, golf is a sport that can be played safely and the industry adapted quickly to manage the restrictions imposed previously."

“Golf now has operational experience and established COVID secure practices, including rule changes and other mitigation measures that meet the ‘Hands, Face, Space’ directive."

"It is therefore ideally placed to welcome people back when lockdown ends in all the home nations."

“The health and wellbeing benefits of playing golf are well documented in scientific literature and leaders in public health, public policy and sport from across the globe recognise that golf tackles physical inactivity and contributes to the prevention of a range of non-communicable diseases."

“Combining the undeniable benefits that golf offers to a significant proportion of the country, and the steps taken that ensure golf is a sport that can be played safely, the golf industry looks forward to welcoming players back and is confident it can meet future restrictions."