England Golf has received notice from the UK Government that a debate on the petition to 'Exempt golf courses from the list of venues required to close due to COVID-19' will be heard in Parliament on Monday 23 November 2020.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf was unable to persuade the UK Government to keep English golf courses open during the current four-week lockdown period in England, which is due to end on 2 December 2020.
More than 257,000 people signed the online petition in just three days, with England Golf highlighting the various health and wellbeing benefits of the sport, but they were unable to stop the closure of golf courses on 5 November. However, as the petition received more than 100,000 signatures it reached the threshold at which it could be considered for a debate in Parliament.
Catherine McKinnell MP, the chair of the Petitions Committee, will lead the debate on Monday, nine days before the lockdown in England is set to be lifted. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport will send a Minister to respond.
England Golf has confirmed that it wholeheartedly supports the views of the petition. England Golf's Chief Executive, Jeremy Tomlinson added:
"We know the benefits our sport can provide for both mental and physical health at this time of isolation and hope the Government can recognise this during the upcoming debate and support golf's return to playing."
"Earlier this year, the game of golf was able to clearly demonstrate that it could be enjoyed in a Covid-safe way, which is why it was one of the first sports to return once restrictions were lifted.
This was a privilege that the sport took incredibly seriously and accordingly adopted the highest possible standards to keep participants safe."
"Our sport has come together in one voice during this difficult year and it’s thanks to the support of our members, clubs and counties, as well as our collaboration with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf."
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