English golf courses can reopen on March 29

By Alistair February 28, 2021 07:37

Golf courses in England can reopen from March 29, following the publication of the prime minister’s ‘roadmap’ out of the current coronavirus restrictions.

The prime minister said the ‘rule of six’ will return on March 29 in England, which will be the day ‘outdoor sports can return’.

A list of what is allowed and when can be found here.

Mr Johnson also said outdoor settings like alcohol takeaways and beer gardens, indoor leisure like swimming pools and gyms and self-contained holiday accommodation, such as self-catering lets and camp sites, can reopen from April 12; the rule of six will be abolished for outdoor gatherings, and replaced with a limit of 30 people (which will also apply to weddings, wakes and receptions), and a rule of six will be applied in hospitality settings like clubhouse bars, and sporting events can reopen, on May 17; and all legal limits on social contact will be removed from June 21.

Golf courses in Scotland have remained open while venues in England, Wales and Ireland closed in the autumn and winter.

It is not yet known when Irish and Welsh facilities can reopen but the first minister of Wales is likely to make an announcement surrounding golf’s return on March 12. Indoor and outdoor sports facilities are closed in Northern Ireland, where lockdown has been extended until April 1, with a review of current measures on March 18.

Wales Golf has stated that it is disappointed that it will take that long.

“At a meeting with Welsh government officials we presented a document which supports our long-held view that golf has been and can continue to be played safely during the current pandemic,” said a spokesman.

“The Welsh government agreed that golf is a sport which can be played in a safe, socially distanced manner.

“Their main concerns were with the potential Wales-wide impact of relaxing the ‘stay at home’ restrictions, and the cumulative impact of doing this.”

Golf Ireland and the PGA have also called for golf courses to reopen as soon as possible.