Message is clear to Scottish golf courses: remain closed for now

Scottish Golf has echoed the R&A by asking Scottish golf courses to remain closed despite the green light being given for courses in England to reopen on Wednesday.

Courses in Scotland and the rest of the UK have been closed due to the coronavirus since 23 March. Picture: JPI Media

Courses south of the Border are frantically getting prepared to welcome back members after Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the thumbs up for people from the same household to start playing again this week.

But, due to devolved administrations taking differing approaches to the coronavirus lockdown, golf courses in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will remain closed.

A statement from Scottish Golf read: "Following on from the Prime Minister’s announcement last night, we are writing to confirm that the position outlined by Scottish Golf on Friday, 8 May for Golf in Scotland remains unchanged. The message is still clear – Stay at home and save lives.

"We remain in daily dialogue with the Scottish Government and other golfing bodies throughout the UK, to ensure that when it is deemed safe to do so in Scotland, that we are ready to support our golf clubs with a concise protocol for reopening.

"We will update our membership as soon as the Scottish Government agrees a plan on a safe return to golf. Scottish Golf would like to thank all of our members for their continued support in following the guidelines in such difficult times."

The same message to Scottish clubs had already been delivered to Scottish clubs by the R&A in a statement on Sunday night.

It said: "The UK Government has announced that golf will be able to resume in England on Wednesday, 13 May 2020. All outdoor sport must be done alone or within a household group and that includes golf.

"There is no change to the current position in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and so golf courses in these countries must remain closed for now."

Meanwhile, the UK Government has provided clarification on outdoor recreation and rules on social distancing in England.

Under new government rules, the following groupings will be permitted upon resumption of play on Wednesday:

* Individuals playing golf on their own.

* Two-balls comprising of individuals from different households

* At the discretion of the golf club, members of the same household playing in two, three or four-balls.

In a statement, England Golf stressed: "Social distancing rules must be strictly adhered to at all times.

"Further clarification is being sought from government relating to the opening of professional shops and driving ranges as well as the carrying out of club fitting and coaching sessions."

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