Scottish Golf is urged to reinforce travel guidelines

Evidence of people travelling ‘significant distances unnecessarily’

Joe FitzPatrick MSP, the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing. Picture: SNS.

Scottish Golf has been urged to reinforce guidelines for recommended travel in phase one of lockdown restrictions being eased after a warning that the “broad five miles” could become law.

The message was delivered to the chief executives of all the sports governing bodies in Scotland in a letter from Joe FitzPatrick MSP, the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, and Mel Young, chair of sportscotland.

They have acknowledged that the “majority” of people had adhered to the guidance to not travel more than five miles since golf was among the sports allowed to return, with courses reopening a week past Friday. But the letter also highlights “evidence” of a minority not abiding by the guidelines and travelling “significant distances unnecessarily”.

The letter adds: “If people continue to make make journeys which risk spreading the virus, we may have to put the restrictions on travel distance into law.

“This is something we do not want to do, but may have to if we think it is necessary for the collective safety and wellbeing of everyone.

“We ask that you reinforce this with your clubs and members as a matter of urgency.”

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