Reports Suggest England Golf Courses Could Stay Open During Lockdown

The Guardian is reporting that golf courses could remain open during the upcoming lockdown

Reports Suggest England Golf Courses Could Stay Open During Lockdown
(Image credit: Tom Mile)

The Guardian is reporting that golf courses could remain open during the upcoming lockdown

Reports Suggest England Golf Courses Could Stay Open During Lockdown

Golf courses could remain open during the upcoming England lockdown, the Guardian is reporting.

The Guardian says that the government is considering keeping golf, tennis and swimming open as they can all be done easily whilst social distancing.

A decision is set to be made on Monday or Tuesday.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Golf meets on Monday, whilst England Golf has urged the government to keep golf open.

Whilst announcing the nationwide lockdown, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraged people to exercise outdoors, with the rules stating that meeting up in twos with one person each from different households is permitted.

If golf were to continue during lockdown, it would almost certainly be two-ball only and clubhouses and pro shops would have to close along with all other non-essential businesses.

England Golf CEO Jeremy Tomlinson wrote an open letter to golfers, saying that the organisation is challenging the government to keep golf open:

"Having digested the Prime Minister’s statement to the nation on Saturday night and read the guidance which followed, there is an element of confusion around the government’s stated intention to close down golf courses and facilities from Thursday 5 November," the England Golf CEO said.

"As a result of this, and with the health of the nation very much at the heart of my thinking, I would like to make clear England Golf’s intention to respectfully challenge the government’s rationale for closing golf courses.

"We will do so utilising all in our network – MPs, colleagues, media and friends – to make sure we are heard by government.

"Listening to the Prime Minister, the news that he is actively encouraging safe and responsible outdoor exercise for households or two individuals pointed to our great game of golf being at the heart of this policy.

"The guidance which followed stating that golf courses were on a list of venues which should close, therefore, appeared contradictory and came out of the blue.

"At no point was England Golf – as the governing body for the amateur game of golf in this country – consulted about this decision."

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV