A group of frustrated Perthshire golfers are pleading with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to reopen Scotland’s courses.
The senior players, who until lockdown attended Strathmore Golf Course at least twice a week, launched a petition to get the nation’s golfers back on the green.
Calling their campaign Free the Strathmore Six, the members hope that Mrs Sturgeon agrees to give the green-light to Scottish courses when she announces a review of lockdown guidelines on Thursday.
It is widely expected that courses will be allowed to open from June 1.
Phil Upperton, who set up the online petition at Change.Org, said: “As we are allowed out to exercise daily, there is no reason that golf cannot be played whilst observing social distancing rules.
“It is a sport than lends itself well to social distancing. The benefits of being able to exercise outdoors and taking part in a sport that not only originated in Scotland, but that has a huge following, surely outweigh any risk.”
He added: “It seems ludicrous to me that you can walk around Tesco or play golf in any of the other home nations but we are unable to make use of any of our beautiful courses in Scotland.”
His petition makes a plea for “common sense”, noting: “There is no sane reason to keep us locked up.”
