Wales will allow golf courses to re-open on Monday after getting approval from the government in Cardiff yesterday, leaving Scotland as the only country in mainland Britain where golf remains shut down.
Wales joins England as emerging from a seven-week closure for the coronavirus pandemic. English clubs received the go-ahead to re-start play on Wednesday under social distancing restrictions as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s easing of the lockdown south of the border.
In Scotland, the policy for closure remains with the Scottish Government advising that it is still not safe to resume play at the 550 golf clubs across the country, many of whom are struggling and facing possible closure because of the lack of revenue.
Scottish Golf, the governing body of the game north of the border, warned clubs against re-opening in spite of the restrictions last week and re-iterated that advice on Monday after it became clear courses and clubs in England would be re-opening.
Wales joins the Republic of Ireland in re-starting play on Monday, with clubs being given an extra few days to put in place precautionary measures to assist with social distancing.
As in England, only individual golfers, two players not from the same household but observing social distance rules and family groups from the same household up to four will be permitted to play, under new guidance from the R&A which prohibits the touching and use of course fixtures or equipment like flags and bunker rakes.
In Ireland, a five-step plan to a full return to play was released last week and the first step on Monday will see golf club members only allowed to return, in groups of no more than three at prescribed time intervals.
In Northern Ireland, clubs remain closed as in Scotland.
The Welsh move came after Jason Thomas, the director of the Welsh Government’s culture, sport and tourism department, pointed out to a governmental committee in Cardiff that golf clubs had never been on the list of businesses or establishments in Wales that were required to close for coronavirus.
“It’s been other measures in force that has restricted the ability of the clubs to open – travel measures for example,” he said. “Legally they don’t have to be closed.”
Wales Golf took that clarification as allowing them to restart play, as a statement later on Tuesday confirmed.
“Following recent Welsh Government announcements and the revision of certain Covid-19 related restrictions, golf clubs are permitted to open if they so wish,” the statement read.
“It is entirely at each golf club’s discretion as to whether they choose to open and if so when they choose to do so.
“We would advise that clubs that do wish to re-open do not do so immediately so as to ensure they have sufficient protocols in place to adhere to these guidelines, which we will be on hand to assist with.
“This would allow for a managed and co-ordinated reintroduction of golf across Wales from next Monday 18 May at the earliest.”
While there are no distance restrictions in travelling in Wales, “people should not travel a significant distance from their home to exercise,” continues the statement.
