The first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has said that ‘outdoor activities such as golf’ can resume ‘within a few days’ of the next review of lockdown restrictions, which will take place on Thursday, May 28.
She added that she will be providing a ‘route map’ to the easing of the lockdown from this Thursday, May 21, which has been welcomed by Scottish Golf.
She said that the route map will confirm that the next formal stage of Scotland’s map of dealing with Covid-19 will begin on Thursday, May 28.
“Within a few days of that [date] we will aim to allow, for example, for outdoor activities such as limited outdoor sporting activities, such as golf,” she said.
“Within two weeks [from today] we will be taking concrete steps on our journey, I hope, to normality.”
English golf courses and some Welsh golf courses reopened last week, more Welsh golf courses and venues in the Republic of Ireland opened today, while it is not known when golf courses in Northern Ireland can reopen yet.
The reaction on social media appeared to be largely negative, with golfers and golf courses both calling for an immediate resumption of the game in Scotland.
Scottish Golf responded to the announcement by issuing a statement saying: ‘Following the first minister’s daily briefing on Monday 18 May, Scottish Golf welcomes the announcement that more detail will be shared later this week on Scotland’s road map out of the current lockdown restrictions in Scotland.
‘Scottish Golf are working through final details with the Scottish government and sportscotland to ensure that when the time is right, golf can be included in any extension to exercise guidelines and we look forward to sharing more detail of the Scottish government’s publication on Thursday.’
Update: On the May 21 briefing, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that golf will be allowed in Scotland’s first phase of the easing of lockdown restrictions, which start on May 28. However, she reiterated that some measures can only start ‘within a few days’ of May 28, so, for now, there remains no date for when golf courses can reopen.
A statement from Scottish Golf reads: “Following positive discussions with the Scottish government, sportscotland and the governing bodies for tennis and bowls, Scottish Golf welcomes today’s news that our golfing community will benefit from the Scottish government’s revised guidance for exercise.
“Guidance documents containing detail on preparing facilities for the return of golf will be issued to all affiliated clubs as soon as practically possible. This will take into account details from the road map published by the Scottish government today.”
In a Scottish government guidance released on May 21 it states you are ‘permitted to travel short distances for outdoor exercise but to stay within a short distance of your local community (broadly within five miles).’
This suggests that members of Scottish golf clubs should travel no more than about five miles to play at their courses when restrictions are eased. In the Republic of Ireland the limit is currently 5km and in Wales golfers are asked to only play at venues ‘local’ to them.
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