A survey of 1,000 UK-based golfers has found that nearly one-in-five golfers claimed they witnessed ‘Covid-19 transmission risks’ while playing golf recently – even though research shows transmission risks on golf courses are ‘extremely low’.
Eighteen percent of golfers said they witnessed, most commonly, ‘poor social distancing’, or touching flagpoles, which was the second most common risk. Someone touching a rake was the third most cited occurrence.
While some golfers may have reported seeing actions that they perceived to be as risky, new research has found that the ‘level of Covid-19 transmission from playing golf is likely to be extremely low, and has even led to calls that an expert in physical activity joins the UK’s SAGE advisory group.
This also comes as additional research finds that the chance of being infected with Covid while outdoors is ‘massively reduced’, with scientists finding that the risks are especially low in fully open spaces.
Researchers found that fresh air disperses and dilutes the virus, and it helps to evaporate the liquid droplets in which it is carried.
On top of that, ultraviolet light from the sun should kill any virus that’s out in the open.
As for the virus being on outdoor surfaces such as flagpoles, many scientists now think that the amount of virus likely to be left on a surface would be minimal, and would disperse within an hour or two.
“The chance of transmission through inanimate surfaces [outdoors] is very small,” says Prof Emmanuel Goldman of Rutgers University.
Meanwhile, the Skilled Golf survey found that views about closing golf courses due to the pandemic differ significantly according to age groups.
Younger and older golf courses are more in favour of the severe restrictions that have been brought in in England, Wales and Ireland, while those aged 45 to 60 are almost entirely opposed to the closures.
A huge 97 percent of golfers aged 45 to 60 are opposed to course closures.
However, golfers over 60 were 10 times more likely to support course closures than their middle-aged counterparts. Just 70 percent of over 60s were against closure, and just 79 percent of golfers aged 18 to 44 felt the same way.
In total, it means about one in five golfers across the UK, including in Scotland where courses are currently open, believe golf courses should be closed at the moment.
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