Scottish golf courses set to reopen
Scottish golf courses will be given the green light to reopen a week today, subject to final confirmation by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon next Thursday.
Confirmation about a planned reopening date for the 550-odd courses in the home of golf following an eight-week shutdown due to the coronavirus was delivered by Scottish Golf.
It came a few hours after the First Minister had announced that golf, tennis bowls and angling had been included among the outdoor sports activities being allowed in phase one of the Scottish Government’s lockdown route map.
Gold will be allowed in two balls, which may consist of people from different households, and also in groups of up to four but from only two households – at the discretion of individual clubs.
Tee time intervals will also be at the discretion of clubs, while travel to the course should be within the local vicinity, noted as broadly around five miles in the Scottish Government’s four-phase route map.
Casual play only is recommended in the first instance to allow all membership categories the opportunity for play while clubhouse facilities must remain closed for the time
being. The date has been set to allow clubs to prepare to welcome back members, but it needs to be rubber-stamped by Sturgeon next Thursday.
Scottish Golf’s chief operating officer Karin Sharp said: “We have been working with sportscotland and the government to ensure that golf aligns with the guidelines laid out for phase one easing of the current lockdown restrictions.
“Whilst I know that in many people’s eyes this should have been a straightforward process, it certainly has not been the case, but I am delighted that we now have the opportunity to share the guidelines for the safe return of golf across Scotland.
“There are aspects of the document that refer to direct government advice e.g travel restrictions, physical distancing,riskgroupsandanychanges to those policies will be for clubs and individual golfers to ensure they are adhering to. “I must stress that these guidelines are shared with the assumption that there is no change made in the government’s stated position on easing of restrictions. “It should be noted that a final decision will be made by the
First Minister on 28 May and if any changes to the current procedures are required to align with updates provided by Scottish Government then these will be shared as soon as they are known to ensure reopening plans can be updated or adjusted accordingly.”
Welcoming the return of tennis, which is expected around the same time, Blane Dodds, Tennis Scotland chief executive: said: “We have been developing guidelines with the support of the LTA and sportscotland, which will set out consistentguidancetoallowclubs and players to prepare for getting back on court safely.”