Golfers teed off as anglers get the ok to carry on fishing

UNUSUALLY for a sport, it can require hours of putting your feet up while you wait for a bite.

So it’s no wonder that many have been left scratching their heads that fishing has been deemed exercise by the Government, meaning it won’t be banned during lockdown.

Other more energetic pursuits such as tennis and golf have been proscribed despite having arguably greater health benefits.

The body for fishing said they had been angling hard for it to be allowed because of the ‘huge benefits on individual health and wellbeing’. Angling Trust chief executive Jamie Cook added that match fishing, involving groups, was not allowed.

Questioning the logic of the rules, Jeremy Tomlinson, chief executive of England Golf, told The Times: ‘We tried to persuade the Government that golf is a safe form of exercise [like] running, cycling or walking.’