Bad News For Golf's Re-Opening - New Exercise Restrictions Coming

Don't expect to play golf soon....

Golf's Re-Opening
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Don't expect to play golf soon....

Bad News For Golf's Re-Opening - New Exercise Restrictions Coming

After a couple of potential positives for golf last week, it is now looking increasingly unlikely to return before the end of lockdown.

The news of the petition for courses to re-open surpassing 100,000 signatures and fishing being allowed offered up some hope that golf could be coming back.

However, the Guardian is reporting that new exercise restrictions are set to come in and they will likely end golf's chances of coming back.

A ban on members of the public walking or exercising with anyone outside of their household in England is, according to the Guardian's sources, “under active consideration’’ and “could be introduced imminently”.

This would mean a return to the original March lockdown rules where people were only allowed out once per day on their own or with their household.

It is unclear whether any time restrictions will be included but it does, you would think, end the hopes of golf being played any time soon.

England Golf's CEO Jeremy Tomlinson last week said closing courses was "an opportunity missed," with more than two million golfers currently missing out on the well-known physical and mental health benefits the game delivers.

Related: 2021 golf club subscription fees due? Here's why you should pay them...

Courses have been closed in England since 5th January and will remain closed until at least mid-February as things stand.

Covid-19 cases and daily deaths in England reached an all-time high last week, so it comes as no surprise that more restrictions appear to be on the way.

Courses are currently open in Scotland for two ball play and household groups, with golf closed in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV