Courses in the Republic of Ireland will close for at least six weeks
Irish Golfers Fuming After “Mind-Boggling” Decision To Close Courses
Irish clubs received the news they were dreading today when the Golfing Union of Ireland confirmed that courses and facilities must close for six weeks.
It’s after 48 hours of discussions between the GUI and Sport Ireland since new tier 5 Covid-19 restrictions were announced on Monday.
Professional rugby, football and horse racing will continue and the GAA hurling championships are also still going ahead.
The news comes a day after Welsh clubs were told they must close as well in a much shorter circuit breaker lockdown for just over two weeks.
We saw on our social media channels that Welsh golfers were angry and disappointed and it is the exact same story with Irish golfers.
Some were upset that golf in its basic form couldn’t continue with clubhouses closed like we saw earlier in the year.
Others have mentioned the infamous #golfgate from earlier this year where more than 80 people attended an Irish parliamentary golf society event in County Galway.
Everyday, common golfers been punished for #golfgate a few months back it would seem. Close the clubhouse, back to 2 or 3 balls every 20 minutes, could hardly be at safer. Overkill yet again. https://t.co/0KzcvtYVb9
— Brian Lowry (@brlowry) October 21, 2020
A head-scratching, illogical and ultimately unjust decision. A contact amateur sport where training takes place on a small pitch is allowed to continue, yet a non-contact amateur sport played by individuals in a 200-300 acre field isn't?? Total nonsense @GUIGolf https://t.co/bDqD6NV53D
— Kevin Power (@kevinpower94) October 21, 2020
Walking around in the fresh air with Max 3 other people in 200 acres of a golf course. Of all sports golf should be allowed resume. Makes absolutely 0 sense 🤦🏻♂️😩🔫 https://t.co/4i3mYd5LY5
— Jack Walsh (@jaywalshz) October 21, 2020
An unfortunate decision for a game that is literally built for social distancing.
100 golfers spread out upon 200+ acres which is roughly 10,000 Square Yards of land. 100 yards per golfer.
So many different options- spread tee times- limit groups to 2 or 3???
JMHO. https://t.co/uPzXSxgXAf
— Society of Golf Historians (@SHistorians) October 21, 2020
Non contact sport with maximum four people in a big wide open space. Joke of a decision. https://t.co/d41dRn0Xi2
— Jonathan Chesney (@bowlinshoes) October 21, 2020
Absolute disgrace! The golf courses have done a fantastic job of following the restrictions properly at all levels allowing golfers to play golf safely. Very disappointed with the decision-makers on this verdict. I wonder if #golfgate hadn't happened would it have been different? https://t.co/M9PtCpIBM1
— Fintan Ward (@fink13) October 21, 2020
It's a good & bad decision and they obviously did their bit but when you compare it to an amateur contact sport of GAA to a sport that's non contact and played over a few hundred acres and people travel to and from the course in their own car, just doesn't make sense 🤷♂️ https://t.co/v7fOnTPXO7
— Seanie Moran (@SeanieMoran) October 21, 2020
Level 5 #COVID19ireland restrictions now mean we will be CLOSED from tomorrow for 6 weeks. This is a disappointment for all golfers but we must accept and act in the interests of the wider public good. https://t.co/hB9UnC5MvJ
— Portsalon Golf Club (@PortsalonGolf) October 21, 2020
Along with the closing of gyms, this is beyond ludicrous! I’m all for elite sports being allowed to continue (GAA etc).
But to take away from the general public two very common (and safe!) forms of physical activity is actually mind boggling. https://t.co/0hTgbo2ylT
— Darragh Judge (@Judge310) October 21, 2020
No interest in golf. But this is entirely political and does nothing for anyone, except maybe for those "I can't have my hobby so you shouldn't be allowed to have yours" people. Close the clubhouses, and let people swing away. https://t.co/pBimhBnnNY
— Kevin Egan (@lonesharkoy) October 21, 2020
This seems like a political decision in light of #golfgate … really disappointed for elderly golfers around the country where golf has been their only social and physical outlet for months. https://t.co/lU2FB1jauJ
— Humphrey Bones 💀 (@humphreyjones) October 21, 2020
How in the name of Christ are Golf clubs being forced to close when Inter-county GAA is allowed to continue. Mind blowing https://t.co/htQP52USGG
— Brine (@BriFar89) October 21, 2020
Shambles . That’s every last hope of any sport available for adults for the next 6 weeks gone. I really don’t know how our mental health service is going to cope with the result of these kind of decisions https://t.co/qwa3SQaBZg
— Gareth McCaffrey (@GarethMcCaffrey) October 21, 2020