Scotland enters new lockdown but golf courses to remain open

Scotland will enter a new lockdown from tomorrow (Tuesday January 5) for at least the rest of the month - but there is at least some good news where golfers are concerned as courses will remain open. 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has set a tightening of restrictions across the Scottish mainland in order to suppress and contain the new, faster-spreading strain of coronavirus. 

Scottish residents are being told to now stay at home and from work home where possible. However, a number of "reasonable excuses" to leave the house will permit golf to continue, but only for a maximum of two players. 

"Local outdoor recreations, sport or exercise, walking, cycling, golf or running that starts and finishes at the same place (which can be up to five miles from the boundary of your local authority area) as long as you abide by the rules on meeting other households," states the Scottish Government on its website. 

Such rules restrict outdoor meetings to a maximum of two people from two households. 

Scottish Golf wrote: "Golf courses can remain open for play with a maximum of two players from up to two households. Golfers must stay close to home, travel only for essential purposes and in line with the new legislation."

Karin Sharp, the Chief Operating Officer of Scottish Golf, said: "As has been the case throughout the pandemic, we have worked alongside both sportscotland and the Scottish Government to demonstrate that golf is a sport that can be played outdoors with physical distancing and increased safety measures in place.

"We are pleased that this continues to be recognised."

It is expected that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will outline similar new measures in England over the coming hours, but that golf courses will be allowed to remain open like they are in Scotland. 

Golf courses in Northern Ireland and Wales are currently closed. They are also closed in the Republic of Ireland. 

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