Both sport and COVID are devolved and matters for individual home nation governments, which in the case of England is the UK government.

However, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf welcomes MPs from all parts of the UK, and works closely with the Unions representing all home nations.  Where it can, the Group and Members are supportive and will help golf and golfers in any way it can.

Both sport and COVID are devolved matters and legislation is enacted by the respective national governments.

The paper COVID Secure Golf, prepared by industry bodies was presented by the Group’s Chairman to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and sent via MPs to Ministers and health officials in all home nations.  It states:

Test and Trace data is not published on positive contacts derived from playing golf but academic opinion canvassed from advisors to the UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) indicates that any level of community transmission attributed to playing golf is likely to be extremely low and significantly lower than other environments such as shops, bars and beaches.

Responding to MPs who spoke during a debate on Public Health on 6 January 2020, Health Minister Helen Whately MP said:

While with great reluctance we have had to keep most children out of school, we have also had to require outdoor sports facilities, such as golf courses, to close. Several hon. Members have challenged that, and I want to tackle it head on. I say to hon. Members who have raised this issue that if we made an exemption for golf, we would also have to make an exemption for other outdoor activities, such as tennis, outdoor bowling, climbing walls, riding centres, dry ski slopes and go-karting—I could go on. People would then say, “I’m being told to stay at home but I can go and do all those things, so you don’t really mean that I should stay at home.” Quite apart from the fact that people congregate in those outdoor settings, we need to be really clear that the message now is, “Stay at home.”

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The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf is unable to provide advice or clarification on interpreting government legislation or guidance.  A guide produced by industry bodies on the return of golf in England is available on this page.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf and the industry bodies with which it works are in constant contact with Ministers and Officials to ensure they are aware of the impact golf’s closure has across all issues including: mental and physical wellbeing; jobs; local economies, and that golf has demonstrated it can be played safely in line with COVID precautions.

Full details can be found in the paper COVID Secure Golf, which was presented by the Group’s Chairman to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and sent via MPs to Ministers and health officials in all home nations.

The decision to prohibit golf rests with the respective national governments.

For golf in England, see the roadmap to the reopening of golf on this page.

This case has been made by the All-Party Party Group for Golf to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and to Ministers and health officials in all home nations via paper: COVID Secure Golf, which states:

Test and Trace data is not published on positive contacts derived from playing golf but academic opinion canvassed from advisors to the UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) indicates that any level of community transmission attributed to playing golf is likely to be extremely low and significantly lower than other environments such as shops, bars and beaches.

The decision taken by the UK Government regarding golf in England is outlined in the following statement from Health Minister Helen Whately MP in a debate on Public Health on 6 January:

While with great reluctance we have had to keep most children out of school, we have also had to require outdoor sports facilities, such as golf courses, to close. Several hon. Members have challenged that, and I want to tackle it head on. I say to hon. Members who have raised this issue that if we made an exemption for golf, we would also have to make an exemption for other outdoor activities, such as tennis, outdoor bowling, climbing walls, riding centres, dry ski slopes and go-karting—I could go on. People would then say, “I’m being told to stay at home but I can go and do all those things, so you don’t really mean that I should stay at home.” Quite apart from the fact that people congregate in those outdoor settings, we need to be really clear that the message now is, “Stay at home.”

The decision to allow certain sports and not others to continue rests with the respective national governments.  The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf continues to campaign for golf to be allowed as it has proved it can be played safely.

The decision taken by the UK Government regarding golf in England is outlined in the following statement from Health Minister Helen Wately MP in a debate on Public Health on 6 January:

While with great reluctance we have had to keep most children out of school, we have also had to require outdoor sports facilities, such as golf courses, to close. Several hon. Members have challenged that, and I want to tackle it head on. I say to hon. Members who have raised this issue that if we made an exemption for golf, we would also have to make an exemption for other outdoor activities, such as tennis, outdoor bowling, climbing walls, riding centres, dry ski slopes and go-karting—I could go on. People would then say, “I’m being told to stay at home but I can go and do all those things, so you don’t really mean that I should stay at home.” Quite apart from the fact that people congregate in those outdoor settings, we need to be really clear that the message now is, “Stay at home.”

For golf in England, see the roadmap to the reopening of golf on this page.

For golf in England, see the roadmap to the reopening of golf on this page.