Golf Courses Close Immediately Across the UK

Golf courses across the United Kingdom have closed their doors with immediate effect. Following stricter measures announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday evening to heighten the nationwide response to the coronavirus pandemic, England Golf has unequivocally confirmed that venues and facilities must now close.

The statement reads: "It is England Golf’s position that this deeply regrettable, but highly necessary and responsible course of action must be implemented with immediate effect and be maintained until further notice.

"The government has identified an urgent need to introduce new restrictions on public life and on non-essential businesses opening their doors.

"This has been done to limit the spread of the coronavirus and relieve the growing pressure on our National Health Service.

"Keeping golf courses open is simply no longer compatible with the updated policy of government which is designed to save lives in a time of national emergency.

"The health and wellbeing of the nation is the only consideration that matters at this moment in our history."

Later, Scottish Golf echoed those words with a statement of their own, tweeting: "The message to all of us is clear, we must stay home and play our part in containing the spread of COVID-19. 

"With this in mind, Scottish Golf asks that all golfers in Scotland refrain from golfing until further notice."

Hundreds of courses had already made a decision on their own terms following the latest government advice, including St Andrews Links, Europe's largest public golf facility, which said in an email to its annual Ticket Holders: "Further to this evening’s briefing from the Prime Minister all aspects of the Links operation will close with immediate effect."

Providing an outlet for exercise and social contact, clubs across the country had introduced ingenious methods to keep golfers playing, but now the wider situation has gone far beyond the concerns of a particular game and one industry as public health in the face of an unprecedented crisis has rightly taken precedent. 

Do check official channels and news services for more on the new guidelines for staying at home, only travelling for essential services and shopping, and the public shutdown of gatherings of more than two people who don't live together, for at least the next three weeks. 

Golf is an integral part of life for many of us, not least the passionate golfers who are part of the Golfshake Community, but these small, personal sacrifices are necessary for the greater good and to ensure that life may return to normality quicker than it would otherwise. 

If you want to remain engaged with the game and hope to stay active, see our new The Self Isolation Guide For Golfers feature. Extend a hand out to others during this time and reach out to us on social media. We're all in this battle together.

On Golfshake, our mantra is Play More & Play Better, but now, we simply want you to Stay Safe.