If your area has been put under Tier 2 or 3 coronavirus restrictions, this is what will change at your golf club.

Following advice from England Golf, we've put together this quick guide to how things will change for golfers in Tier 2 and 3 areas of England (as enforced from October 14).

These rules apply to both golf clubs in affected areas and golfers living in affected areas (even if your club is out of the area).

Guidance remains unchanged for those in Tier 1 regions.

Tier 2 (high alert)

What changes

  • You now CANNOT socialise with members or visitors from other households INSIDE the clubhouse.
  • However, you can socialise, eat and drink OUTSIDE with people from other households, as long as it is in groups of no more than six people .
  • Clubhouses must operate a table service for all food and drink.
  • Clubhouses must close between 10.00pm and 5.00am.
  • Locker rooms should be closed except for allowing use of toilets, wash-hand basins and the retrieval of stored items.

What remains the same

  • Playing of golf outdoors may continue in its current format.
  • Pro’s Shops may remain open with mandatory wearing of face coverings.
  • Face coverings must also be worn in all public areas of the clubhouse, except forwhilst eating and drinking.
  • A legal obligation for clubs to collect track and trace information on all visitors to the clubhouse and to retain this information for 21 days.

Tier 3 (very high alert)

What changes

  • People must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events.
  • People must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in an outdoor public space, including sports venues.
  • Pubs and bars must close. They can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant, which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal.
  • Golfers should try to avoid travelling outside the very-high alert level area you are in or entering a very-high alert level area, other than to travel through the area on a longer journey.
  • Golfers should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if resident in a very-high alert level area, or avoid staying overnight in a very-high alert level area if resident elsewhere.

What stays the same

  • Playing of golf outdoors may continue in its current format.
  • Pro’s Shops may remain open with mandatory wearing of face coverings.
  • Face coverings must also be worn in all public areas of the clubhouse, except for whilst eating and drinking.
  • A legal obligation for clubs to collect track and trace information on all visitors to the clubhouse and to retain this information for 21 days.

You can view the full guidance for playing golf in England during the pandemic HERE.