Much of Great Britain and Ireland has been plunged back into lockdown, but the rules about golf differ according to where you live.
So, we've decided to put together a guide to where you can and cannot play golf at the moment, and how long restrictions are predicted to last.
England
Golf courses and golf clubs in England are now closed until December 2, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that lockdown restrictions will lift.
For a while we thought that golf might be exempt from the closure of all "non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues" but unfortunately we have had no such look.
A petition to keep courses open attracted more than 250,000 signatures and key figures from the industry, including England Golf, all pulled together to challenge the decision, but at the moment the government is showing no signs of letting golf reopen before everything else does.
However, senior cabinet minister Michael Gove did add to the confusion and the rumours that golf might be exempt when he suggested there could yet be a way golf could be played during lockdown in a Zoom call with Surrey Heath constituents. He quickly apologised and admitted he was wrong afterwards.
For more information visit the England Golf website HERE.
Wales
After a two-week national 'firebreaker' lockdown, Wales Golf has announced that golf clubs in Wales will be able to reopen on Monday November 9.
The governing body for amateur golf in Wales confirmed that courses, professional shops, driving ranges and golf club restaurants will be all be allowed to welcome back visitors.
The Wales Golf website listed the following conditions:
- Golf clubs, courses, professional shops, and driving ranges will be able to reopen.
- Up to 15 people can take part in an organised indoors activity and up to 30 in an organised activity outdoors, providing all social distancing, hand hygiene and other COVID-19 safety measures are followed. This will allow golf to be played in fourballs and allows group coaching to resume. The requirement to book before you play golf will continue.
- Golf club restaurants, will be able to reopen. Following the announcement about the English lockdown, Ministers are having ongoing discussions with the hospitality sector about the detailed rules for reopening. This includes about meeting in public indoor spaces. Further details to follow.
- Maintain two metre social distancing and wear face masks in enclosed public places around the golf club and facility.
- There will be no legal restrictions on travel within Wales for residents, but international travel should be for essential reasons only.
For more information visit the Wales Golf website HERE.
Ireland
Golf courses in Ireland closed for six weeks on October 21.
In theory, this means they should open on December 1, but the Government has said their will be a four-week review into restrictions.
This could potentially mean the golf courses in Ireland end up opening earlier, or later (hopefully not) than December 1.
A statement issued by the Golfing Union of Ireland and Irish Ladies Golf Union on October 21 read:
"Following intensive engagement over the past 48 hours, we have been informed this afternoon by Sport Ireland that, very regrettably golf clubs must close under the new level 5 restrictions.
For more information visit the Golfing Union of Ireland website HERE.
Scotland
The Scottish Government has confirmed that "on-course golf activities" can continue until further notice.
This can include up to four player from four different household.
However, golfers in Scotland are told to avoid travel to other areas unless essential.
You can see the new COVID-19 restriction for Scotland, updated on November 2, HERE.
