England Golf has declared that it will "challenge hard" the decision to close golf courses, while a petition to keep them open has already amassed 167 thousand signatures.

The best thing to come out of the pandemic is that is has brought people together.

And the solidarity and sense of community we have seen in the golf industry over the last 24 hours has been extremely heartening.

Following the Prime Ministers announcement yesterday (October 31), it has been declared that all golf courses and driving ranges in England must close on November 5 for four weeks.

But club golfers, Tour players and businesses in the golf industry have wasted no time in rallying together to challenge this decision.

We're so proud to see that a petition to keep golf courses open has already amassed 172 thousand signatures, and you add you name to the list HERE.

The deadline to sign it is today (November 1), and as parliament will "consider for debate" any petition that gets over 100,000 (we are so well clear of that), we have all our fingers crossed that it might make some difference.

Meanwhile, England Golf CEO Jeremy Tomlinson, has declared that the governing body for amateur golf is going to "respectfully challenge" the rational for closing courses.

In an open letter to golfers across the country he stated: "With the health of the nation very much at the heart of my thinking, I would like to make clear England Golf’s intention to respectfully challenge the government’s rationale for closing golf courses.

"We will do so utilising all in our network – MPs, colleagues, media and friends – to make sure we are heard by government.

"At no point was England Golf – as the governing body for the amateur game of golf in this country – consulted about this decision."

He went on to point out how the golf industry had adapted to keep people safe, and the many physical and mental benefits that golf provides.

He continued: "It is our sincere belief that it is now counter-productive to shut down a healthy pursuit which naturally lends itself to social distancing and is played in a Covid-secure manner in the open air.

"Alongside our colleagues in the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf (APPGG) we will pro-actively continue dialogue with government challenging the current position hard, but with great reason, to allow golf courses to remain open for play (in some format) from Thursday."

We are fully behind England Golf and we wish them the best of luck.

You can read the full statement from Jeremy Tomlinson HERE.