Harrogate district golf clubs will fight the government’s enforced one-month closure.
Clubs in Harrogate and Ripon believe golfers have been able to play safely in recent months and should be allowed to continue to do so.
They have the backing of England Golf, the governing body for amateur golf, which is in talks with the government.
Catherine Grant, who is responsible for marketing and events at Oakdale Golf Club in Harrogate, told the Stray Ferret:
“We could keep the clubhouse closed and just have two golfers playing together to make it even more safe. This has been a difficult year and another month of closure would be tough for us financially.”
Paul Spence, who works in administration at Ripon City Golf Club, said:
“I can see the arguments either way but I think that golf courses are quite safe. A lot of our golfers are in the older age group and this is one of the few places where they can see their friends in a safe way.”
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Jeremy Tomlinson, chief executive of England Golf, has written an open letter to the government saying it will “respectfully challenge the government’s rationale”. It says:
“It is our sincere belief that it is counter-productive to shut down a healthy pursuit. Golf naturally lends itself to social distancing in the open air.”
Golf returned on May 13 after the first coronavirus lockdown but this new lockdown will stop play again on Thursday.
