Is this a permissible form of practice during lockdown?

[rudebhoy]

The local council have a pitch n putt course on the seafront. It closes down for the winter after the October half term holidays. It's not fenced off, and is used regularly by dog walkers etc.

Is there anything to stop me going down there on my own and hitting a bag of balls? It seems like a legitimate form of outdoor exercise to me!

 

[Imurg]

So is playing on a golf course but we can't do that.
My view is that if you can't go to your club and use the putting green for chipping practice then you can't use a pitch'n'putt for, essentially, the same thing.

 

[Ssshank]

The local council have a pitch n putt course on the seafront. It closes down for the winter after the October half term holidays. It's not fenced off, and is used regularly by dog walkers etc.

Is there anything to stop me going down there on my own and hitting a bag of balls? It seems like a legitimate form of outdoor exercise to me!

The act of golfing isn't prohibited but courses/driving ranges are closed.

If it was a public space you can, but as it is a golf course if someone sees you and reports you, you may get in trouble though would only be a warning initially.

So you could keep risking it until warned, that's what I would do but I have no golf courses near me and it would be too risky driving and trespassing which is what it essentially is now.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Knowing that stretch not the safest I would think, too many walkers, dog walkers etc. Find an empty stretch of beach, an empty field and practice there instead

 

[OnTour]

Scan's local area for spare field good to know.

 

[YorkshireStu]

It's not permissible as it's at a facility. It wouldn't be worth the fine to check it out in my opinion... hit some balls into a net or in an empty field?

 

[rudebhoy]

The act of golfing isn't prohibited but courses/driving ranges are closed.

If it was a public space you can, but as it is a golf course if someone sees you and reports you, you may get in trouble though would only be a warning initially.

So you could keep risking it until warned, that's what I would do but I have no golf courses near me and it would be too risky driving and trespassing which is what it essentially is now.

yes, it would only be a matter of time before someone phoned the police to complain, however whether they would bother to send someone out is a different question.

 

[rudebhoy]

Knowing that stretch not the safest I would think, too many walkers, dog walkers etc. Find an empty stretch of beach, an empty field and practice there instead

did think of that. there is a local field which I could use, but it probably has an even higher rate of dog walkers than the links.

 

[jim8flog]

You would probably find that playing on the course when it is closed (all of the time not just now) is not allowed under some sort of Bye Law and it could end up with you being fined by the council.

All recreation grounds where I live have bye laws which ban golf.

Is there a bye law which bans golf on the beach?

 

[Ssshank]

yes, it would only be a matter of time before someone phoned the police to complain, however whether they would bother to send someone out is a different question.

More than likely they would depending on the volume of complaints.

The police presence near me has been far greater than usual.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Is there a bye law which bans golf on the beach?

We have mile upon mile of beaches up here, not just little coves. If you keep going long enough you will find a quiet spot to set up. Not to hit long irons but fine for short game stuff. Check the tides first though

 

[jim8flog]

We have mile upon mile of beaches up here, not just little coves. If you keep going long enough you will find a quiet spot to set up. Not to hit long irons but fine for short game stuff. Check the tides first though

One thing I learnt from practicing on a beach is to make sure to clean any clubs used soon and as thoroughly as possible, the salt eats away the chrome.

 

[Crazyface]

So we are allowed to hit golf balls in an open space, as long as it's not an actual golf course?

 

[USER1999]

So we are allowed to hit golf balls in an open space, as long as it's not an actual golf course?

Have you got personal liability insurance, because I think you would need it in case you did hit someone.

 

[Imurg]

It would hard to find an open space open enough with no walkers around....a tough ask at the moment.

 

[rudebhoy]

It would hard to find an open space open enough with no walkers around....a tough ask at the moment.

true, was on the beach with the dog yesterday, it was packed, busiest I've seen it since high summer, even though the weather was rubbish.

went down with him at 7.30 this morning, not as busy, but still plenty around, so early morning practice might not work either

 

[LincolnShep]

So we are allowed to hit golf balls in an open space, as long as it's not an actual golf course?

The lockdown rules don't prohibit golf, they just force courses and ranges to close. If you can find somewhere else to play then that's fine as far as the lockdown rules go. However there may be other bye-laws affecting whatever space you choose, be that a park or beach or whatever. If you find a friendly farmer with a big enough field then go for it, you're not breaking any rules.

This is my opinion of the rules as I understand them, but I'm not a lawyer!

 

[Imurg]

We have a sigh in our local park
"NO CASUAL GOLF"
So serious practice is ok then?

 

[LincolnShep]

We have a sigh in our local park
"NO CASUAL GOLF"
So serious practice is ok then?

You need to wear a tie.

 

[Slab]

Have you got personal liability insurance, because I think you would need it in case you did hit someone.

Would that matter though? I would've thought any golf insurance worth a dam wont actually cover golf shots that hit someone that are not played on a designated course etc