New national lockdown from this Wed?

Kaz said:
If golf didn’t have such a massive image problem it’d be a no brainier to allow it to continue in the lockdown. But as it stands it is completely untenable for the government to exempt it. Political suicide.

Golf as an industry and golfers in general would be better advised to just accept this rather than damage that image even further and bring more unwanted attention.
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The flip side is .
It might be a good opportunity to show people it’s a working mans/ woman’s game.
But wouldn’t fancy that brief.
But you are correct atm it’s just not on.
 
SocketRocket said:
Wasn't that decided by the Synod of Whitby in the seventh century? (Or thereabouts)
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I don't know to be honest. I'm not religious but moving Easter every year could come into random irritations for me so I have an annual, jokey, whinge to my relative. Last time I asked it was the Greek Orthodox church that was holding it up ?
 
PhilTheFragger said:
Well being against the petition, but willing to benefit from it is a good starting point?
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Benefit from it ?! So anyone who doesn’t sign it etc can’t play golf if EG speak to the government and golf can still be played !

It’s laughable that’s there is any belief a petition will make a difference
 
Even if the courses were open would they really fall under "essential travel?".

Not many who live close enough to walk from home and carry their clubs to the first tee...
 
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Dear fellow golfers,

Having digested the Prime Minister’s statement to the nation on Saturday night and read the guidance which followed, there is an element of confusion around the government’s stated intention to close down golf courses and facilities from Thursday 5 November.

As a result of this, and 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.

Listening to the Prime Minister, the news that he is actively encouraging safe and responsible outdoor exercise for households or two individuals pointed to our great game of golf being at the heart of this policy.

The guidance which followed stating that golf courses were on a list of venues which should close, therefore, appeared contradictory and came out of the blue.

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

Of course, we fully recognise and accept the need to suppress the virus to save lives and protect the NHS.

Throughout the pandemic England Golf has endeavoured to act with authority, knowledge, understanding and extreme diligence. At all times we have placed the health and wellbeing of our communities as a priority.

For this and many reasons, it is our sincere belief that it is 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.

Golf returned on 13 May this year following the first national lockdown as an extension of outdoor recreation.

We achieved this after presenting a unified golf industry (All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf) strategy paper that not only outlined a “return to play” roadmap beyond reproach, but which was heralded as best practice for many other sports to reference!

Our (England Golf’s) 'Play Safe, Stay Safe' guidance was endorsed by government, adopted by golf clubs and is now ingrained in the minds of all golfers.

With safe and responsible exercising being encouraged by government during the second period of national lockdown, it seems incongruous to call for golf courses to now close.

Golf is widely acknowledged as a game which is good for the body and soul, with outstanding research reiterating its benefits for the older generation recently shared by The R&A.

But even without a research paper, the physical benefits of exercising in the open air are obvious and known to all.

In the current situation, the psychological gains from being able to enjoy a social and safe form of outdoor activity, enjoying a temporary release from the pressures of everyday life probably outweigh the physical.

I’m aware from the numbers who have signed a national petition that a great many golfers around the country share this belief.

To be clear, I was also very happy to sign this petition.

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.

I truly believe this would not, in any way, undermine the huge public health efforts that are going on in the country during these times.

Golf, in fact, can help us get through this terrible pandemic and be stronger for it once we emerge on the other side.

I wish good health to you and your families. Please continue to stay safe.

Kind regards
 
robinthehood said:
Dear fellow golfers,

Having digested the Prime Minister’s statement to the nation on Saturday night and read the guidance which followed, there is an element of confusion around the government’s stated intention to close down golf courses and facilities from Thursday 5 November.

As a result of this, and 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.

Listening to the Prime Minister, the news that he is actively encouraging safe and responsible outdoor exercise for households or two individuals pointed to our great game of golf being at the heart of this policy.

The guidance which followed stating that golf courses were on a list of venues which should close, therefore, appeared contradictory and came out of the blue.

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

Of course, we fully recognise and accept the need to suppress the virus to save lives and protect the NHS.

Throughout the pandemic England Golf has endeavoured to act with authority, knowledge, understanding and extreme diligence. At all times we have placed the health and wellbeing of our communities as a priority.

For this and many reasons, it is our sincere belief that it is 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.

Golf returned on 13 May this year following the first national lockdown as an extension of outdoor recreation.

We achieved this after presenting a unified golf industry (All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf) strategy paper that not only outlined a “return to play” roadmap beyond reproach, but which was heralded as best practice for many other sports to reference!

Our (England Golf’s) 'Play Safe, Stay Safe' guidance was endorsed by government, adopted by golf clubs and is now ingrained in the minds of all golfers.

With safe and responsible exercising being encouraged by government during the second period of national lockdown, it seems incongruous to call for golf courses to now close.

Golf is widely acknowledged as a game which is good for the body and soul, with outstanding research reiterating its benefits for the older generation recently shared by The R&A.

But even without a research paper, the physical benefits of exercising in the open air are obvious and known to all.

In the current situation, the psychological gains from being able to enjoy a social and safe form of outdoor activity, enjoying a temporary release from the pressures of everyday life probably outweigh the physical.

I’m aware from the numbers who have signed a national petition that a great many golfers around the country share this belief.

To be clear, I was also very happy to sign this petition.

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.

I truly believe this would not, in any way, undermine the huge public health efforts that are going on in the country during these times.

Golf, in fact, can help us get through this terrible pandemic and be stronger for it once we emerge on the other side.

I wish good health to you and your families. Please continue to stay safe.

Kind regards
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Absolute common sense. From first word until last.
 
So it seems as though every sport, activity, trade, retail organisation and man&dog is trying to find a reason why they should be exempt from the lockdown. "Yes it's terrible the death toll and infection rate and yes the Government has to do something about it but leave us alone and deal with everyone else". Wheel out said representative, famous sports star or so-called personality to further the cause and sit back and let the apparent public sympathy take its course. Golf of course is not exempt in this and as a golf forum, I understand it is going to be just a tad biased in this regard. But the media is absolutely full of everyone claiming they should be exempt through whatever loophole they can find.

And therein lies one of the major problems for the position the country now finds itself in.
 
Pathetic Shark said:
So it seems as though every sport, activity, trade, retail organisation and man&dog is trying to find a reason why they should be exempt from the lockdown. "Yes it's terrible the death toll and infection rate and yes the Government has to do something about it but leave us alone and deal with everyone else". Wheel out said representative, famous sports star or so-called personality to further the cause and sit back and let the apparent public sympathy take its course. Golf of course is not exempt in this and as a golf forum, I understand it is going to be just a tad biased in this regard. But the media is absolutely full of everyone claiming they should be exempt through whatever loophole they can find.

And therein lies one of the major problems for the position the country now finds itself in.
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I agree although have sympathy for businesses and employees losing revenue/wages. Golf is a hobby and it's just a hobby I need to shelve until it's available to me again. In the big scheme of things it really is no biggy...Therefore "I'm out" (when it comes to petition signing)!!
 
AmandaJR said:
I agree although have sympathy for businesses and employees losing revenue/wages. Golf is a hobby and it's just a hobby I need to shelve until it's available to me again. In the big scheme of things it really is no biggy...Therefore "I'm out" (when it comes to petition signing)!!
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Get that guitar out again!
 
The different hospitality businesses in Scotland do themselves no favours by each blaming the 'other' for not being strict enough during the last measures.
I think most of us know that they were all at it.
 
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Pathetic Shark said:
So it seems as though every sport, activity, trade, retail organisation and man&dog is trying to find a reason why they should be exempt from the lockdown. "Yes it's terrible the death toll and infection rate and yes the Government has to do something about it but leave us alone and deal with everyone else". Wheel out said representative, famous sports star or so-called personality to further the cause and sit back and let the apparent public sympathy take its course. Golf of course is not exempt in this and as a golf forum, I understand it is going to be just a tad biased in this regard. But the media is absolutely full of everyone claiming they should be exempt through whatever loophole they can find.

And therein lies one of the major problems for the position the country now finds itself in.
Click to expand...

It really isn't. Ignoring the rules and seeking exemptions based on observable facts are quite different. The risk of transmission outdoors is an order of magnitude lower than indoors. Fact. If golf, crown green bowling or bog snorkelling can demonstrate plausibly that their sport is safe, then there is no reason to prohibit them in order to satisfy people who suffer from concrete thinking and can only see all sport banned or permitted.

Simplistic rules which include elements which make little sense or are unjustified tend to get ignored, and that in turn drives a culture of ignoring other rules which should be observed, and the whole thing is corrosive. That happened with the last lockdown.

I am arguing in favour of golf being allowed, and I have no intention of playing either way.
 
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