Golfers can play with someone outside their household, says Government

Golfers in England are preparing to hit the fairways again with their friends, after it emerged on Monday afternoon that when the courses reopen on Wednesday they will not be restricted to playing either on their own or with members of their own household. The Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday night that recreational sport can resume in the country was greeted enthusiastically, but with one caveat. Boris Johnson essentially indicated that players could only go out in one-balls, unless they lived with a fellow player, presumably a partner or child. But when the official documents were released at 2pm on Monday, the “household� requirement was not present and the game in England breathed a sigh of relief. Two-balls featuring golfers from different households will be allowed. It is not business as usual, but it will be enticing scenario to many. What golfers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will make of it, however, is another story entirely. Their national governments have yet to give the go-ahead, although will now surely come under increasing pressure. When will golf courses reopen after lockdown? Earlier, England Golf has pleaded for “patience� from clubs and golfers as it sought clarification from the Government over the Prime Minister’s announcement that recreational sport can resume in the country from Wednesday. While the news of a restart was widely welcomed throughout the English game it is fair to say that confusion reigned. The apparent “regulation� that caused the majority of the consternation and confusion is that players would only be able to share a round with one member of the household. Otherwise, players could only go out in one-balls. This would have presented obvious difficulties for clubs as they try to satisfy the wishes of all their members and regular players at their courses. Say a club has 700 members. There will be approximately 60 tee-times available each day and if many of those are restricted to singles, the maths would have been clear. It is understood that England Golf were inundated with questions after the prime minister set out his roadmap on Sunday night. None of the governing bodies — including the R&A; — was prepared for this news and that is why England Golf, the body in control of amateur golf in England, went to the Government.