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Golf’s governing bodies on Friday welcomed the Irish government’s announcement of the reduction of closure restrictions that will allow the courses to be reopened on May 18.
Closed on the recommendation of Golf Ireland, the Irish Golf Union and the Irish Ladies Golf Union from March 24, courses in the Republic of Ireland may be reopened for restricted play for a fortnight on Monday.
In a statement issued shortly after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s speech to the nation on Friday night, Golf Ireland Chief Executive Mark Kennelly said: “The golf community in Ireland appreciates Taoiseach’s confirmation that our clubs can restricted reopening in the first phase of the government’s Plan to ease Covid-19 restrictions. This means that golf will be one of the first sports to resume and will give golf club members the opportunity to return to play in a limited but safe way.
“Golf offers the potential to play an important role in recovering from this crisis in terms of public health. Our sport provides a valuable outlet for healthy outdoor activity that can be enjoyed with adequate safety measures.
“We hope that later in the year, golf can also make a valuable contribution to economic recovery, particularly in the national tourism sector.”
Governing bodies had been in talks with the Government and relevant agencies throughout April, engaging with them on a variety of issues, including the financial impact of the pandemic on golf clubs, the importance of allowing essential course maintenance for the past five weeks.
A comprehensive draft protocol on the safe resumption of play has been prepared to be finalized next week, in consultation with the Government, and the intention is to provide member clubs with that advice by May 18.
“That advice will emphasize the absolute need for golf clubs to adhere to the terms of the protocol for safe play,” reads the Golf Ireland / GUI / ILGU joint statement.
“In the initial stage, the game will be for members only and no competitions will be allowed. We ask clubs to refrain from opening timesheets to reserve until the protocol is released as it will contain vital information on group sizes and timesheet intervals.
“The governing bodies will also continue to work closely with the government in the coming weeks and months to seek support for golf clubs that have been severely affected by the Covid-19 restrictions.”
Kennelly thanked “Irish golfers for putting the health of their communities and their peers first during this crisis” and urged them to “continue to strictly adhere to protocols for a safe golf that will be completed shortly and to follow public health advice from the Government and health authorities. “
Governing bodies said they would continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive and UK authorities to seek a safe resumption of golf for their clubs in the North, which remain closed.
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