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Closed Allow golf to be played with appropriate safety measures

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The Government should allow golf courses to remain open during the second lockdown, and any future restrictions. Shops and clubhouses can close, but courses should be allowed to remain open, with social distancing in place.

The risk of Covid transmission is lower outdoors, so there is no reason for golf to be stopped. It provides important exercise for many people and has numerous mental health benefits. Don’t allow golf to be stopped.

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  • Petition closed

  • Parliament will debate this petition on 22 March 2021

    You’ll be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.

  • Government responded to this petition

    Sport is crucial for our mental and physical health. That’s why we have continued to make sure that people can exercise. Given the seriousness of the current situation golf courses have had to close.

    Read the response in full

    The importance of sport and physical activity, including golf, for the nation’s physical and mental health has never been more apparent. They are a powerful defence against the covid-19 pandemic, and we will need to raise levels of fitness among the population as we prepare to return to our normal lives, now the vaccination programme has begun.

    No government would want to be in a position of needing to close sports facilities including golf courses. Golf has great reach across society as people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can take part in the game; it brings people together to experience the outdoors and enjoy nature. Golf courses were one of the first sports facilities to be reopened following the initial lockdown and they were also able to stay open in the local tiered restrictions, including tier 4. However, the current spread of the virus risks the healthcare system becoming overwhelmed. This is something we cannot allow to happen and is why the current national lockdown was introduced.

    The current restrictions are designed to get the R rate under control through limiting social contact and reducing transmissions. All decisions made by the Government relating to the pandemic and sport have been based on advice and guidance from health and scientific experts.

    During the period of these restrictions you can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area. You should maintain social distancing.

    You can exercise in a public outdoor place which include:
    ● parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests
    ● public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
    ● the grounds of a heritage site
    ● Playgrounds

    Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

  • Related activity

    DCMS Committee to hear from sports facility representatives on surviving the pandemic

    On Tuesday 12 December, a group of MPs called the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee will hear from the gym industry on making sure our sports facilities, including pools and leisure centres, can survive the pandemic.

    Watch the session from 10 am on Tuesday 12 January on Parliament’s streaming site: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c4f1d7a0-2370-412b-8d88-a297b6abf06a

    This 'evidence session' is part of the Committee's inquiry into Sport in our communities. The Committee will hear from two panels:

    Panel 1 (10 am to 11 am)
    Rich Emerson, CEO, The Climbing Academy, and Chair of the Association of British Climbing Walls.
    Rebecca Passmore, UK Managing Director, PureGym

    Panel 2 (11 to 12 pm)
    Marg Mayne, CEO, Mytime Active, and Treasurer of Community Leisure UK
    Huw Edwards, CEO, ukactive

    The session is part of a longer inquiry looking into Sport in our communities. You can find out more here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/647/sport-in-our-communities/

    You can get involved with the inquiry by recording your own video message or short film to answer the question: What does community sport mean to me?

    You must follow current COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions when filming your video- do not put yourself and others at risk. You can use animation, film your video indoors and you don’t need to film outside. We want to hear about why community sport is important to you and why it matters to you.

    Find out more here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/647/sport-in-our-communities/news/123537/what-does-community-sport-mean-to-you-contribute-to-our-inquiry/

    Further information

    Find out how to get involved in the work of the UK Parliament: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/

    Find out about the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/digital-culture-media-and-sport

    Follow the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Twitter:
    @CommonsDCMS and take part in this discussion with #MyCommunitySport

    Find out how Select Committees work:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

  • This petition will be considered for debate in Parliament

    This petition got more than 100,000 signatures meaning the Petitions Committee will consider it for debate in Parliament.

  • Government will respond to this petition

    This petition got more than 10,000 signatures meaning that government will respond to it.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 6 May 2021.