Can you play golf in tier 3?
GOLF courses have been closed for the duration of the COVID lockdown in England, with many golfers keen to get back out on the green for their daily exercise. After Matt Hancock's latest tier announcement, can you play golf in a tier 3 area?
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Golf courses have remained shut throughout most of November, in line with Government advice on coronavirus. But there is some good news for golfers hoping to get back out on the links, as courses are set to open in the near future.
Back on November 4, England Golf confirmed that it had been ordered to close all golf courses around England.
The organisation explained that it would "vigorously challenge" the Government on its decision to close golf courses.
At time, it said: "As an open-air sport played by limited numbers in a vast outdoor setting which naturally lends itself to social distancing, we lobbied that golf should continue to be played in accordance with our government-approved ‘Play Safe, Stay Safe’ framework.
"With the Prime Minister actively encouraging family households and up to two individuals from different households to exercise in the open air without limit, we strongly believe that golf courses should have remained open as an extension to recreation even if it was necessary to close clubhouses and professional shops."
Can you play golf in tier 3?
All golf courses will be opening to the public after lockdown ends on December 2.
They will be allowed to open once again on Thursday December 3 for the first time in four weeks.
But, in a tier 3 zone, clubhouses will remain shut, with indoor hospitality facilities only offering a take-away food option.
All parties must abide by the Rule of Six, with fourball play allowed, without restrictions on household numbers.
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After Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that golf courses could re-open from December 3, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf's Chairman, Craig Tracey MP, said that he welcomed the decision.
Golf is a sport that can operate safely in an open-air environment, and lends itself to social distancing, he said.
"Golf now has operational experience and established COVID secure practices, including rule changes and other mitigation measures that meet the ‘Hands, Face, Space’ directive," he added.
"It is therefore ideally placed to welcome people back when lockdown ends in all the home nations."
Outdoor sport has been given the go-ahead by the Government following the end of lockdown next month.
In tier 3 settings, all classes and organized adult sport can take place, but you should avoid contact.
Indoor sports are still banned, unless it's with your own household or support bubble.
Organised sports for elite athletes, under-18s or disable people can continue, as normal.
On Thursday November 26, Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed which areas of England would be emerging into tier 3 after lockdown.
These areas include:
North East
Tees Valley Combined Authority:
Hartlepool
Middlesbrough
Stockton-on-Tees
Redcar and Cleveland
Darlington
North East Combined Authority:
Sunderland
South Tyneside
Gateshead
Newcastle upon Tyne
North Tyneside
County Durham
Northumberland
North West
Greater Manchester
Lancashire
Blackpool
Blackburn with Darwen
Yorkshire and The Humber
The Humber
West Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
West Midlands
Birmingham and Black Country
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull
East Midlands
Derby and Derbyshire
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Leicester and Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
South East
Slough (remainder of Berkshire is tier 2: High alert)
Kent and Medway
South West
Bristol
South Gloucestershire
North Somerset