Closed petition Exempt golf courses from the list of venues required to close due to Covid-19
Isolation essential to the Government’s strategy for fighting coronavirus, and UK citizens must remain healthy and exercise whilst keeping adequate distance between people. The Government should allow golf courses to open so families or individuals can play golf in order to exercise safely.
More details
This could be achieved on golf courses, whether families or individuals are playing rounds. On the course everyone can keep a safe distance from each other. Let's make use of the space and the open air. Golf can help people stay healthy and happy whilst observing social distancing rules.
This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months
Parliament debated this topic
This topic was debated on 23 November 2020
Government responded
This response was given on 23 November 2020
People can leave their homes to exercise outdoors, with their household or with one person from another household or support bubble. Grassroots sports will return as soon as it is safe to do so.
Read the response in full
Sport and physical activity including golf are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. Golf also 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 protect nature.
Nobody wanted to be in the position of having to introduce further National Restrictions. However, as the Prime Minister said, with the virus spreading faster than expected we cannot allow our health system to be overwhelmed. Therefore, from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December indoor and outdoor leisure including golf courses will need to close. The National Restrictions are designed to get the R rate under control through limiting social contact and reducing transmissions.
In order for these measures to have the greatest impact, we will all need to sacrifice doing some things that we would otherwise like to do, for a short period of time. As soon as we're in a position to start lifting restrictions, grassroots sports will be one of the first to return.
People are still allowed to leave their homes for exercise and recreation outdoors, with their household or on their own, or with one person from another household or support bubble. DCMS and Sport England will continue to work with National Governing Bodies to allow the safe return of all sports as an immediate priority after the national measures have been relaxed.
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