Scottish Golf COVID update Friday 21st May

Following the First Minister’s latest COVID-19 briefing on Friday 21 May, the Government has given further detail on the local protection levels for various local authority areas. 
 
Moray Local Authority Area 
Moray will now move to Level 2 restrictions from 00.01 on Saturday 22 May. Golf clubs and golfers in this local authority area can access guidance for Level 2 here. 
 
Glasgow City Local Authority Area 
Glasgow will remain in Level 3 restrictions for at least a further week. The following guidance applies for Level 3: 

• Adults living in Level 3 areas may leave their local authority area (up to 5 miles) to take part in a casual game of golf. 
• Adults living in Level 3 areas should only travel locally to take part in a competitive or qualifying round.
• Children Under 17 may travel to and from Level 0, 1, 2 and 3 areas to take part in informal exercise and organised sport, training and competition.
• All travel to and from the venue must take place on the same day with no overnight stays permitted.

Full guidance for Level 3 can be accessed here.

You can keep up to date on all the latest COVID-19 Updates on our dedicated webpage here.
 
Kind Regards,
Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer Scottish Golf

Scottish Golf - COVID update 18th May

Following our most recent COVID-19 Update on Friday, we have been working with our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government to seek further clarity on enhanced travel restrictions for Level 3 Areas (Glasgow and Moray). 
 
We have now updated our guidance. All clubs currently in a Level 3 area should note that this guidance is effective immediately: 
 

• Adults living in Level 3 areas may leave their local authority area (up to 5 miles) to take part in a casual game of golf. 
• Adults living in Level 3 areas should only travel locally to take part in a competitive or qualifying round.
• Children Under 17 may travel to and from Level 0, 1, 2 and 3 areas to take part in informal exercise and organised sport, training and competition.
• All travel to and from the venue must take place on the same day with no overnight stays permitted.

 
The latest indication we have from the Scottish Government is that these restrictions will be in place for at least one week from Monday 17 May. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep all clubs updated should anything change. 
 
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 Updates from Scottish Golf here.
 
Kind regards,
Scottish Golf 

SCOTTISH GOLF COVID GUIDELINES FROM 17th MAY 2021

 Following yesterday's announcement by the First Minister, Scottish Golf can confirm the following movement in Protection Levels from Monday 17 May. 

• Level 3: Moray is very likely to remain at Level 3. This decision will confirmed at the end of the week and we will inform all clubs as soon as possible.
   
• Level 2: Mainland Scotland and islands not moving to Level 1 will move to Level 2. 
   
• Level 1: Orkney, Shetland, Na h-Eileanan Siar, all islands in Highland (except Skye) and the following islands within Argyll and Bute will move to Level 1 - Coll, Colonsay, Erraid, Gometra, Iona, Islay, Jura, Mull, Oronsay, Tiree and Ulva

We have received final approval from our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government on our updated guidance which is available here. 
 
While there are no further changes to on-course activities, our updated guidance means that from Monday 17th May, the following changes will take place for clubs who can offer hospitality services.
 
In Level 2 areas:

• All indoor hospitality may operate until 22.30.
• Groups may consist of up to 6 people from 3 households.
• Alcohol may be served (2-hour dwell time).
• All outdoor hospitality may continue where groups of Over 18s may consist of up to 8 people from 8 households.

 
In Level 1 areas: 

• All indoor hospitality may operate until 23.00.
• Groups may consist of up to 8 people from 3 households.
• Alcohol may be served.
• All outdoor hospitality may continue and groups of Over 18s may consist of up to 12 people from 12 households.

Please note that detail for all future levels remains indicative at this stage and could be subject to further relaxation or change. You can continue to keep up to date on all the latest COVID-19 updates on our dedicated webpage here. 
 
Once again, we would like to thank all of our clubs and gofers across Scotland for your continued co-operation and adherence to the current guidance during these challenging times.  
 

Kind regards,
Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Golf.

Scottish Golf Medal Finals West Division Draw

 

A full field of 156 club golfers have signed up to play in this week’s Scottish Medal Final West at the popular Williamwood Golf Club in Glasgow Friday 14th May 2021

It is the second of six regional qualifiers for this new Scottish Golf tournament with the top six men and top six women at each event earning the right to tee up in the Scottish Medal Finals Grand Final to be played at The Duke’s, St Andrews, on Sunday 15 August.

The event at Williamwood comes hard on the heels of last week’s Scottish Medal Final East tournament at Craigmillar Park in Edinburgh in which the first 12 qualifiers booked their places in the Grand Final at the Home of Golf. 

CLICK HERE FOR DRAW

Read more on the Scottish Golf Website or in the news section of your SG App

SCOTLAND MOVE TO LEVEL 3 ON MONDAY 26th APRIL

Following this week's announcement by the First Minister, Scottish Golf welcomes confirmation that mainland Scotland will be entering Level 3 on Monday 26th April.

We have received final approval from our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government on our updated guidance which is available here. 

Our updated guidance means that from Monday 26th April, the following changes will take place:

• Adults living in Level 3 or Level 4 areas may leave their local authority area to participate in informal exercise and organised sport that starts and finishes in the same place.
• Clubhouse facilities may open.
• All indoor hospitality may operate until 20.00, allowing 6 people from 2 households to meet. No alcohol is permitted.
• All outdoor hospitality may resume. Groups may consist of up to 6 people from 6 households. Alcohol may be served, and licensing times apply.

Clubs should note that the Scottish Government has issued updated guidance, available here, with additional precautions for hospitality venues. The guidance highlights that hospitality venues should gather contact details for all their customers – not just for the lead member of each group.

We know that 26th April is a date that will have been circled in the diaries of both golf clubs and golfers across Scotland for some time now, and we are delighted that we can continue to make progress out of lockdown. We would remind everyone to continue to follow the latest guidance and take the required precautions to ensure we can continue to benefit from these new relaxations.

Please note that detail for all other levels remains indicative at this stage and could be subject to further relaxation or change. You can continue to keep up to date on all the latest COVID-19 updates on our dedicated webpage here. 

Kind regards,
Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Golf.

Covid Guidelines --- Friday 12th March

 Following our latest COVID-19 update, we have worked with our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government to gain final approval on our updated guidance.

We have now achieved sign-off on our updated guidance which is available here.

Clubs should note that from Friday 12 March: 

• Golf courses with a designated COVID Officer can permit organised golf for members who live within the local authority area. Play can take place in four-balls with no restrictions on the number of households. 
   
• Golf courses without a designated COVID Officer, or where members are crossing a local authority boundary to play, can remain open for play with a maximum of four players from two households. 
   
• For groups over the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 15. 
   
• For groups under the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 30. 

Since our last update, we have received several queries relating to the new group numbers and limits. We wish to provide clubs with further clarity on this. 
 
The guidance to permit 4-ball play from 4 different households to members who live within the local authority area is in-line with new sport-specific guidance developed by sportscotland and the Scottish Government for organised sport. Cross-border travel from one local authority area to another for organised sport is not currently permitted.
 
Within the latest guidance, golf continues to be considered a form of informal exercise, where participants are permitted to travel up to five miles from their local authority boundary to take part. However, where this is the case, household limits of 4 people from 2 households apply.
 
Scottish Golf does not set the rules or parameters for these distinctions. However, we will continue to provide feedback on their practicalities for our member clubs. In comparison with most other sports across Scotland, we are in a unique and fortunate position to benefit from being identified as both organised sport and informal exercise at this time. 
 
We remind all clubs and golfers in Scotland that we remain in a privileged position, with courses across the country remaining open for play. Being able to benefit from playing golf should not be taken for granted, and we kindly ask that all clubs and golfers adhere to the latest guidance to ensure we can continue to make positive progress out of lockdown. 

Keep up to date on our latest COVID-19 updates here. 
 
Thank you for your continued co-operation and understanding. 

Kind Regards,
Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Golf

COVID UPDATE - SCOTTISH GOLF - 10th March 2021

Following the First Minister’s latest update on COVID-19 restrictions, Scottish Golf welcomes the news that we are continuing to progress through the road map out of lockdown.

Within an hour of the First Minister’s update, Scottish Golf submitted updated guidance to our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, this final check can take some time as further details are considered and legislation published. 

These checks remain ongoing and must be complete before we can share a full updated version of our guidance to affiliated golf clubs for implementation across the country. However, we do appreciate that clubs require time to make operational changes ahead of any changes coming into place so we have provided this update until such time as we are given the green light to publish a full updated guidance grid.

Guidance previously allowed golfers to travel up to five miles outside their local authority area to take part in informal exercise using household rules. 

Yesterday’s announcement to allow organised sport will allow four-ball play with no restrictions on the number of households; however, this is only applicable to members who live within the golf club’s local authority area. 

Where golfers are required to travel up to five miles across a local authority boundary, players will be required to adhere to informal exercise guidance which is subject to household limits of 4 players from 2 households. 

Therefore, changes announced yesterday mean that from Friday 12 March:

• Golf courses with a designated COVID Officer can permit organised golf for members who live within the local authority area. Play can take place in four-balls with no restrictions on the number of households. 
   
• Golf courses without a designated COVID Officer, or where members are crossing a local authority boundary to play, can remain open for play with a maximum of four players from two households. 
   
• For groups over the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 15. 
   
• For groups under the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 30. 

We anticipate further guidance from our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government relating to children and young people. We will communicate these updates to all clubs as soon as possible.

We also look forward to a more substantive update from the First Minister next week relating to the return to a protection levels approach. That update is likely to include more details for clubhouses, retail and travel and will again be subject to the same sign-off process as outlined above.  

In the meantime, it is important to remind all golfers that they must remain close to home, travelling only for essential purposes in line with the current travel legislation. 

Keep up to date on all the latest COVID-19 updates on our dedicated webpage here.

Kind Regards,
Scottish Golf

Scottish Golf Annual Review 2020

Douglas Park GC (See Video below)
Lynn Hain and  Morag Thomson

A year unlike any other! The Story of 2020 for Scottish Golf. - 

The Review, available download below, reports a 6.1% rise in club membership and also showcases the extensive work carried out by Scottish Golf during the COVID-19 pandemic to support our clubs in Scotland.

Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Golf, said, "2020 was an incredibly tough year, but one in which we delivered significant improvements in our focused services to our members. 2021 will be about continuing to build on these improvements and to support our affiliated clubs no matter what happens."

Download their annual review at Scottish Golf -- good to see a few faces we know - Orla Rooney (Cowglen), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie)

Video -- Karen Ballantyne (Scottish Vets), Joanne Sharp (Captain Ayrshire LCGA) and other Lady Senior Golfers

World Handicap System (WHS) ZOOM PANEL MEETING

 With the first full season under the World Handicap System (WHS) approaching, our next Zoom Panel Call will provide club officials with everything they need to be ready.

Scottish Golf’s Handicapping and Course Rating team will answer some of the most frequently asked questions from clubs since WHS went live. They will also cover the key features and resources available, including: 

• WHS CDH Tools  
• CDH Number Management 
• WHS Competition Advice 
• Stroke Indices 
• Hive Learning 

You can find out more by accessing the WHS section on the Scottish Golf website.

The Zoom Panel Call takes place on Thursday 11th March at 3pm and attendees can submit their WHS questions when registering and our team will do their best to answer as many as possible.

Registration closes at 5pm on Wednesday 10th March and you will receive information regarding access to the call shortly after this time.

If you cannot attend, please do not worry, as we will record the session and make it available to watch online.

Book Your Place

Scottish Golf cancels first three national events in 2021 due to COVID restrictions

Scottish Golf has cancelled its first three 2021 national championships, all scheduled for April, because of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

The decision to call off the Scottish Boys’ Open, Scottish Girls’ Open and Scottish Women’s Open (Helen Holm) follows talks between the governing body, sportscotland and the Scottish Government.

Unlike elsewhere in the UK or Ireland, courses in Scotland are currently open. But, with restrictions still set to be in place in April, the events at Lundin, Longniddry and Royal Troon have all been scrapped.

“Following the latest update from the First Minister, and further discussions with our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government, it is with regret that Scottish Golf has taken the decision to cancel the hosting of our first three national championships,” said a statement. “To avoid creating additional pressure on tee-sheets at our host venues, and to give club members as much access to their course as possible, we will not be rescheduling these events.

“We will be in touch with everyone who has entered to issue a full refund in due course.”

The entire 2020 Scottish Golf schedule was scrapped because of the pandemic but the plan is to look at events individually going forward this year.

For national open events, a decision will be made at the closing date. For national closed events, it will be two weeks before the practice day and, for national club events, a call will be made one week before the start date.

Latest COVID-19 Update

 Following the First Minister's latest update on COVID-19 restrictions, please note that there is no change to the current position for golf. This means: 

• Golf courses can remain open for play with a maximum of two players from up to two households 
   
• Outdoor coaching will be restricted to 2 people (including the coach) for those 12 years or over. Under 12s do not count towards the number so a coach can take larger groups of up to 30 U12s

• Golfers must stay close to home, travel only for essential purposes (which includes golf as part of the permitted exercise activities) and in line with the new legislation 

The next update is not anticipated until mid-March. Should anything change, we will keep clubs up to date on our COVID-19 page  -- CLICK HERE

ENTRIES OPEN FOR THE 2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

Entries Open For 2021 National Championships

Members of Scottish golf clubs can now enter Scottish Golf’s National Championships on the Scottish Golf App and Website. Golfers of all ages and abilities can choose to enter our events and play some of the top golf courses in Scotland such as Lundin, Royal Troon, Murcur Links, and Gullane No. 1 and No. 2.  Please share this information with your members, and, if you need more information, please click the link below.

Click For More Information

COVID - 19 UPDATE - 4th January 2021

As we turn the corner on an extremely difficult 2020, starting 2021 with additional restrictions and further uncertainty is not how anyone wanted to begin the new year.

Following today’s announcement from the First Minister and with an understanding that our affiliated clubs will need to make some adjustments to their business operations, we wanted to provide all clubs with the information we have available to us at present.

As has been the case throughout the pandemic, we have worked alongside both sportscotland and The Scottish Government to demonstrate that golf is a sport that can be played outdoors with physical distancing and increased safety measures in place. We are pleased that this continues to be recognised and from 00.01 on Tuesday 5th January:

Golf courses can remain open for play with a maximum of two players from up to two households Golfers must stay close to home, travel only for essential purposes and in line with the new legislation 

 We are continuing to seek further clarification on a number of the wider aspects for sport from our partners at sportscotland and Scottish Government and as soon as we have sufficient detail with which to work, our more detailed guidance will be updated. We currently envisage being in a position to provide a more in-depth update for all affiliated clubs within the next 24 hours.

Scottish Golf asks that all golf clubs and golfers adhere to the new guidance with the same spirit and integrity that has been shown throughout the last year to ensure we can all continue to benefit from playing golf through this new period of restrictions.

You can stay up to date on all the latest information on our dedicated COVID-19 page here.

Kind Regards, Karin Sharp, - Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Golf

If you missed "Iron Women" program -- CATCH UP BBC IPLAYER

Iron Women explores the extraordinary history of women’s golf in Scotland. From the early pioneers of the 18th century, to formidable role models who challenged the patriarchal constraints of male-dominated golfing arenas, this story celebrates the trailblazers who put Scottish women’s golf firmly on the world map.

The story begins in the 18th century in Musselburgh, with recorded evidence of fishwives playing golf and competing for the prize of a creel and silk handkerchiefs. The game gathered momentum among the Victorian ladies of St Andrews from 1863, albeit under the watchful gaze of husbands and fathers who controlled the spaces women frequented, and how they used them. Transgressors such as Issette Pearson and Agnes Grainger developed strategies to create opportunities for women and thanks to their determination, the Ladies Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies Golf Association were formed in 1893 and 1904, formalising the sport and creating competition, and fundamentally, a handicap system before men.

Formidable golfers emerged, with several Scots leading the way at home and abroad. While the pioneer players were successful in increasing the visibility of women in golf, they still battled resistance with controls in play that restricted access to courses, clubs and career development. From the early heroes of Edith Orr, Dorothy Campbell and Charlotte Beddows, to Jessie Valentine, Jean Donald and Belle Robertson, women have played towards a fairer way for Scotland’s so called ‘fairer-sex'.

GO TO BBC IPLAYER -- CLICK HERE -- AVAILABLE FOR A MONTH

For those who wondered where some West of Scotland County Members were singing  -- It was after the West of Scotland County Foursomes played at Prestwick St Nicholas GC some of the players from Ayrshire, Dunbarton and Argyll, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire County sing a support song for the 2014 GB&I Curtis Cup team who are playing the 38th match at St Louis Country Club in the LADUE region of Missouri USA .  Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) was in the team  You Tube Full version video 

LEVEL 4 COVID RULES FOR GOLF FROM DECEMBER 26th

Following the First Minister’s weekend announcement that a move to Level 4 will be implemented from 26 December, we can advise that there has been no changes advised to the previously shared sporting guidance based on each local protection level.

The Scottish Golf website remains current and the full detail of what is permitted can be found here, with further details from sportscotland on the wider sporting framework and responsibilities of COVID officers available here.

Should there be any changes advised in the days ahead, we shall of course keep you updated but in the meantime all detail on our website shows the current position for golf.

With best wishes to you and your membership for a safe festive season and collectively let’s hope for better things to come in 2021.

Kind regards, 
The Scottish Golf Team

SCOTTISH GOLF EVENTS 2021

From the Scottish Golf Website

Scottish Golf is pleased to announce a full schedule of events for golfers of all ages and abilities will be returning in 2021.

Following a season-long hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a full 2021 schedule will offer thousands of golfers the opportunity to play some of Scotland’s top golf courses and bid to become a National Champion. 

With over 120,000 downloads of the Scottish Golf App since the start of November, the upcoming season will also see several exciting changes to enhance the player and viewer experience. 

Full hole-by-hole live scoring will now be available at all Scottish Golf events for the first time as players input their scores and sign off scorecards directly on their mobile devices using the Scottish Golf App. 

The App, which is free to download here, has many exciting features which entrants will be able to take full advantage of in 2021. This includes simple event entry, live scoring and an on-course Caddie which will give you accurate course information for every one of our Host Venues. 

The Scottish Medal Finals will make its debut as a combined event in 2021 with affiliated clubs invited to enter three of their top-performing male and female players from both the 2019 and 2020 season’s monthly medals into one of six Regional Finals taking place during May and July.

On the day of the Regional Final, male and female players will play alongside each other with the top six net male and female qualifiers booking their place at the Home of Golf for the Grand Final which will be played over The Duke’s Course on Sunday 15 August.

The offering for club golfers continues with the hugely successful and free-to-enter R&A 9-Hole Challenge, with Milnathort once again playing host to the two-day Scottish National Final on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 June. The prize for the top four teams from the National Final is the money-can’t-buy experience of playing in the R&A 9-hole Challenge Final over Royal St. Georges on the eve of The 149th Open Championship where they will compete against fellow qualifiers from across the world for the overall title.

Completing the portfolio of National Championships for club golfers is the free-to-enter PING Scottish Mixed Championship which will this year be played over former Men’s and Women’s Scottish Open venue, Gullane No.1 on Friday 17 September. This event will see the Top 40 pairs from a National Leaderboard qualify for a great day out and some fantastic prizes courtesy of Championship sponsors PING.

Fraser Munro, Head of Events at Scottish Golf, said: “2020 has been a hugely difficult year for everyone but we are looking forward to getting back out and engaging with clubs and golfers in the new year. Entries recently opened for our newly combined Scottish Medal Finals and we have been hugely encouraged by the level of response it has received. 

“As always, none of this would be possible without the support of our various stakeholders including our many host venues for allowing us access to their wonderful courses and our generous event partners for providing some outstanding prizes throughout the season. 

“With more than 120,000 people having now downloaded the Scottish Golf App, our events and the information available will be more accessible than ever and we look forward to welcoming more golfers of all ages and abilities to our events going forward.”

At elite level, the domestic season tees off with the Scottish Boys’ and Girls’ Open Championships taking place 7-9 April at Lundin and Longniddry who will be celebrating their centenary.

Scottish Golf’s flagship Women’s and Men’s Amateur Championships will be staged over Gullane (4 – 6 June) and Murcar Golf Links & Portlethen (27 – 31 July) with Southerness (28 – 30 May) and the newly announced 2024 Open Championship venue Royal Troon (16-18 April) playing host to the Scottish Men’s Open and Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championships respectively.

Elsewhere the Scottish Senior Men’s Open Championship will take place at Duff House Royal (16-18 June), Aberdour will host the Scottish Senior Women’s Open Championship (22 – 25 June) as part of their 125th-anniversary celebrations with the Scottish Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur Championships being held at Bruntsfield Links and Strathaven in July, with Kirkcaldy and Stirling completing the offering by hosting the Scottish Boy’s U14 Open and Scottish Girl’s Open (8 – 9 August) respectively. 

Participants should note that we will continue to work with our partners in Government and sportscotland to ensure that all events adhere to any restrictions in place at the time. 

Entries for all 2021 Scottish Golf National Championships will open on 1st February 2021 via the Scottish Golf App and website. To see the full 2021 schedule, please click here.

Martin Gilbert is set to become the Chair of Scottish Golf

 Martin Gilbert, one of Scotland’s best-known business figures, is set to become the chair of Scottish Golf, the national governing body of the sport in Scotland.

The Scottish Golf board has announced that Martin, who has actively supported golf in Scotland for over 20 years, will be presented as chair-elect at the AGM in March 2021, when Eleanor Cannon will step down after a six-year term as chair. 

 

Martin has been a prominent supporter of golf in Scotland for many years, firstly through Aberdeen Asset Management and latterly Aberdeen Standard Investments. Via his businesses he has also sponsored leading Scottish golfers including Open Championship winner Paul Lawrie, Women’s Open Championship winner Catriona Matthew and recent European Tour Winner, Robert MacIntyre. 
 

Eleanor Cannon said: “This is a tremendous coup for golf in Scotland and the entire board is delighted that Martin, whose passion and support for the sport are very widely known, has agreed to take on this role next year. 

 

“His achievements, both in business globally and in his role as the biggest supporter of Scottish Golf over the past two decades, speak for themselves and I am sure his dynamic approach will allow Scottish Golf to flourish. I am extremely pleased that our members and our sport will benefit from Martin’s guidance and undoubted love for golf in the years ahead.

 

Martin Gilbert said: “As many people know, golf has been a lifelong passion of mine and I’m hugely excited to be taking up this role in the Home of Golf. I commend Eleanor and her team for their sterling leadership of the new, amalgamated body since its inception in 2015. 

 

“The strategic direction that has been adopted by Scottish Golf is bold and exciting. I am very much looking forward to progressing this strategy and working closely with the board, the team and the membership in continuing to develop the game at all levels in Scotland.”

COVID 19 -LOCAL AREA RULES -- UPDATE FROM SCOTTISH GOLF

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE 

Following our last communication on Tuesday 17th November, Scottish Golf is now in a position to provide all affiliated clubs with further guidance relating to the Scottish Government’s COVID protection levels by local area. 

With restrictions tightening across many parts of the country, we welcome the fact that on-course activity can continue across Scotland in compliance with local restrictions. In recognising the contribution of golf to the physical and mental health of our membership, we are most appreciative of the opportunity to keep the golf courses open and our golfing community benefiting from playing the game during these ongoing times of uncertainty.

We have been working with our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government to gain final sign-off on our latest version of our COVID-19 Guidance for Golf Clubs and Golfers which includes a new summary sheet detailing what golf activity can take place under each level of protection. This information should be used in conjunction with Scottish Golf’s main guidance and clubs should be aware that this guidance may be subject to further change. Should this happen, we will continue to keep all clubs informed. 

Through our ongoing work with The Scottish Government, MSPs on the Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee want to know more about the impact of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on sports clubs, sporting organisations and sports and leisure venues. Clubs are encouraged to complete a short survey which should take no more than 6-7 minutes to complete. Please note this survey closes on 7th December. 

It’s really important that the Committee capture as much insight and experience of the sector as possible to ensure MSPs have a full picture of the impact.

We know that these new restrictions are difficult, but it remains our shared responsibility to prioritise the health of our local communities by working together to follow the Government guidelines. In doing so, this will ensure that we continue to benefit from playing the game we love. We thank all of our clubs and golfers for continuing to play their part during these challenging times. 

We will continue to keep all clubs and tournament organisers updated via our dedicated COVID-19 webpage which can be accessed here. 

Kind regards,
Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Golf

COVID - 19 UPDATE FROM SCOTTISH GOLF

Following the First Ministers update in Parliament on Tuesday 10 November, Scottish Golf has been in further dialogue with our partners at sportscotland to gain further clarity on the current travel guidance in place. We are now able to provide the following updated travel guidance for all golf clubs below: 

 • You should avoid travel to other areas regardless of their level unless essential.

.• For exercise/sport – there is an exemption, however, it is limited: In Level 4, not permitted to drive outside your Local Authority area for exercise – you can cross boundaries in the process of exercising i.e if a golf course straddles two Local Authority area boundaries. 

 In Level 3 - You can travel anywhere within your local authority area to take part in sport. You may cross a local authority boundary by up to 5 miles if necessary, this includes where a golf course straddles two local authority areas. You can currently travel up to 5 miles into another local authority for sport where this is absolutely necessary and you cannot access the sport otherwise. 

If there is a more local option to play golf within your local authority area, this would be recommended as unnecessary travel is being actively discouraged.

 

 In Levels 0-2 - Adults should, where possible, minimise unnecessary travel between areas and not travel to a Level 3 or 4. It is important that we continue to show good adherence to the current guidance in place and Scottish Golf encourages all clubs and golfers to play their part in demonstrating that as a sport, we are acting responsibly and safely amidst the ongoing restrictions. 

 The current guidance for golf remains the same and is summarised below: 

 • On-course golf activities can continue under our current Phase 3 Guidance, with up to four players from four different households allowed to participate together. 

There are no changes to access to toilet facilities, locker rooms or professional shops which can continue to be utilised provided all appropriate measures, such as the use of face masks, increased sanitation are adhered to. 

• Clubhouses and sports facilities which provide catering and bar services, can operate providing they adhere to Scottish Government guidance appropriate to the protection level in which they are operating.

-- SOME KEY FEATURES OF THE SCOTTISH GOLF APP

With the new World Handicap System launching in Scotland on Monday, and more than 77,000 golfers now using the Scottish Golf App, over 400 golfers from across the country engaged with Scottish Golf’s latest Zoom Panel Call which focussed on showcasing some of the key features of the App, as well as answering some frequently asked questions. 

Hosted by Scottish Golf’s Club Business Manager, Iain Evans, golfers from across Scotland had the opportunity to hear from, and pose questions to, David Kernohan, Handicapping and Course Rating Officer at Scottish Golf, Gordon Crae from Gourock Golf Club and Joe Persh, Head of Development and Technology at OCS. -- Go to the Scottish Golf Website for More