Michael Gove says golf can continue, then says "sorry, I got this wrong"
Red-faced Michael Gove apologises to the masses after getting his own Covid lockdown rules badly wrong...
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove had an absolute mare during a live Facebook Q&A session for Surrey residents yesterday after he explained golf and tennis could still continue during the lockdown.
Unfortunately, however, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already made it clear on Monday that both sports would remain closed during the one-month lockdown starting this Thursday.
RELATED: BORIS SAYS NO TO GOLF DURING LOCKDOWN
My apologies, I got this wrong. Outdoor leisure facilities including tennis courts and golf courses will be closed from Thursday. Guidance here: https://t.co/H50ohAAuw3 https://t.co/6Trwzyv2j4
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 3, 2020
After realising his mistake during the Q&A session - which you can watch above - an embarrassed Gove was forced to apologise on Twitter after claiming both golf and tennis were going to be exempt from lockdown rules.
"You’ll probably be able to play singles tennis at the moment," Gove initially told constituents on Facebook, adding: "the guidance we have is that if people are properly socially-distanced, they can take exercise with one other person."
"That's why I mentioned golf earlier. Golf clubs and clubhouses, they will have to be closed, but we are looking at allowing people to play on golf courses with one other appropriately distanced. The same will apply with tennis."
He then had to apologise on Twitter for his error.
"My apologies, I got this wrong," tweeted Gove. "Outdoor leisure facilities including tennis courts and golf courses will be closed from Thursday."
Johnson yesterday revealed that golf courses, tennis courts and swimming pools will remain closed when the one-month Covid lockdown comes into force in England this Thursday.
There had been growing hope for English golfers the past 24 hours after a petition to keep golf courses open during the new lockdown reached more than its required 100,000 signatures for the subject to be discussed in Parliament this week.
MP Craig Tracey also revealed some encouraging news for golf's short-term future on Sunday evening when revealing he had a very positive conversation with Government on making case for golf courses to remain open.
However, Johnson was asked whether golf courses might be exempted from the rules on Monday - given the socially-distanced nature of the sport - by Conservative MP for Bracknell, James Sunderland.
"I must apologise to my honourable friend for not being able to offer the house a huge list of exemptions to the rules we've set out," said Johnson.
"Because once you unpick at one thing alas the effectiveness of the whole package is compromised. That's why I want everyone to work together for the next four weeks to get the R rate under control so that we can open things up again in time for December."
He added: "We will look at all the suggestions made and at any exceptions we can sensibly make, but it is difficult to take out one part of the Jenga block without disturbing the whole package."
Johnson was then asked by another MP if golf could continue with restrictions such as a two-ball format only.
The Prime Minister claimed that was an "excellent suggestion that would be considered", but then downplayed the idea when revealing "golf will be able to resume in December."
