MP confident golf will return in England by December 3

Craig Tracey, the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf, has told Telegraph Sport that he is confident golf will return in England no later than December 3. 

The topic of re-opening golf courses in England for play will be debated in Parliament later today after a petition to 'exempt golf courses from the list of venues required to close due to COVID' reached more than 100,000 signatures. 

"What we're working towards now is getting golf the first sport back up and running on the 2nd or 3rd of December," Tracey told Telegraph Sport. "It was the first last time because we were able to make a really good case."

Tracey also made it clear that closing down golf courses ahead of the second national lockdown due to coronavirus had been "made centrally" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and not the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. 

"Our discussions with the ministers, they're really, really supportive," said Tracey. "So I think if they were able to get it back, it would be back now."

A petitition to get golf courses back open surpassed its required 100,000 signtuare mark just 18 hours after Johnson addressed the nation with news of the country's second lockdown that will last from Thursday November 5 to Wednesday December 2. 

"Isolation essential to the Government’s strategy for fighting coronavirus, and UK citizens must remain healthy and exercise whilst keeping adequate distance between people," read the petition.

"The Government should allow golf courses to open so families or individuals can play golf in order to exercise safely.

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"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."