") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gBkjJh::before{display:none}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gdPcRA .taboola{display:none}}.jImJId .tp-container-inner,.jImJId .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.jImJId.closed{display:none}.inlhzJ{display:inline-block}.inlhzJ button svg{width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}:not(.subscribed) .inlhzJ{margin:0 12px 0 0}.subscribed .inlhzJ{margin:0 0 16px 0}.ejqsuo{display:block;overflow:hidden;width:34px;height:34px;outline-color:#337e81}.ejqsuo.saved svg circle{fill:#337e81}.ejqsuo.saved svg path{fill:#fff;stroke:#fff}.kHDRnw{display:none;position:fixed;top:0;right:0;z-index:1002;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:12px;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#fff;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:8px;opacity:0}@media(min-width:768px){.kHDRnw{top:24px;right:22px;width:400px}}.kHDRnw.show-notification{display:block;opacity:1;transition:1s opacity}.dQeoW{position:absolute;top:6px;right:10px;cursor:pointer;font-size:14px}.hLOQFH{margin:0;font-family:'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.5px;line-height:1.38}.dIOxhv{margin:5px 0;font-size:14px;line-height:normal}.jElcqq{color:#337e81}.glKJUb{font-size:12px}.lflWOn{display:block}@media(min-width:768px){.lflWOn{display:block}}.lflWOn:last-child button{margin-right:0}.lflWOn path{stroke:#fff}.jWuEbG button{margin-right:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.jWuEbG{display:none}.jWuEbG button{margin-right:12px}}.gXmaLB{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.gXmaLB{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.gXmaLB svg{width:60%;height:60%;margin:20%;fill:#fff;stroke:#fff}.gXmaLB amp-social-share{margin:0 6px;border-radius:50%;background:0;outline:0}.gXmaLB amp-social-share:first-of-type{margin-left:0}.gXmaLB amp-social-share:last-of-type{margin-right:0}@media(min-width:768px){.gXmaLB .share-mobile-only{display:none}}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-bookmark svg{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-bookmark:hover{opacity:.85}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-facebook{background:#3b5998}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-facebook:hover{background:#2f4779}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-twitter{--color:#4a90e2;--color-alt:#4a90e2;background:var(--color)}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-twitter:hover{background:var(--color-alt)}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-whatsapp{background:#25d366}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-whatsapp:hover{background:#1da851}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-whatsapp svg{width:70%;height:auto;margin:15%}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-email{background:#ec1a2e}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-email:hover{background:#ac2a2c}.gXmaLB .amp-social-share-email svg path{stroke:#fff}.kdvWjb{display:flex}.sticky .kdvWjb{flex-direction:column}.bfkmcy{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.bfkmcy{height:25px}}.fczuIa{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fczuIa::after{content:':'}.IOUwh{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.IOUwh::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.izpdPv>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .izpdPv>p{line-height:27px}.izpdPv>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .izpdPv>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.article-sgi .izpdPv>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.izpdPv>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.izpdPv span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.joBdHo{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}.teads .joBdHo{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.ddbwjn{display:none}}.ddbwjn[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.ddbwjn #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.ddbwjn.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.jFIvoO{display:flex;overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;gap:4px;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.jFIvoO{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.jFIvoO{max-width:622px}}.gdynTf{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.gdynTf{padding:16px 12px 0}}.hfUJpx{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin-block:0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.hfUJpx{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;text-align:left}}.fFFwdM{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;padding:4px 12px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}.DFSvu{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.iMpnvH{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.iMpnvH:hover .sc-hez36s-4,.iMpnvH:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.bslVoX{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;margin-block:0}.KRieK{display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;gap:16px;margin:16px 0 0}@media(min-width:768px){.KRieK{margin:16px 0}}.dBhUIv{margin-bottom:4px;font:bold 20px/24px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.032px;margin-block:0}.bXJccI{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.026px;margin-block:0}.jjaUOS{width:50px;height:55px}.dZffnw{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;gap:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.dZffnw{flex-direction:row;justify-content:space-between;margin-bottom:16px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.dfPHhL{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dfPHhL{max-width:236px}}.iIRCX{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.iIRCX{display:flex}}.kxXvJu{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.kxXvJu{display:none}}.droMuk{display:flex;overflow:hidden;height:0;flex-direction:column;gap:8px;opacity:0;transition:all .3s ease-in-out}.iOJCvF.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.iOJCvF.mobile-only{display:none}}.iOJCvF.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.iOJCvF.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.iOJCvF.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.blOrrc{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.blOrrc .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.blOrrc .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.blOrrc .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.blOrrc .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%;float:left}.blOrrc .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.blOrrc .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .blOrrc .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .blOrrc .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.blOrrc.sponsored-article img,.blOrrc.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.blOrrc.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.blOrrc .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.blOrrc .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.blOrrc .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.blOrrc .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.blOrrc .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.blOrrc{max-width:624px;margin:0}.blOrrc.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.blOrrc{padding-right:0}.blOrrc .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.kvSKnI{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.fKGvbc{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.fKGvbc::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.fKGvbc:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.fKGvbc{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.fKGvbc::before{margin-top:2px}}.fKGvbc time{display:block}.fKGvbc time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.eUdsoy{color:#fff}.eIoMWw{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ec1a2e;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.eIoMWw:hover,.eIoMWw:active{color:#ac2a2c}@media(min-width:768px){.eIoMWw{margin-bottom:0}}.enHDwq{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.enHDwq::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#646464;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.enHDwq:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.enHDwq{margin-bottom:0}}.jmYqVV::before{color:#fff}.hfnwMY{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.hfnwMY{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hfnwMY{width:30%}}.hrDjjf{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.hrDjjf{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-10{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hrDjjf{flex-direction:row}}.cvldpu{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.cvldpu{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .cvldpu{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.cvldpu{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .cvldpu{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.cvldpu a{color:#fff}.cvldpu a:hover{color:#ac2a2c}.cvldpu a:hover::after{color:#fff}.cvldpu a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.cvldpu a:last-child::after{display:none}.azcVx{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.VFZbw{margin:0;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.VFZbw{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.VFZbw{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.VFZbw p{font:inherit}.article-feature .VFZbw a{font-weight:bold}.hsJCLD{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#222}@media(min-width:1000px){.hsJCLD{padding:0 16px}.parallax .hsJCLD{max-width:1240px}}.bJjAgi{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.hZFQIi{background:#222}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.hZFQIi .sc-22qwnu-0,.hZFQIi .sc-22qwnu-0 a{color:#fff}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-2,.hZFQIi .sc-aeekvc-0{color:#fff}.hZFQIi .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.hZFQIi .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}.gMEOzX{position:absolute;top:0;left:0}.kHLDmJ{max-width:100%}.hXZgkU{position:relative;aspect-ratio:16/9}.hXZgkU>div,.hXZgkU>img{position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;height:100%}.iGIgRn.fullscreen{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:3000000000;width:100%;height:100%;background:#000}.iGIgRn .btn{position:absolute;top:5px;right:5px;width:25px;height:25px;color:#fff;font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:25px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.fOZYEG{position:relative}}.fOZYEG .jw-flag-floating.jw-floating-dismissible .jw-wrapper{bottom:2rem}.fOZYEG .jw-flag-floating .jw-wrapper{right:0}.fOZYEG .jw-flag-floating .jw-wrapper.jw-float-to-top{top:0;bottom:auto}.JCJLP{max-width:100%;clear:both}.cqRiiv{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;gap:8px;padding:8px 12px;margin:0 0 12px;background-color:#353533}.cqRiiv.center-align{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;margin-right:12px;margin-left:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.cqRiiv.center-align{margin-right:16px;margin-left:16px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.cqRiiv.center-align{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}}.dcPTwD{margin-right:16px;color:#fff;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase}.dcPTwD:hover,.dcPTwD:active{color:#f58992}.center-align .dcPTwD{margin-right:0;text-align:center}.dyGKzS{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .dyGKzS{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.gIldS{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.kFPmfF{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.kFPmfF.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.iaRZct{min-height:600px}.iaRZct #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.jAzEot{max-width:100%}.eDScvc{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.CmSgF{margin:0 0 12px}.lbFVDq{height:380px}.bsSHYO{width:100%;height:51px}.bjKtIv{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.jLzsCV{margin-bottom:16px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px;width:35px;height:35px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,#222 50%,rgba(34,34,34,0.9) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}@media(max-width:767px){.eKzHlQ{display:none}}.iFeFcz{width:308px}.iFeFcz.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.iFeFcz{display:none}}.article-liveblog .fbWdwj{background-color:#f7f7f7}.eFgmkR{justify-content:center}.cvujVr{justify-content:center}
Sport Golf Can I play golf in lockdown? Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced a number of more stringent measures across England on Monday night
Tier 4 restrictions announced for London and swathes of southeast England Your support helps us to tell the story Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth. Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Find out more Golf courses will shut from Tuesday 5 January in England amid new stricter lockdown rules to tackle the coronavirus.
Recreational golf in England had been allowed in a maximum two-ball group, but will now fall in line with Wales where golf has been banned since mid-December.
Golf courses remain open in Scotland, however, with play limited to groups of two.
On Monday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a new national lockdown for England which means people will only be able to leave their homes for limited reasons, with measures expected to stay in place until mid-February.
In an address to the nation, the Prime Minister said the new variant - which is 50% to 70% more transmissible - was spreading in a "frustrating and alarming" manner.
"As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic," he said.
Grassroots sport will no longer be allowed in England, with team sports, tennis and outdoor gyms all banned.
Elite sport will continue , however, with the Premier League and English Football League confident in their stringent testing regimes despite several matches across the four tiers being postponed in December.
England Golf said: "It is with great regret that we share this news with you, but please be assured that we will continue to make the case for golf to reopen whenever possible."
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments