Sports Ministry confirms that a return of golf is being considered

Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa says his department is considering allowing golf to return behind closed doors during the current Covid-19 enforced lockdown.                                           

However, indications were that football (and by association contact sport such as rugby) were still some way off getting the green light to resume any activity under the current State of Disaster.

Sporting activity came to a grinding halt early in March after the first traces of the novel coronavirus were detected in South Africa. In April, GolfRSA, the Professional Golfers Association of South Africa and the Club Management Association of Southern Africa wrote to Mthethwa pleading the case of golf to return without spectators.

Representatives from the three organisations also met with the minister via video conference last month, wherein they pleaded for the reopening of their facilities in order to save thousands of jobs.

Only 34% of clubs, they said, would be able to withstand the lockdown while providing full pay for staff, with the rest facing the possibility of laying off about 18 000 employees.

"There are others who have come to us and pleaded their case and golf is one of them," Mthethwa said in Monday's briefing.

"They motivated strongly that the nature of their sport is not a contact sport and in terms of the regulations - the metres between people - they fit in. It would be easier for them to adhere to [physical distancing]. We are looking into that." The Minister said.

While Mthethwa’s comments seem to allude to competitive golf, one would hope that the resumption of the recreational game isn’t too far off either.

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