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A fortnight has passed since the UK’s grassroots golf administrators called for courses to close and golfers to refrain from playing ollowing “lockdown” directives announced by the government in the fight against coronavirus.

In doing so, the UK followed an example set by several other European countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Over in the USA, similar measures have since brought into effect on a state-by-state basis. To date, 14 of the country’s 50 states have ordered golf courses to close temporarily – including California, Illinois and Pennsylvania – affecting around 6,500 of roughly 16,000 courses in the country.

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The idea is simple: to limit the spread of the deadly COVID-19 bug.

However, not everybody is happy. Fred Couples, for example.

The 1992 Masters champion – from Washington, another of the locked-down states – tweeted what many in the UK have been saying over the past fortnight.

Couples, 60, seldom tweets so you can rest assured this is something that particularly bothers him.

Yesterday, we reported that golfers in Glasgow were spotted defying the government’s instructions by continuing to play on closed courses.


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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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