Golf club’s border dilemma

Boris Johnson’s latest Covid-19 update may have caused confusion on both sides of the border, but imagine running a sports club that is in both England and Wales.

Llanymynech Golf Club is just that, with holes split between both countries and one hole even seeing players ‘drive’ from Wales and putt out in England.

As part of his easing of restrictions, the Prime Minister is urging golf clubs to reopen tomorrow (Wednesday) with new social distancing guidelines, but the First Minister in Wales is refusing to follow the London-based Government by insisting we are still on ‘full’ lockdown on this side of Offa’s Dyke.

The course, which is the boyhood home venue of 1991 Masters winner Ian Woosnam, sees players tee off in Wales from holes one to three, before doing so again on hole four only to putt out in England.

Members enter the club from the English village of Pant but with different parts of the course being in both England and Wales it is unclear how it can operate.

Club secretary Sian Whiteoak told Sky Sports News: “We have put in a number of calls and we await clarification before we make any decisions on what we can do.”

Golfing authorities in the UK, including The R&A, appear to have been caught by surprise following the government announcement on Sunday, while Scottish Golf announced they will not sanction the reopening of golf courses this week.