Where in the world can you still play golf?

Golf courses in Sweden, such as Bokskogen, are open for business

Golf courses in the UK are closed following the instructions of the Government, leaving many greenkeepers furloughed at home and uncertain about their futures.

Others are able to complete essential maintenance to ensure the course remains in a sustainable condition so that when restrictions are eased, the golf course can be made available for play in as short a period as possible.

But with BIGGA members located in countries all over the world, we wondered what does the greenkeeping landscape look like in other countries?

BIGGA life member Paul Worster is also chairman of the Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Associations (FEGGA) and he provided an update on the golfing landscape across the continent, while we looked a little further afield to see what's going on.

As of Wednesday 1 April, the golfing landscape across the world looks like this:

• Sweden and Estonia are still playing golf
• Iceland and Finland are preparing their golf courses for spring opening and there is a chance this will happen
• Golf courses in Ireland are closed and using the R&A guidelines for 'essential maintenance'
• Spain and Portugal are closed and have prepared their own 'essential maintenance' guidelines
• Norway and Denmark are closed. These countries have published safety guidelines, but not essential course maintenance guidelines
• Golf courses in Slovenia are closed and are doing no maintenance
• Bulgaria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and Italy are closed and have very minimum levels of maintenance
• Most Russian golf clubs are closed with staff in quarantine at home for a week, with the hope of summer work beginning on 6 April. 
• In New Zealand, golf courses are closed and the government has ruled that "Turf maintenance is not considered an essential service and should not be undertaken at this time," although New Zealand Golf, with the support of Sport New Zealand, has applied for exemption and are awaiting a response
• Australian golf courses are re-opening or considering doing so after "recent state and territory-specific rulings or directives", said Golf Australia. However, the governing body added: "Golf Australia... remains of the view that golf is a non-essential activity, a view which sits comfortably with the current Federal Government directive and rules to 'stay at home' unless absolutely necessary."
• In the United States, the majority of golf courses have been ordered to close, with the exception of Arizona, where Governor Doug Ducey has said courses can remain open as a means of providing exercise.

For more useful information about COVID-19 and resources to help you and your team through this difficult period, head to our dedicated webpage or visit the PGA's Covid-19 Resource Hub.