From Cornwall to Carlisle, Sunderland to Southampton, more than 200,000 golfers brushed down their rusty swings yesterday as the vast majority of England’s 1,800 clubs reopened.
Naturally, following two months when the gates had remained firmly shut, the footfall was unusually brisk for a Wednesday. This being the Royal and Ancient game, though, there was hardly the stampede predicted for the first tee. No need for the Government to worry about social distancing breaches as no one in sport follows rules quite like golfers.
A happy day, therefore, although for those in the backroom charged with club administration the smiles on the faces of members would have been tempered by the harsh reality of the financially rocky road that lies ahead.