GOLFERS in the North-East and North Yorkshire are backing the English national body’s challenge of the Government’s “counter-productive” decision to close the courses.

England Golf’s chief executive, Jeremy Tomlinson, has also signed a petition to make courses exempt from the list of venues required to close.

The petition has already surpassed the 100,000 signatures required to be considered for a parliamentary debate.

In his letter on England Golf’s website, Mr Tomlinson wrote: “Having digested the Prime Minister’s statement to the nation on Saturday night and read the guidance which followed, there is an element of confusion around the Government’s stated intention to close down golf courses and facilities from Thursday.”

The Government announced that golf could resume in England on Wednesday May 13 after a seven-week hiatus at the start of the Covid-19 crisis in the UK.

Since then, further announcements have adapted the way golf can be played in line with the timeline of the fight against the spread of coronavirus.