Southport Golf Links and Bootle Golf Course are due to reopen next week after the Government relaxed its coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
In line with the new guidelines unveiled on Monday, Sefton Council is planning to re-open outdoor tennis and basketball courts from today (Wednesday 13th May).
Children’s playgrounds, outdoor gyms, dog areas and pavilions and buildings in parks will remain closed.
Outdoor sport pitches for team games such as football and rugby will also stay shut.
However, these can be used for sunbathing and picnics, but no barbecues.
Bowling greens will also remain closed for the time being.
People wishing to use tennis courts need to book via https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SeftonParksTennis
People are being urged to keep away from beaches at Southport, Ainsdale and Formby for now, with car parks and public toilets there remaining closed.
Visitors urged to stay away from beaches as car parks and toilets remain shut
To minimise the chances of infection, the Council’s Green Sefton team is asking visitors to the coast and to parks to take their litter home with them. The Council is also asking people to continue being its eyes and ears and to report any large gatherings to the police by dialling 101 or to greensefton@sefton.gov.uk .
The guidance, published by the government on Monday 11th May, says that from today people can take more outdoor exercise and that outdoor sports facilities, including golf courses can start to open.
Golfers are being asked to remain patient as Sefton Council works out measures to ensure the safety of players and staff as courses reopen. The Government guidance states that people should only use them alone, with members of their household, or with one other person from outside their household, while keeping two metres apart at all times.
The Green Sefton team hopes to have Bootle Golf Course, and Southport Golf Links open during the week commencing Monday 18th May, and will update people when details are known.
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A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “Having received guidance from the Government on Monday, saying that it will allow outdoor sports facilities to open on Wednesday, the Council has been looking at how it can achieve this across the board as soon as possible.
“Although allowing facilities such as golf courses to begin opening, the guidelines in Monday’s 50-page document show that the Government is still putting an emphasis on social distancing.
“Ensuring the safety for players and staff at our courses remains paramount and our teams have been working on plans that will enable us to re-open as soon as possible while also focusing on ways in which we can ensure we are following the government’s new guidance.
“Despite the minor changes announced on Sunday, the Government is still stressing the importance of people staying at home except for the reasons it has specified. And that when people do need to go out, they should follow the guidelines on staying safe outside the home.
“These include maintaining your distance from people outside your household, keeping your hands and face as clean as possible, avoiding crowds, from being face-to-face with people outside your household and washing your clothes regularly.”
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