Golf courses are among the businesses set to find out this weekend when they can reopen following the coronavirus lockdown.

And golf courses across the county should be prepared for less than 24 hours' notice that they can open again.

Downing Street has confirmed that outdoor activities will be discussed at a meeting today (7th May), although it is unlikely that any decision will be revealed until after Boris Johnson's speech to the nation about the next phase of the lockdown on Sunday (10th May), as reported by The Golf Business.

With scientific and medical experts clear that there is less likelihood of spreading covid-19 outdoors rather than indoors, the possibility of safe outdoor sports will be considered as part of the review. Golf is likely to be one of the first outdoor activities allowed when lockdown eases, as it can be played while observing social distancing.

Last week the Irish government issued a new directive on outdoor activities, which means golf courses in that country can reopen on 18th May with strict new rules, such as only members living within 5km of their club can play during May.

Golf courses are already reopening all over Europe including, in the last few days, in the Channel Islands.

Although it hasn't been given official guidance from the government, greenkeeping association BIGGA has issued a statement advising golf clubs and course managers to plan for golf courses getting permission to open at very short notice, perhaps even overnight.

Many golf courses say it won't be a problem to reopen with very little notice.