Golf, tennis & bowls permitted in Scotland from Friday

Playing non-contact outdoor sports - including golf, tennis and bowls - will be allowed in Scotland from Friday.

The Scottish Government has started phase one of its four-stage easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Professional sport, such as football and rugby, is in phase two and could restart about 18 June.

The SPFL hopes football clubs can resume training from 10 June with a view to playing matches again behind closed doors in August.

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Sports minister Joe Fitzpatrick has asked the heads of all major sporting bodies in Scotland to share how they plan to resume at a meeting on Friday.

All activities must adhere to social distancing and government health rules and the situation is to be reviewed every three weeks, with further phases of easing introduced if enough progress is made on keeping the virus under control.

A "restricted number" of spectators are allowed in stage three - predicted to be from mid-July - with crowd restrictions eased further in stage four.

Scottish Golf has welcomed the news and set out a list of guidelines that must be followed. Golfers will be allowed to play on their own, with members of their own household or one other.

Tennis Scotland has also issued guidance for "getting back on court safely", with chief executive Blane Dodds welcoming the sport's imminent return.

Individual coaching is also allowed in such non-contact sports outdoors if physical distancing can be maintained.

Tennis and golf have been permitted in England since 13 May.