Should golf still be banned in the south-west?

Golf Victoria urged clubs to shut their gates on March 27 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

At that time, things were a little more hysterical. Panic buying at supermarkets was in full swing and infection rates were climbing rapidly.

But thanks to strict physical distancing rules and isolation, Australia is 'flattening the curve'.

Evidently, some people are starting to go a bit stir crazy. But the measures are working.

Controversial football personality Sam Newman was filmed protesting outside parliament house last week with a message that divided Victorians - open golf courses.

Cricket great Shane Warne also backed Newman's views.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews hasn't budged on his original position. Golf and other recreational activities are to stay off.

Mr Andrews was quoted as saying: "No round of golf is worth someone dying."

Are we still at that point? Do golf courses and activities like fishing still need to be banned?

In a perfect world, where humans could be trusted to always do the right thing, probably not.

You could let people play and comfortably adhere to physical distancing and in pairs and there would be minimal danger.

Clubs could enforce rules like players must be members, players must book tee times to avoid contact with other humans, no clubhouse access, playing solo or in pairs and of course, physical distancing.

Golf, while unlikely to push your heart rate to 180 beats per minute, is exercise. People are allowed to exit their homes to go running or walking for health.

People are also still permitted to attend retail outlets other than supermarkets and pharmacies - all of which are enforcing COVID-19 protection strategies - which aren't what many would deem "necessary".

Nothing, genuinely nothing is worth risking lives but we're placing faith in people to do the right thing when they're at the shops.

Can we do the same thing on the golf course?

The onus would obviously on clubs to ensure their members are doing the right things. With the right protocols in place, as mentioned before, it could be done.

Maybe this isn't a time to relax restrictions, as Daniel Andrews has repeatedly stated.

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"(New York) Governor Cuomo wishes he was having a debate about golf, let me assure you of that," Mr Andrews said.

"Many, many world leaders wish they were having a debate about golf. They're not. They're having a debate about where the temporary morgues will go."

Maybe a little more patience is what's needed - just to really get this horrible virus under control.

Then we can all go back to digging balls out of Port Fairy's marram grass and taking five shots to get out of a Warrnambool bunker.

We've certainly all been there before.

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