Golf course access during lock down, can they prevent it?

[Lenovo]

I've been using the local golf course for exercise during the lock down. As someone who used to play golf I've been doing this in a respectful manner, i.e. staying on the paths, or if there's not a path staying on the rough. I was cycling yesterday with the kids were we accosted by an elderly couple saying we weren't allowed on the course and if we didn't stop it the golf course were going to prevent all access. They then told me they were signs saying this.

I tracked down one of these signs, it stated that these are unprecedented times and as such they have banned all bikes and prams from the course. I checked online at this website:

https://www.ramblers.org.uk/policy/scotland/access...

It states "To avoid damaging the playing surface, cyclists and horse riders need to keep to paths at all times and not go on to any other part of a golf course." Which is what I was doing.

The sign went on to say if people continued to ignore their request they were going to ask the police to stop people from using the golf course as a place to exercise.

My questions are:

1. can they ban bikes from the course?
2. can they choose to ban everyone from the course?

This is in Scotland so we have the right to roam.

[Black_S3]

golf courses and sports pitches are specifically excluded from the right to roam.

[XCP]

If it's private land surely they can do what they like?

[Pope]

1. Yes
2. Yes

Stick to their rules = you are able to keep enjoying the limited amount of freedom that adhering allows. 'It' won't be forever - however; not cycling ON a golf course probably will be; it's not generally accepted is it??

[Lenovo]

As I quoted in ‘normal’ times, yes you are legally allowed to cycle (and ride a horse) on golf courses in Scotland.

I just want to know if they can legally change the law regarding their course due to the lock down.

[anonymous-user]

Good to see you have nothing important to worry about..........

[Black_S3]

Lenovo said:

As I quoted in ‘normal’ times, yes you are legally allowed to cycle (and ride a horse) on golf courses in Scotland.

Caveated with not on any grass surface that has been prepared for sport and following the rules of respect

[Lenovo]

Which I have done

[rallye101]

Do what you like, our clubs secretary has confirmed this to me last week..
I just keep off tee boxes, greens and out the heather...makes a change as I'm normally in the heather

[Black_S3]

Arguably not if you’ve ignored a perfectly reasonable request that temporarily while they're unstaffed and unable to monitor it to protect their greens and fairways they do not want any cyclists or push chairs on their land.

[Pope]

Lenovo said:

As I quoted in ‘normal’ times, yes you are legally allowed to cycle (and ride a horse) on golf courses in Scotland.

I just want to know if they can legally change the law regarding their course due to the lock down.

I am guessing 'ON' (as S3 says; ie: not on designated paths / trails) is the only issue; you are allowed to cycle 'AROUND / THROUGH' if I were in the situation I would take some time to explain it to my 2 kids that love cycling, that, there is a level of respect commanded by everything. I would feel that I had passed on a lesson, albeit a small one.

I should imagine the management sat back after writing the contents of the directions and said; 'there, that'll be right' - as he understood what he wrote - and assumed it was easily followed.

[Lenovo]

I think I’m just going to keep staying on the paths and rough and just ignore the next boomer who tries to lecture me.

[Tyre Smoke]

Or perhaps be less confrontational and cycle or walk somewhere that isn't the local golf course?

Why do you feel the need to do what you like?

[Brads67]

Black_S3 said:

golf courses and sports pitches are specifically excluded from the right to roam.

No they aren't.

The greens are but the rest of the course is public access land.

[Pothole]

Lenovo said:

I think I’m just going to keep staying on the paths and rough and just ignore the next boomer who tries to lecture me.

Is there nowhere suitable in your area for non-confrontational exercise?

[Lenovo]

Mostly because of where I stay there is very little green space nearby apart from this golf course.

[Ian Geary]

Accepting the risk that further complaints by golfers to the management could see all access prevented?

Some would say that was a bold move

[vonhosen]

Tyre Smoke said:

Or perhaps be less confrontational and cycle or walk somewhere that isn't the local golf course?

Why do you feel the need to do what you like?

Because that's what people do everywhere, what they think is OK & acceptable.

And in the absence of law to the contrary, we each are entitled to choose what is morally, socially or just simply expedient for ourselves.
It's quite natural that there will be a spread of views on what is morally, socially etc acceptable.

[Tyre Smoke]

The general consensus here is this isn't morally or socially acceptable.

Legal it may be, but why go out of your way to cause confrontation just because you can?

[Black_S3]

Brads67 said:

No they aren't.

The greens are but the rest of the course is public access land.

They most certainly are. Technically the only reason for access to a golf course under right to roam is for the purpose of crossing it IE getting from one side to the other without walking round the whole thing.

Most courses take a sensible view, trumps courses certainly don’t.

Best to follow this rather than the interpretation the ramblers clubs like to take: https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/sites/defa...