Golf to stop due to foot-and-mouth fear

The Courier, 3 March 2001

The Scottish Golf Union, who yesterday issued a statement urging “golfers not to play at this present time” because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, still intend to send international squads to Spain and Italy later this month.

A group of 10 players plus coach Ian Rae and SGU official Gordon Murray are heading for warm weather practice near Cadiz in southern Spain from March 10 to 17. A team of six is also bound for Olgiata Golf Club in Italy for the quadrangular boys international tournament against Sweden, Italy and France from March 15 to 17.

“We have had no word from the Continent about not sending our golfers to their countries,” said Euan Mordaunt, tournament officer, of the Scottish Golf Union, yesterday.

The SGU’s statement, issued by secretary Hamish Grey from the Scottish National Golf Centre HQ at Drumoig, Newport, read, “The Scottish Golf Union is obviously keen to play its part in minimising the effects of the current foot-and-mouth outbreak...while there are no restrictions on the movement of people, the public has been advised to stay out of the countryside and, in view of this, the Scottish. Golf union would urge golfers not to play at this present time.”

Euan Mordaunt said it was too early to worry about postponing the SGU's first big tournament, the BP Scottish boys championship, to be held in mid April. The event will draw 256 competitors plus a number of their parents, as well as SGU organising officials from all over the country.