OAKE Manor Golf Club’s 700 members have been told the course is now closed during lockdown.

Oake’s golf manager James Smallacombe said: “Obviously it is a great shame because the course has been used this year more than any other year.

“Members used to play once a week but with more time on their hands they are playing two or three times.

“We are having to follow the latest Government guidelines but we feel we could be made a special case. I gather tennis feels the same way. There is a lot of lobbying going on at the moment.

“However, I don’t think there will be any change. However, bad weather in the winter keeps players off the course, so we would see a reduced number playing during winter anyway. We would hope to be playing again in early December but that’s not a certainty.”