As other sports watched longingly from the side, golfers across Ireland were finally able to tee off at the start of the week.
A loosening of restrictions allowed for 'outdoor sport' to resume, leaving golf and tennis as the two main beneficiaries.
However, there were some issues which arose in the days since - with Golf Ireland telling the Irish Mirror the reasons behind these.
There had been a belief from some that non-members would be able to get day passes in order to hit the courses again.
But this was not the case, and a Golf Ireland spokesperson explained why:
"Prioritising golf club members across the island of Ireland has always been part of the planning for the early stages of the resumption of golf, as it was in 2020.
"Golf Ireland is strongly of the view that the members who have loyally supported their clubs through this very difficult period should have priority access to golf courses in this initial period and the feedback from many clubs is that there is very high demand from their members for slots on time sheets.
"An initial “members only” provision was part of Golf Ireland’s submission to government seeking the resumption of golf in Level 5 and it is part of the Return to Golf Protocol which was approved recently by the Government’s Expert Group on Sport.
"This measure also facilitates clubs in managing capacity – particularly while the Government limit of no more than two households per group remains in place - and with contract tracing."
But there is good news coming for later in the year when restrictions are lifted:
"However, Golf Ireland intends that this will be a temporary measure and, like in 2020, it is being kept under review in both jurisdictions as further government restrictions around group sizes, hospitality and travel are lifted.
"We look forward to more clarity being provided by the Irish Government on these issues in the coming days. Golf Ireland is fully committed to golf clubs playing their full part in the rebuilding of the tourism sector in the coming period."
Another complaint from some was that groups wanting to play a fourball were being turned away by their usual clubs, only to travel within 20km to another club where they were let play.
Golf Ireland provided some clarity to the Irish Mirror:
"With regard to the number of players per round, the Irish Government Sport and Exercise Guidelines in Level 5 state that participants in sport and exercise activity must be from no more than two households.
"Therefore, groups playing on golf courses during this initial phase must be confined to a maximum of two households.
"This means that all tee times must be either two- balls, or alternatively three-balls and four-balls where players in the group are from no more than two households. The full Golf Ireland protocol is visible here https://www.golfireland.ie/covid-19 "
