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Victoria is going it alone in closing golf courses while other states are defying Golf Australia's advice to shut down.

Golf NSW, including the ACT, on Wednesday backflipped on a decision to shut fairways and bunkers for play.

"After reconsideration, the Office of Sport - NSW Government - has advised that golf is considered an activity that can continue to be played in line with Public Health Orders relating to public gathering limits, social distancing and the elderly," Golf NSW said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Golf Australia sent a memorandum to state organisations and clubs on Monday advising they should close, although have conceded they can't force a country-wide shutdown.

"It is Golf Australia's recommendation that, based on the Prime Minister's announcement on Sunday evening, March 29 that limits outdoor gatherings to two persons or fewer, all golf clubs and facilities should close until further notice."

Victoria and NSW fell into line, while other states decided to leave it up to individual clubs to make the call on whether they remain open for play with many deciding to continue for as long as is possible.

Under pressure from irate golfers who say golf is natural social distancing and falls under the category of exercise, NSW changed their view.

Courses that remain open have brought into a raft of rules including a two-player limit with strict tee-off times, no competitions, no sand buckets, flags remaining in on greens and balls removed from holes using the gloved hand.

The Irish Open has become the latest European Tour golf tournament to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Rolex Series event was scheduled to take place at Mount Juliet from May 28-31, with former US Open champion Graeme McDowell acting as tournament host.

"As important as the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is to all of us, everyone's health is our only concern," McDowell said on Monday.

"My thoughts are with everyone affected by the crisis and I hope everyone keeps safe and well during these difficult times."

Including majors and World Golf Championship events, a total of 12 European Tour tournaments have now been postponed or cancelled, while the Tokyo Olympics have been postponed by a year.

"The decision to postpone the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open follows consultation with all stakeholders and was made with public health and well-being as our absolute priority," European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said.

"Our thoughts are with everyone right now and we are all united in trying to fight the spread of the pandemic.

"With this in mind, we will continue to evaluate all aspects of our 2020 European Tour schedule, and discussions on the rescheduling of postponed events will remain ongoing until we have clarity on the global situation."

The Trophee Hassan II, which is scheduled to be held in Rabat, Morocco from June 4-7, is now the next possible event on the calendar.

The US Open is due to take place at Winged Foot from June 18-21, but the course is just five miles away from the coronavirus containment zone set up in New Rochelle, New York and non-essential businesses have been closed, putting a stop to preparations.

A decision on staging the tournament is expected soon.

The R&A is currently proceeding as planned to stage The Open at Royal St George's from July 16-19 and the AIG Women's British Open at Royal Troon from August 20-23, but is undertaking a "comprehensive evaluation" of its plans and considering contingency options.

Golf Australia has told clubs around the country to close courses and all facilities until further notice amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Golf was allowed to continue across Australia last week thanks to new local rules, social-distancing measures and the closure of clubhouses.

However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday that outdoor gatherings would be limited to a maximum of two people to try to curb the coronavirus spread.

Golf Australia chairman Andrew Newbold suggested it was clear his sport now did not fall within those parameters, even if many people used it as exercise and, as such, recommended all clubs and facilities shut.

"While this is a difficult time for the golf industry and wider society, Golf Australia is committed to working with clubs and facilities across the states and territories to ensure that we return a vibrant, strong industry," Newbold said in a statement.

"Golf Australia acknowledges that some state and territory governments will provide additional information.

"We will keep you up to date as and when additional state and territory-based announcements are made.

"So you are clear on the legalities of golf courses and their operations moving forward."

Golf Australia is lobbying state and federal governments to ensure, in the event of further restrictions, that course staff will still be able to access clubs and facilities.

"We will keep you all up to date as to the status of these discussions, although it should be noted that as of now there are no further restrictions on current greenkeeping operations," Newbold said.

COVID-19 has halted organised sport in Australia at the highest level, but also at grassroots clubs across the country.

The Evian Championship, one of five majors in the women's game, will move into the week vacated by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Originally scheduled for July 23-26, the Evian Championship will move to August 6-9, the LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and tournament officials announced on Friday.

The women's Olympic competition in Tokyo had been due to take place from August 5-8.

"We greatly appreciate the willingness of Franck Riboud, Jacques Bungert and the team at the Evian Championship to move dates and align with our European swing," LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said.

"This adjustment makes for easier travel for players and assists us as we look to reschedule previously postponed events during a crowded summer and fall timeframe.

"Like all our corporate partners, the team at the Evian Championship has always taken great steps to elevate the stage for our athletes. This 2020 schedule shift is yet another example of them supporting our players and our Tours during a very difficult time around the world."

The new date for the Evian Championship means it will take place the week before the Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club.

The ANA Inspiration, which was intended to be the year's first major from April 2-5 at Mission Hills Country Club in California, will now take place at the same venue from September 10-13.

The Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon, which had been due to take place on those dates, has moved to the following week.

The US Open originally scheduled for June 18-21 at Winged Foot in New York has reportedly been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The event will take place "later in the summer" but the location will not change, the New York Post said, citing sources with knowledge of the USGA's plans.

New York has been hit hard by the outbreak, which has infected over 82,000 people and killed more than 1,000 in the United States so far.

The tournament becomes the third of golf's four major championships affected by the health crisis, after April's Masters and May's PGA Championship were previously postponed.

The PGA Tour, which runs the weekly circuit of non-majors and has less wiggle-room to reschedule, has been shut down through at least mid-May, with nine tournaments cancelled.

Justin Rose believes the Ryder Cup deserves to remain a highlight of the golfing calendar when sporting action resumes following the coronavirus pandemic.

The first two majors of the season, the Masters and US PGA Championship, have been postponed and not yet rescheduled, while June's US Open is a major doubt due to the proximity of Winged Foot to a coronavirus containment zone.

An early October date for the Masters has been rumoured while PGA of America officials hope to stage the US PGA at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco "at a date this summer".

With the Ryder Cup set for September 25-28 it could all add up to an extraordinarily crowded schedule and although Rose is not calling for the biennial contest to be postponed, the Olympic champion believes it would be a shame to see it squeezed by other events.

"I think the Ryder Cup deserves to be the highlight of the schedule and deserves to have the players look forward to it and the fans to be excited about it," Rose told the PA news agency.

"It would be a shame if it just kind of fell into a rhythm of golf and there wasn't as much build up. That's what creates some of the excitement about the Ryder Cup, the talking about it for a year, the anticipation of it.

"The qualification period for the Ryder Cup would also be very condensed.

"If it goes ahead in 2020 I don't know if it's more important that we change the qualification criteria and Padraig (Harrington, Europe's captain) gets eight picks maybe given the circumstances.

"Rules are rules and you've got to have some type of guideline but it's an imperfect world at the moment and we've got to make the best of a bad situation.

"The most important thing is that the health of the world is better because the Ryder Cup is such an international event."

World No.1 Rory McIlroy would relish an October date for the Masters, the one major he needs to win to complete a career grand slam.

"Augusta play their cards close to their chest, they don't let much out of the bag," McIlroy said on an Instagram Q&A with former Liverpool and England footballer Jamie Redknapp.

"I hope they play it in October time which is the rumour, I think it would be great.

"Potentially you're looking at four majors and a Ryder Cup and the FedEx Cup in the space of 12 weeks."

No flagsticks, lids on the hole, no rakes in bunkers, only one person per buggy and mark your own scorecard.

These are new local rules which are allowing golf - for now - to remain one of the last sports able to provide a few hours of open-air sanctuary from the coronavirus worries affecting the world.

Just last year it was considered a big deal when golf's rule makers allowed players to leave the flagstick in the hole when putting to speed up play.

Now the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in Scotland has gone much further with unprecedented new local rule options to help ensure the game can provide much-needed relaxation in a time of crisis.

Golf Australia has communicated the local rule options to the nation's 1500 golf clubs and is in daily contact with Federal Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck's office to interpret changing government regulations.

Golf Australia acting chief executive Rob Armour says the mental health benefits of the sport are an inspiration to keep courses open and GA is publishing daily updates for clubs on its website.

"Golf is a fantastic way for Australians to get out and exercise and keep their minds active during a tough time for this country and the game can be played within the regulations the government has implemented to curb the virus." he said.

"Our priority right now is to provide clarity on the government announcements for clubs to help them operate within those parameters and advise clubs on additional precautions they can take."

There are significant changes to ensure safety.

Golf clubhouses have been shut and social distancing rules mean golfers must remain 1.5 metres apart.

Clubs including Sydney's inner-city Moore Park - one of the busiest in the country - have also suspended rental of carts and hire clubs.

With no rakes in bunkers, preferred lies can now be taken within bunkers or they can be treated as ground under repair.

"We are working tirelessly with governments working to promote golf and the benefits of the game in terms of mental health through this period of social distancing," Armour said.

"Golf is unique in that it is able to continue where most sports have shut down.

"Our goal is to provide a healthy environment but we also want to show golf is a safe way for people to engage and exercise in the open air."

English Ryder Cup veteran Paul Casey believes Europe's title defence in Wisconsin later this year should be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The biennial contest between Europe and the United States is scheduled for Whistling Straits on the shores of Lake Michigan September 25-27.

Organisers earlier this week described as "inaccurate" a British newspaper report that plans were being made to push back the event by 12 months, as happened in 2001 after the September 11 attacks on the US.

Casey cited that precedent when he was asked whether he would favour a delay of this year's clash while the world deals with the health crisis.

"Yes is the answer to that," he told the BBC.

"I am never a fan of postponing stuff but it's been postponed before, so why can't it happen again?"

Like most other sports, the professional golf calendar has been heavily disrupted by the pandemic.

The first two major championships of the year, April's Masters and the PGA Championship in May, have already been postponed.

The US-based PGA Tour, which runs the game's most popular circuit, has cancelled all tournaments until mid-May at the earliest.

But for the suspension of the tour, Casey would have been playing for a third successive title at the Valspar Championship in Florida this week.

"I'm obviously disappointed," the world No.24 added.

"I was looking forward to going for three in a row, but it's amazing how quickly things have changed.

"The situation is no longer about golf, it's about worrying about people's safety, people's health and the economic impact of that."

The LPGA has postponed three more golf tournaments due to the coronavirus pandemic and rescheduled what was intended to be the year's first major championship.

The ANA Inspiration, which had been scheduled for April 2-5 at Mission Hills Country Club in California, will take place at the same venue from September 10-13.

The Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon, which had been due to take place on those dates, has moved to the following week.

The three postponed events are the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii (April 15-18), the HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open in Los Angeles (April 23-26) and the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship in California (April 30-May 3).

In a letter to players, LPGA commissioner Mike Whan wrote: "We held out on these events as long as we could, hoping conditions would improve.

"Unfortunately, the current combination of the World Health Organisation categorizing COVID-19 as a pandemic, local markets implementing very aggressive event/gathering limitations, and unprecedented, broad-scale travel restrictions that impact so many of our players and caddies, made hosting an LPGA official event under these conditions simply not possible or prudent.

The next scheduled LPGA event is the Pelican Women's Championship in Florida from May 14-17.

World rankings in the men's and women's games will be frozen from the week ending Sunday, March 15 and "an announcement about the resumption of each respective ranking will be made in due course".

The next scheduled LPGA event is the Pelican Women's Championship in Florida from May 14-17.

The PGA Championship scheduled for May 14-17 has been postponed over coronavirus concerns, the PGA of America announced on Tuesday.

It said it hoped to reschedule the event for the American summer.

The PGA Tour, a separate body which runs the game's biggest weekly circuit, has cancelled its schedule until at least May 10.

The PGA Championship, one of the sport's four men's majors, was due to be held at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

"Throughout our evaluation process, we have been committed to following the guidance of public health authorities and given the coronavirus shelter-in-place order in effect in San Francisco, postponement is the best decision for all involved," said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.

"We are and have been working in concert with (PGA Tour) commissioner Jay Monahan and our partners and friends at the PGA Tour to find an alternative date that works for all.

"We are all very hopeful for a great outcome... and look forward to hopefully (playing the event) at a date this summer when it is once again safe and responsible to do so."

The news follows a previous announcement by Augusta National that it had postponed the Masters, the first major of the year that had been scheduled for April 9-12.

Augusta National offered no hint as to when it planned to play the tournament, though October looms as the most likely time if the coronavirus has subsided.

With the first two majors postponed, the focus turns to the June 18-21 U.S. Open at Winged Foot in New York and the July 16-19 British Open at Royal St. George's in Kent, both of which for now are still on schedule.

The US Open, however, on Tuesday cancelled the first qualifying stage for an event that usually receives about 9,000 entries.

Meanwhile, news that the PGA Tour will shut down until at least May 10 means that nine non-major events have been scrapped, starting with last week's $15 million Players Championship, which was called off after one round.