Has COVID-19 Affected Your Golf?

[Rkrider99]

From the Florida State Golf Association yesterday regarding the posting of scores.

Good evening, In this time of uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 virus, many clubs have closed their restaurants, club houses or even their entire facility.  However, we do have many that remain open and have made concessions on when and how a ball is considered holed or how commonly touched items like rakes and flagsticks are removed or forbidden to touch to keep their clubs open. In the last several days, the most common question to our staff has been, "Do we or how do we post this score?" A statement has just been released by the USGA, which can be found in the links below, on how golfers should post their scores when your club has made these types of changes to keep them safe from spreading COVID-19. Rules and Handicapping Guidance During COVID-19 Era COVID-19 Rules and Handicapping FAQs   The Rules of Handicapping for a most likely score are not as liberal as they were under the USGA Handicap System. Under the Rules of Handicapping based on the format of play a hole may not be completed, thus the player would use the most likely score.   But, due to COVID-19 we are allowing for a temporary expanded use of most likely score. Since we do not know if the golfer will pick up their ball once they are close to the hole or if they will try to putt to the hole with the cup liner above the hole (or other forms of safety clubs have implemented), we are asking the golfer to use their best judgement and post their most likely score. This is NOT currently in the Rules of Handicapping, but instead an adaptation being permitted for a temporary period in time to help with the current health concerns.   We have also created a resource page on our website to send your golfers to if they have questions as to why they can post. Everyone stay safe!

[snapfade]

2 hours ago, Rkrider99 said:

From the Florida State Golf Association yesterday regarding the posting of scores.

 

• If the player hits the raised cup so hard that it is unlikely that the stroke would have gone into a normal cup, then one additional stroke should be added to the hole for that player.
• A ball just barely hitting the edge of a raised cup, that would likely not have gone into a normal cup - the player should add an additional stroke for posting.

I wonder how many will overlook those two statements? They will argue its a judgement call. 

[ghalfaire]

Absolutely it has affected my golf.  One of the leagues I belong to has an annual tournament in Nevada every year in April.  But we had to cancel this year as, while the courses are open and in business, all the hotels and restaurants are closed.  Also because no gathering larger than 10 are allowed the following award banquet is impossible.

As to the local game we still play, but no shotgun starts are allowed and the courses' cafes are closed so no award lunch after the round, just go home. 

So the golf experience social aspects are somewhat eliminated, but we still play, so far anyway.

 

[trombettista_vecchio]

My club is closed.  The flagsticks weren't in yet anyway, but now I can't even go there for lunch or to hang out with my friends.

As I'm in the alleged high risk group, my wife won't let me out of the house except to walk the dog, and only then with stern warnings about "social distancing."

The only good thing is that she does the grocery shopping now, which is kind of awkward as I do the cooking and have to figure out how to cook whatever she buys.

Our supermarket now has special hours for seniors only, 5 to 7 AM three days a week, to minimize our exposure.

This virus thing isn't exactly what we were looking for at this stage of life.

I got new clubs this winter; now I want to play, but who knows?

 

 

[jetsknicks1]

My home course just closed 🤯. Was hoping to get in one more round tomorrow before everything got shut down but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now.

[trombettista_vecchio]

5 minutes ago, jetsknicks1 said:

My home course just closed 🤯. Was hoping to get in one more round tomorrow before everything got shut down but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now.

At least you got to play all winter, jetsknicks.

I haven't played since mid-October.

Let's hope we both get to play reasonably soon.

[cooke119]

New York State golf courses, e.g., Bethpage and Sunken Meadow here on Long Island are still open, reservations only, (no walk ups), and they are asking people to use credit cards versus exchanging cash. Never though about the virus being spread by the handling of cash but I guess it can be.

[trombettista_vecchio]

1 hour ago, cooke119 said:

New York State golf courses, e.g., Bethpage and Sunken Meadow here on Long Island are still open, reservations only, (no walk ups), and they are asking people to use credit cards versus exchanging cash. Never though about the virus being spread by the handling of cash but I guess it can be.

I thought that Governor Cuomo imposed a stay home order.

[DrvFrShow]

It hasn't come to a quarantine in WA yet. I can still go play. I'll walk 9 to get out in the sunshine and fresh air. No bunker rakes. No ball washers. It's lift and clean season anyway. They turned the cups over so you don't have to reach down inside the hole. 

[criley4way]

All shut down in Illinois

 

[RickK]

On 3/18/2020 at 12:21 PM, No Mulligans said:

But it's fine to stick your hand in the petri dish, I mean the golf cup?

Here's a genius (and hygienic!) new way of cutting golf holes

---

In an effort to keep sane and avoid unwanted germs, this genius superintendent at a Connecticut golf course has a bright idea.

 

I just stated what is happening around where I live.  Not saying it is safe, just telling it like it is for now. 

[cutchemist42]

Still dont know how courses will be impacted in Saskatchewan but any indoor hitting areas are closed so no practise for probably the next 2-3 weeks... 

[David in FL]

3 hours ago, RickK said:

I just stated what is happening around where I live.  Not saying it is safe, just telling it like it is for now. 

After one day of the raised cup nonsense, my club went to a piece of “pool noodle” with the flagstaff through the hole.  It’s cut so that it’s just below the surface of the pin.  It works great...

87° here and sunny.

If they close the course, you may see me on the 11:00 news...  

[Double Mocha Man]

26 minutes ago, David in FL said:

After one day of the raised cup nonsense, my club went to a piece of “pool noodle” with the flagstaff through the hole.  It’s cut so that it’s just below the surface of the pin.  It works great...

87° here and sunny.

If they close the course, you may see me on the 11:00 news...  

I had a hole-in-one today but the ball bounced off the pool noodle...

[dennyjones]

We've seen reporting that 7 states are in complete lock down.    California, New York, Illinois, Nevada,  New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, no?

 

The big bridges around Michigan, Mackinaw and Windsor, have eliminated cash also.   Credit cards only.

Edited March 22, 2020 by dennyjones

[iacas]

25 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

We've seen reporting that 7 states are in complete lock down.    California, New York, Illinois, Nevada,  New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, no?

For a broad definition of “complete lockdown”… maybe.

[Bonvivant]

Just now, David in FL said:

If they close the course, you may see me on the 11:00 news...  

I hope this happens, and I hope its solitary confinement so you can't infect others like you have been the last week.

[Golfing Paddy]

I haven't read through all the posts on this thread....

Have the USGA issued a directive to all golf clubs yet?