Is Golf Available Where You Live? (COVID-19 Edition)

[DeadMan]

Most courses around me have closed, but some are still open. It appears that most city run courses are closed at this point, but courses that are privately run or run by a recreation district (as opposed to a city) are still open.

I expect all courses to close by the end of the week.

[dennyjones]

The Michigan governor shut down all non-essential business which includes golf courses.

[CarlSpackler]

22 minutes ago, iacas said:

Right. I mostly want to see a ball flying through the air, ideally after being hit off grass.

I just called Homestead GC, and they plan to stay open unless mandated. The boss allows me some flexibility in my schedule, so...

 

3 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

The Michigan governor shut down all non-essential business which includes golf courses.

I get that it is "non-essential" to some, but the risk of transmitting disease is VERY low IMO.

Added: So come on down to Ohio. 😉

Edited March 24, 2020 by CarlSpackler
Added commentary

[Double Mocha Man]

24 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

 I agree that golf can be played while maintaining distance and is a healthy way to stay sane and get some fresh air.

I'm already losing my sanity.  Courses and ranges closed this morning.  Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

[iacas]

5 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

The Michigan governor shut down all non-essential business which includes golf courses.

Many states with similar shutdowns are excluding golf courses and allowing them to remain open. Start pressuring your representatives now.

[mcanadiens]

9 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

I just called Homestead GC, and they plan to stay open unless mandated. The boss allows me some flexibility in my schedule, so...

 

Nice. 

With the deadline pushed back, I should get back a day off this weekend. Now I got a place to go.

[Sean_D]

The golf courses around here have turned the cups upside down. This works really well. A reasonably paced putt hits the anchor of the flagstick and kind of pops right back out of the hole. When a putt is paced so that it just falls over the lip, half or more of its circumference remains above the ground. After playing 18 holes it was really easy to tell when a ball lipped out or sank and no contact was made with the flagstick or cup. 

Edited March 24, 2020 by Sean_D

[dennyjones]

21 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

Added: So come on down to Ohio. 😉

It's not like I don't have time!  

[Vinsk]

Hell we still have ice cream trucks rolling around here......

[SteveH]

Our course on Vancouver Island was open until yesterday with all the usual precautions (cups raised, no ball washers, rakes etc) but now BC golf recommended closing so our course closed early yesterday. All the other nearby courses had already closed.  Going to be a tough stretch but lot's of garden work etc to keep me busy, plus I have a project car that I need to work on.  We do need to get a lid on this virus so probably for the best.

[dennyjones]

I just emailed the Michigan governor asking her to consider making the golf courses exempt from the lock down.

[bkuehn1952]

6 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

I just emailed the Michigan governor asking her to consider making the golf courses exempt from the lock down.

Thanks for giving her a little nudge.

GAM's website indicates the state's association, Michigan Golf Alliance, has sought clarification on two items.  They are:

1. Allowing courses to perform needed spring time maintenance

2. Allowing outdoor golf with proper safeguards

As of noon, there had been no clarification.  In the governor's defense, a lot of organizations are seeking clarifications.

[CarlSpackler]

16 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

Hell we still have ice cream trucks rolling around here......

One was cruising my hood last night when I was out for a walk. It was barley 40*, and there goes a dang ice cream truck. 🙄

[iacas]

2 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

1. Allowing courses to perform needed spring time maintenance.

Almost surely allowed.

[Double Mocha Man]

Greens mowing roombas must stay 6' from one another...

[cutchemist42]

In Sask and still dont know with the handicap season being about 20 days away. There is a muni course that always let's people walk on free and shoot at temp greens in the time between the show melt and official opening so I will have that at least.

Edited March 24, 2020 by cutchemist42

[No Mulligans]

12 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

1. Allowing courses to perform needed spring time maintenance

2. Allowing outdoor golf with proper safeguards

 

Maintenance is allowed in Ca as part of the maintaining assets exception for workers, I was told this by my nephew who is still working as the head of course maintenance at the Sonoma Country Club

Golf not allowed in CA.  At least in my opinion, it's a non essential business under the state definitions.  However, I do know of one course in Palm Springs that emailed me that they are staying open,  I don't know of any courses in San Diego that are open.

I think it would be best to wait several weeks before considering to open courses. Who knows what it will be like in three weeks.  If I can play, I would only play as a single or a twosome with my wife, i.e, I don't want to be paired up.  I doubt the courses are going to allow that.

Edited March 24, 2020 by No Mulligans

[bkuehn1952]

Just now, iacas said:

Almost surely allowed.

Agree, but the initial order doesn't allow many businesses to operate. For example, a home builder can't start a home, regardless of social distancing measures.

A real concern is municipal/county courses.  Most governmental entities in the Mitten sent everyone home except essential employees.  City hall probably doesn't consider fertilizing and grass cutting as essential.