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

[Cartboy]

57 minutes ago, iacas said:

Huh?

Huh? Huh?

In that same post, I talked about traditional golf outings, corporate events, and tournaments, and one we have every year where 240 golfers are at the clubhouse at the same time.

That's more than 10.

😷

 

14 minutes ago, Dufferpauly said:

 

thinning the herd

😷

[iacas]

9 minutes ago, Cartboy said:

Huh? Huh?

In that same post, I talked about traditional golf outings, corporate events, and tournaments, and one we have every year where 240 golfers are at the clubhouse at the same time.

That's more than 10.

 

That’s not necessarily what a “group” means. Which is why I asked.

[Osnola]

Yes in Louisiana...played Friday and playing again tomorrow....

[Double Mocha Man]

10 minutes ago, iacas said:

That’s not necessarily what a “group” means. Which is why I asked.

5 is a group.  10 is a herd of cats.

[Double Mocha Man]

12 hours ago, boogielicious said:

Have you ever stayed at a Holiday Inn Express? 

 

Love it!  At the end it mentions free local calls.  Who needs to do that anymore?

[Effington]

With a lot of restrictions:

• 2 players max per group
• No carts
• No clubhouses
• Online payment only
• No early arriving
• 15 minute spread per tee time
• No touching of flagsticks (easy removal devices in cups are installed)

I also haven't seen any driving ranges opening up.  My local course mentioned they replaced the putting green holes with markers so you don't touch anything.

I'm excited to be able to get back out there.  How does this compare to the rest of the country / what you're seeing?

[mclaren4life]

Oh you lucky dog. Maryland is still shut down. Virginia is however open but I haven’t gone over there yet. I hate not taking my son and when I bring it up i get the stink eye from the boss. So I’m stuck until MD opens back up. Not sure why they didn’t follow VA’s lead. Golf is perfect for distancing. 

[Double Mocha Man]

In Washington state we are still closed.  Our Governor plays golf but still no word.  I think he's trying to find a way to say golf courses are now open, without ticking off too many people.

[Greg 504]

Still can play foursomes here in central Ohio. Carts are still being used and are being sent out one person per cart unless you reside together. No congregating after your round. Courses have been open the entire time, except for a week where they waffled then ultimately decided to open back up. 

Everyone seems to be doing well to abide by the rules and social distancing at the three different courses I have played this year. Congrats on getting back out there soon!

[Edsland]

My son in South Carolina has 1 person in a cart, and the place he played today had a burger bar. A lot more relaxed then Illinois. 

[Effington]

The wife was not excited when I said I was going to start playing (IL), but she did agree.  I had a friend who had been driving to Indiana regularly to play.

[David in FL]

3 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

In Washington state we are still closed.  Our Governor plays golf but still no word.  I think he's trying to find a way to say golf courses are now open, without ticking off too many people.

Something to think about come election time...

[Double Mocha Man]

46 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Something to think about come election time...

I didn't mean to imply the Governor was playing golf while the rest of us are not.  He's done a good job.

[David in FL]

8 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

I didn't mean to imply the Governor was playing golf while the rest of us are not.  He's done a good job.

I didn’t think he was...

But if he’s shut down golf, and fishing, he’s not too bright.  Glad he’s not our Governor...

[boogielicious]

6 hours ago, David in FL said:

I didn’t think he was...

But if he’s shut down golf, and fishing, he’s not too bright.  Glad he’s not our Governor...

No politics please.

[chilepepper]

I have heard that courses in Santa Bárbara will open soon. Same for San Diego. I’m awaiting what the restrictions will be . Might be harder getting on as a single for awhile

[Yukari]

18 minutes ago, chilepepper said:

I have heard that courses in Santa Bárbara will open soon. Same for San Diego. I’m awaiting what the restrictions will be . Might be harder getting on as a single for awhile

Definitely.  My buddies don't play golf on the weekend, so I tried to get on as a single.  You can't show up to the course hoping to get on as walk-on is not allowed anymore.  So you have to call and hope there is a single spot open somewhere.  Pain in the a$$ trying to get through the phone line as everyone seems to be calling in to get a tee time.  Some courses do have online tee sign-up, but a few courses closer to me chose to not to use the online sign-up after the lockdown and went strictly to phone in system to collect the fees at the time of making the reservation.

[Cartboy]

12 hours ago, David in FL said:

 Glad he’s not our Governor...

😷

That gave me a well-deserved chuckle.

20 hours ago, Cartboy said:

The more I think about it, the more I realize that it no longer can be golf as usual, for however long it takes.

Golf is, in fact, a social event, distancing is next to impossible, and groups of 10 or more (the COVID rule) in a clubhouse, at a practice range, gathered for a shotgun start, eating a meal at a corporate outing or tournament, or just on the putting clock on a normal day, is not unusual.

Many courses, including the northern course where I've worked since before the Grand Opening June 6, 2009, rely on corporate outings and tournament.  We host one tournament with 240 golfers, a shotgun start for 120 at 9 AM and another 120 at 2:00 PM, with both groups going to the range, and eating a buffet.  The carts come in and we flip them as fast as we can unload bags and trash, load new bags, and refill ice and water.  240 golfers in the same area at the same time.

That sort of routine definitely is out for now.

& it makes me rethink a lot of what we do routinely, golfwise and otherwise.

 

In any event, as I think about the way I/we have done things in operating a golf course the last 14 years, a lot of them are cringe-worthy under the current circumstances, and probably need to be rethought going forward.

A lot of the needed changes are things customers prefer anyway.  One person per cart, smaller groups, less-frequent tee times.

When any play at all is questionable, it makes Pace of Play seem relatively minor.

😷

 

Edited April 26, 2020 by Cartboy