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

[Yukari]

3 hours ago, nevets88 said:

I guess another result of COVID-19 will be that I will have a spray bottle of disinfectant in my bag for sure, alcohol or bleach, whatever. Not sure what golfing with a mask is gonna be like, I've already gotten used to a mask while running and biking so not a huge adjustment. I guess I will avoid the bathroom as well.

I have a small bottle of hand sanitizer that I use two or three times during a round.  I also have disinfectant wipes that I use two or three time a round.

I play with the mask on at all times.  Not a big deal.  I also wear the mask when I run, so it's becoming almost like a second nature to me.

I also keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the car.  Whenever I get in the car, I use that to wipe my hands, door handles, keys, steering wheel, window and door controls, and the gear shift.

Here in CO courses have been open with walking only but I hear starting this Sunday, courses will allow carts with a single rider only unless the twosome is from the same family or roommates.

1 hour ago, iacas said:

If your state has opened up, change your votes.

Done.  Does that affect my previous votes?

[Mr22putt]

2 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

I called them 2 weeks ago  and someone in the pro shop answered and said the course was open, play with social distancing rules.  She wouldn't even let me pay by card by phone.  

So they said they are open and not charging green fees (as you stated in post #480????).....no wonder they are closing....lol.

[phillyk]

14 minutes ago, Mr22putt said:

So they said they are open and not charging green fees (as you stated in post #480????).....no wonder they are closing....lol.

@Double Mocha Man they are not open. Sign said course is closed, however, the course was packed today!! Got there at 1, waited for 2 groups to tee off and when we went, there were 4 groups waiting to go. They aren’t enforcing anything so it’s a free for all. Pins are marked by branches. Course played ok. 

[Warren Zevon]

10 minutes ago, phillyk said:

@Double Mocha Man they are not open. Sign said course is closed, however, the course was packed today!! Got there at 1, waited for 2 groups to tee off and when we went, there were 4 groups waiting to go. They aren’t enforcing anything so it’s a free for all. Pins are marked by branches. Course played ok. 

   If my home course ever gets clearance to golf, this is what I see happening there.  The owners / managers are okay by my standards, but I can't see them adhering to a strict set of rules.   Plus, I've never seen anyone pretending to be a marshall on the course in the ten years I've been golfing there, and I doubt they can afford to add extra staff to monitor even half of the playable holes.

   Speaking of which, there's a creek that runs through said course, and it floods at the beginning of each season with the snow melt.  This year there's some extra flooding going on, and the pictures they've shown are about as bad as I've seen it.

  Not that it will be a huge issue, despite an online petition, our health minister person in charge has not deemed golf essential yet.  And part of me is thankful for that, because with the way I see how people behave in relation to COVID while I'm at work doesn't inspire any confidence that golf would be any better.

  

[dennyjones]

They opened the golf courses today in Michigan.    I played.   So did everyone else.   

I played solo but the groups on every hole were not practicing social distancing.   I walked in to the pro shop with my mask, the guy took my credit card and wasn't wearing any PPE.   I walked to the first tee and saw two groups standing close to each other.   I waited my turn from a distance but I knew I was in for a long day.   There was a foursome in front of the twosome and two of the guys could hardly move at all.   There are people golfing that have never walked a course in their lives.   I skipped 1 hole on the front and 2 holes on the back to avoid a psychological melt down.   

Will I complain?   Only slightly and to myself.   I really missed being on the golf course and if it takes a little longer to play...what am I going to do when I get home, watch TV?  I detest slow play but in the near future with everyone trying to get on the golf course, it may happen more often.   

[Double Mocha Man]

They opened residential and commercial construction in my state today with a 30-point strict list of rules to follow to maintain social distancing and protect one another. The workers will not be able to mock it... State agencies will watch them and shut them down.  And if Covid-19 cases go up in that industry they will also shut them down. I suspect this is how they will treat golf, as well. And they should.

[NZ Golfer]

5 hours ago, dennyjones said:

They opened the golf courses today in Michigan.    I played.   So did everyone else.   

I played solo but the groups on every hole were not practicing social distancing.   I walked in to the pro shop with my mask, the guy took my credit card and wasn't wearing any PPE.   I walked to the first tee and saw two groups standing close to each other.   I waited my turn from a distance but I knew I was in for a long day.   There was a foursome in front of the twosome and two of the guys could hardly move at all.   There are people golfing that have never walked a course in their lives.   I skipped 1 hole on the front and 2 holes on the back to avoid a psychological melt down.   

Will I complain?   Only slightly and to myself.   I really missed being on the golf course and if it takes a little longer to play...what am I going to do when I get home, watch TV?  I detest slow play but in the near future with everyone trying to get on the golf course, it may happen more often.   

Golf Courses here in New Zealand looking to open Tuesday ... been a long wait ...  my lawn will be happy 

[boogielicious]

11 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

I'm not a scientist

Have you ever stayed at a Holiday Inn Express? 

 

[cutchemist42]

15 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

Don't you mean the Mayor of Indianapolis? I wasn't aware that counties had mayors. Around here, all city parks have been closed by order of the Mayor, county metroparks remain open. That's where I do my walking. 

Wow! You folks in Canada must play really fast! 2-3 holes in 20 minutes? That's getting it done! Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be able to play that fast! Hasn't happened in 40+ years since I was young, could play really well, and walked and carried. I could play 9 in an hour and 20 minutes if no one held me up! 

Well to be honest, I really dont know how 20 mins would effect the pace of play. I think it eliminates any time someone waited for a green to clear from 240 yards tho. Maybe more like 1.5 holes between groups?

Also I dont know how this will be enforced at private clubs with no green fees? Will someone from the government be there enforcing the tee time spacing by handing out tickets?

I still have a lot of questions 

[Double Mocha Man]

23 minutes ago, cutchemist42 said:

Also I dont know how this will be enforced at private clubs with no green fees? Will someone from the government be there enforcing the tee time spacing by handing out tickets? 

Me.  Me.  Me... I want to be the state patrol officer writing tickets for slow play!  Perfect.  "Hello sir, may I see your license and your scorecard, please?"  "The reason I'm stopping you is because you were going 25 minutes per hole in a 15 minute per hole zone."

Edited April 25, 2020 by Double Mocha Man

[jmanbooyaa]

Suffolk County courses On Long Island are now open. 

[Mr22putt]

18 hours ago, phillyk said:

@Double Mocha Man they are not open. Sign said course is closed, however, the course was packed today!! Got there at 1, waited for 2 groups to tee off and when we went, there were 4 groups waiting to go. They aren’t enforcing anything so it’s a free for all. Pins are marked by branches. Course played ok. 

Trespassers. 😁

[Cartboy]

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 are routine.

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 tournmanet 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 some 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.

 

[Double Mocha Man]

9 minutes ago, Mr22putt said:

Trespassers. 😁

She's a cutie!  Wonder what cigar she's smoking. 

Let me clarify.  When I called the course in question 2 weeks ago and spoke with someone in the pro shop she said they were neither officially open or officially closed.  She said people are playing and she wouldn't accept a credit card over the phone... or anywhere else.  Yes, there is a sign saying "Closed" for the sake of looking like they're being cooperative.  People are playing... lots of people as Phil alludes to.   There are hundreds of houses lining the fairways (not my favorite thing) but as far as I know, not a single homeowner has reported the activities to the police.  And there is a maintenance guy or two and they just drive by in their cart and smile and wave.

My friend just talked to Tom, the head pro at Shuksan, and I don't think golfers are playing that course.  There's an entrance gate and really no place to park outside of the course parking lot.  And Tom's a stickler for rules so he's probably showing up daily to make sure nobody is sneaking onto the course.

[Club Rat]

9 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Wonder what cigar she's smoking. 

Looks like a Swisher Sweet, only hers got packed with Crab Ass instead.... 

[iacas]

56 minutes ago, Cartboy said:

Golf is, in fact, a social event, distancing is next to impossible, and groups of 10 or more are routine.

Huh?

[Wallstreet]

18 hours ago, dennyjones said:

They opened the golf courses today in Michigan.    I played.   So did everyone else.   

I played solo but the groups on every hole were not practicing social distancing.   I walked in to the pro shop with my mask, the guy took my credit card and wasn't wearing any PPE.   I walked to the first tee and saw two groups standing close to each other.   I waited my turn from a distance but I knew I was in for a long day.   There was a foursome in front of the twosome and two of the guys could hardly move at all.   There are people golfing that have never walked a course in their lives.   I skipped 1 hole on the front and 2 holes on the back to avoid a psychological melt down.   

Will I complain?   Only slightly and to myself.   I really missed being on the golf course and if it takes a little longer to play...what am I going to do when I get home, watch TV?  I detest slow play but in the near future with everyone trying to get on the golf course, it may happen more often.   

I plan on going out on Tuesday for the first time.  I was worried about people coming out that have never walked before and holding everything up.  

The course i'm going to has very strict rules about masks in the clubhouse, cups are inverted (no touching of the flagstick) etc.  So hopefully it will be a smooth experience. 

I'm sure it could be a S.Show but I've been itching to play so bad i'll just have to deal with whatever happens. 

[Dufferpauly]

Here in Kern County, CA, golf never stopped...the restrictions are locals only, one to a cart, and pool noodle “pucks” in the holes...our courses are PACKED

Full speed ahead!