Could COVID-19 Be Good for Golf in the Future?

[StuM]

On 5/10/2020 at 8:12 PM, Patch said:

Last weekend I would have said in a lot of aspects, golf came back stronger due to the virus closing. 

Talking this weekend with our course's manager I'm not so sure now. He told me there was a 50% drop off this weekend compared to last weekend's opening. While on the short game practice area this morning, the course looked  pretty empty of paid green fees.

This is probably due to other venues opening up this weekend. Golf wasn't the only destination available to folks. . 

Our league is down this year, at least for now.  We do a split season and some of the older players have opted to skip the 1st half.  Partly due to walking and partly due to being "High Risk".  I think we lost 2 players for economic reasons.  

[David in FL]

18 minutes ago, StuM said:

As for POP, it is a little slower but it is more "Even Paced" and less waiting on the tee box.  Since all foursomes have a couple of walkers it keeps a group with all in carts pushing up on a group of 4 walkers.  Yes, we are all a little slower but since not waiting at every tee box it does not feel as slow.

It does for the guys in the carts!  

[StuM]

7 minutes ago, David in FL said:

It does for the guys in the carts!  

If following the rules in Michigan, unless married/same house there is one walker and one rider for every twosome thus the "Rider" is held back a little by the "Walker" in his/her own group which helps limit them catching up on the group in front.  Basically, no group is faster than their slowest player.

[CarlSpackler]

I saw a cart that had a plastic divider (shower curtain?) between rider and driver. I suppose that could be effective, but I think most courses are managing with single rider per cart. It seems to be helping POP too, so that makes me happy.

When I was playing yesterday, I questioned if we are taking this too far. Bunker rakes for instance. I could tell that the bunkers had not been worked over for quite a few days, but there was only a handful of footprints in them. How many people actually handle a bunker rake in a day given that their are usually more than 1 rake per bunker. On top of that, they are out in the wind, sun and rain. Same with ball washers and flag sticks. Could they put them back out if they put a sanitation station at every tee box just in case you picked up some rona from a flag stick?

We do what we have to do, but some of this just seems over the top silly to me.

[iacas]

2 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

I saw a cart that had a plastic divider (shower curtain?) between rider and driver. I suppose that could be effective, but I think most courses are managing with single rider per cart. It seems to be helping POP too, so that makes me happy.

Whispering Woods has done this.

[CarlSpackler]

25 minutes ago, iacas said:

Whispering Woods has done this.

They did a divider or just single rider?

[StuM]

55 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

I saw a cart that had a plastic divider (shower curtain?) between rider and driver. I suppose that could be effective, but I think most courses are managing with single rider per cart. It seems to be helping POP too, so that makes me happy.

When I was playing yesterday, I questioned if we are taking this too far. Bunker rakes for instance. I could tell that the bunkers had not been worked over for quite a few days, but there was only a handful of footprints in them. How many people actually handle a bunker rake in a day given that their are usually more than 1 rake per bunker. On top of that, they are out in the wind, sun and rain. Same with ball washers and flag sticks. Could they put them back out if they put a sanitation station at every tee box just in case you picked up some rona from a flag stick?

We do what we have to do, but some of this just seems over the top silly to me.

I agree some"Precautions' have goon too far.  The Rake being one.  It is out in the elements and I would not worry about them.  Also, when Michigan initially opened courses it was walking only.  I saw no reason why they could not have done the Single Rider from the start.

As for whether or not the COVID situation is good or bad for golf we may not know for a couple of years. The positives and negatives will change over time and which will hold is anybody's guess.

[RFKFREAK]

2 hours ago, CarlSpackler said:

 

When I was playing yesterday, I questioned if we are taking this too far. Bunker rakes for instance. I could tell that the bunkers had not been worked over for quite a few days, but there was only a handful of footprints in them. How many people actually handle a bunker rake in a day given that their are usually more than 1 rake per bunker. On top of that, they are out in the wind, sun and rain. Same with ball washers and flag sticks. Could they put them back out if they put a sanitation station at every tee box just in case you picked up some rona from a flag stick?

We do what we have to do, but some of this just seems over the top silly to me.

The problem is that there are going to be people who will touch the rake, ball washer, etc. and then won't use the hand sanitizer, either because they forget, feel they don't have to, or feel pressure from a family member or friend not to use it.  If the idea is to limit the spread then you'll be a lot more effective minimizing the number of opportunities of the virus being caught by someone by touching a surface.  I also think that not having these things is a reminder that things aren't back to normal and there's no doubt that there will be those who think things are if they can do things just as they used to before COVID-19.  I view it as a minor inconvenience all things considered.

[iacas]

3 hours ago, CarlSpackler said:

They did a divider or just single rider?

Single rider until Saturday then a divider allowing two per cart.

[CarlSpackler]

1 minute ago, iacas said:

Single rider until Saturday then a divider allowing two per cart.

Cool. Would love to see a pic of the divider when they are installed.

1 hour ago, RFKFREAK said:

The problem is that there are going to be people who will touch the rake, ball washer, etc. and then won't use the hand sanitizer, either because they forget, feel they don't have to, or feel pressure from a family member or friend not to use it.

I get it, but my point is that I have a MUCH greater risk of getting this from a carryout order than from a ball washer on a golf course. I would say the chances on a golf course are 1 in 1000.

[iacas]

11 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

Cool. Would love to see a pic of the divider when they are installed.

It just hangs from the roof to just below shoulder height.

I’ll try to get one later.

[Bonvivant]

30 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

Cool. Would love to see a pic of the divider when they are installed.

Sugar Isle had these when I played there the other day. I was walking but it was a cool addition to see. Should've snapped a pic.

[CarlSpackler]

I wish I owned a plexiglass company right now. 😉

I was talking to my neighbor who works at my gym. They will need to spend 20K to put up dividers on the treadmills.

[jmanbooyaa]

They should just require all patrons to wear hazmat suits

[Bonvivant]

1 hour ago, CarlSpackler said:

I wish I owned a plexiglass company right now. 😉

I was talking to my neighbor who works at my gym. They will need to spend 20K to put up dividers on the treadmills.

I'll do it for 10k. Just grab some duct tape, 6 mil plastic dropcloth and a razor blade.

[cutchemist42]

Played my first Covid round with 12 min tee time intervals. That was the best pace of play I've ever had for a 4some and we all walked away loving the round more.

I know the course is losing money from 8min intervals. But I would pay a premium for that experience when things normalize.

[RFKFREAK]

5 hours ago, CarlSpackler said:

I get it, but my point is that I have a MUCH greater risk of getting this from a carryout order than from a ball washer on a golf course. I would say the chances on a golf course are 1 in 1000.

Maybe, but their responsibilities are to protect golfers as much as they can while they're on the course.  There's only so much you can be protected when getting food which, to be fair, is a truly essential for us as opposed to golfing.   

2 hours ago, cutchemist42 said:

Played my first Covid round with 12 min tee time intervals. That was the best pace of play I've ever had for a 4some and we all walked away loving the round more.

I know the course is losing money from 8min intervals. But I would pay a premium for that experience when things normalize.

I played a course in Massachusetts yesterday which set tee times at 15 minute intervals and it was def more enjoyable.