COVID-19 and local golf (NO POLITICS)

[Pepperturbo]

@disco111 Thanks... I been wondering about who or what caused the Toilet paper hoarding run. We're going to see more and more people walking around with toilet paper hanging out of their back pockets, stuck on their shoes and overflowing women's purses. The new norm...

[PedronNiall]

Even if they're off by 75% in their numbers it's still a mortality rate that's 10 to 15 times higher than the common flu from a virus that's much more easily communicable. There's no need to be in a panic when it's been made very clear that social distancing reduces the spread and so long as you're responsible enough to self-quarantine if you get it and not in a vulnerable population you'll be fine. That said, it is discernibly more deadly than the flu and easier to spread. There's not an expert denying that and trying to downplay it by calling it just another flu as the poster above did is asinine.

[3_Jack_Par]

Look at the places that have taken dramatic steps to slow the spread versus those that tried to keep under wraps that anything was happening, or to go as if everything was normal. We’re about 10 days behind Italy, and I hope I’m wrong, but it’s probably going to hit the fan here by around the end of next week, because too many people aren’t taking it seriously or aren’t taking steps to limit social interaction because they think they’re not at risk (which may be true for many, but they can still spread it), combined with the lack of testing. We can see around the world how this has been playing out, and it seems like we’re repeating a lot of mistakes that other places have made.

[Pure_putter]

Just to update my situation yesterday that course reopened today after their board meeting with no guest play or carts. So at least I can play again. But they had to kick me off on the 70 degree day.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Our golf season hasn't started yet but we can still ski. I wouldn't ride in a gondola or go in the lodge but spending the day outside is awesome. When the courses open I walk so maintaining "social distance" is easy.

[rizz2]

I am hoping to take advantage of the paranoia around here in the Chicagoland area and play some empty courses and courses that are cutting their prices to get business. The paranoia is unwarranted and over-hyped. I am not going to get into politics or the media because this is not the forum for it....I am, however, going to play as much golf as I can until this ridiculousness dies down and everyone is back out there backing up the tee boxes!! hahahaha

If the weather is bad I will watch old rounds of golf on my dvr that I never got around to.

Be safe everyone and save some toilet paper and water for me!

[Bonneville85308]

I played a round this morning at a course in an age 55+ community where probably 90%-95%+ of the course customers are in that age group. It was just as busy as usual. The only difference is that they have temporarily ceased food and beverage service in the clubhouse, and are discouraging "congregating" around the clubhouse or surrounding patio.

[MountainGoat]

Day 3 of the crisis here at my little suburban course in the mid-Atlantic, and crowds were light in spite of it being a beautiful Saturday. Surprising.

Practiced wedges with my new MEVO in the morning. In the afternoon, I hit every fairway off the tee for only the second time in my life, and I screwed up just about every wedge. Inexplicable.

 

[Zen_Golfer]

[HDTVMAN]

As a fitter and recently retired from one of the largest golf retailers in the US, I would caution every customer when visiting any golf store. Cleaning has never been a priority where I worked, including the floor (filthy), counters (dust-laden), restrooms (bad!). When you go to the demo areas, putting green, used club and new club displays, I can almost guarantee that they will not be sanitized on a regular basis. We were hired to sell clubs, fit with no experience, and never let a customer walk without a purchase, not to clean the restrooms or the store. We were bound to the BOTTOM LINE. Just remember how many people have touched the grips, demo gloves, tried on shoes, held the bags...and don't forget about the employees who stock...they don't wear gloves! Until this virus scare ends, stay out of the golf stores, and don't borrow your buddy's clubs while you're playing. You never know.

[rizz2]

I am not concerned about it. Just another strand of the flu/cold. Seems like every year it is something new...H1N1, bird flu, etc., then you won't hear about it again. This time around it is just being over-publicized. This is my opinion and I am sticking to it. For all of you out there that are actually golfing today...I envy you. We have snow flurries right now in Chicago.

[Roadking2003]

But 5% of a small number is still a small number.

34 million Americans got the flu this year. 20,000 died. Those are BIG numbers.

[MountainGoat]

This is a thread about the effect of Covid-19 on local golf courses. Please stay on topic so we don't get shut down.

[SUPERG]

36 holes today and 18 more tomorrow here in San Anton, nothing to worry about but making sure we’re staying clean and courses all packed. But we’re all spread apart on the course anyway so no issue there. This is a very real thing, but golf can go on, it’s the last thing we got at this point lol. Tourneys are obviously having issues around here tho

[BeerPerHole]

Defeat COVID-19 - play golf!

If it wasn't &^%$y weather here I'd be on the course right now. Just came home from the (covered) performance center at the club. Hardly anybody at the club today - just a few people and a full crew. Strange. Kids are out of school now. Lobbying to work from home. A colleague of mine just called - fever and sore throat. He flew down to SoCal twice last week.

Everybody be safe. Think of this as a badass flu - in terms of prevention. Lots of hand cleaning. Don't touch your face.

I am engineer who happens to work in epidemiology and hospital design. Last few weeks has been a trip...

Be safe. Play golf...

[bodhi555]

My course in the UK is still open, am down to play in the first comp of the year at 11:42, and the only real concern with that is we are due to have a shed load of rain overnight, which will probably close it again.

We've had an email from them to say they'll remain open as long as possible, and have asked us not to atte d if we have symptoms, but otherwise its business as usual.

[golfer07840]

I sat down and had lunch today, turned the TV on and realized, I had nothing to watch. And I very grumpily went "this sucks". My wife says "there is nothing you can do about it."

You could be on to something here.

[bodhi555]

Due to the lack of golf and football to watch I've had to actually speak to the wife.

She seems nice.

[golfer07840]

This is such a stupid game lol

[PedronNiall]

 

Note the "conservative estimates" part there, and that's assuming only a 0.5% death rate, much lower than what's being seen in some places but still 5 times the 0.1% death rate of the flu. Bigger number, higher rate of hospitalization, higher rate of death. So a larger percent of a much larger "small number" by your standards.

If you wish to read the entire article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/us/coronavirus-deaths-estimate.html

[golfer07840]

Sounds like fear mongering to me. Geez.

[DavePelz4]

Our event protocol has changed from a post round handshake to a curtsey from 12 feet.

[easyyy]

I played 9 holes today. We laughed and got to walk 9 holes outside. Stress reliever for sure.

 

Tomorrow we are headed to a local muni that has carts available. $22.00 lol.

[ThinkingPlus]

Effective, but hard on the knees.

[DavePelz4]

These difficult times require all of us to make accommodations TP.

[Llortamaisey]

Played the last two days and the courses have been packed. The boomer remover virus hasn’t made a dent in the golf courses around me.

[BMC]

Golf discussion please. We don't some random MDs "best guess" article.

[Roadking2003]

I haven't heard of any courses in Austin closing. I'll be playing tomorrow with the usual gang.

[BPetry]

I plan to play here in KC tomorrow even though it will only be about 45* and it has been raining for a couple days. This is the only time in the next week above freezing or not raining though...

 

[bhj83]

Received an email from my course here in KC that they are remaining open but they are obviously monitoring it and following guidance from the CDC and WHO. Here is what they're implementing:

Increased sanitation of high-touchpoint areas, including golf carts, tabletops, chairs, door handles, kiosks, touch screens, counters, and restroom surfaces.

Elimination for the near future of water stations, ball washers and rakes on the golf course. Local rule is in effect, place your ball in the bunker in an undisturbed area no nearer the hole. Also, we are encouraging golfers to leave flagsticks in the hole. The fewer hands that touch the flag, the better.

 Reinforcement of illness prevention procedures with all our staff, including frequent handwashing, avoiding facial contact, and refraining from coming near anyone who is sick.

Staff members who are exhibiting symptoms of illness are required to stay home and seek care from a medical provider when necessary.