Is your course open?

[farmer]

If I tried Pepper's model, golf would be the least of my concerns.

[charli]

club closed course open to walkers.

[braincramp52]

We're home shelter here in Illinois so nothing open that's not considered essential.

[OpusXcigars]

Northern NJ here.

I am at Montclair Golf Club and they stayed open until this Saturday. Golf courses, range and Turn house remained open but clubhouse, locker rooms and all bar/grill/dining was closed. You could order take out.

Come Saturday evening and government mandated closing of all "non-essential" businesses forced them to close the course and range too.

[TheSouthernGentleman]

Golf course is a non-essential business? Not in my book.

[sunbeltgolfer]

Mimosa Hills in Morganton, NC is still open. Got an email today that they are experiencing heavy play and some slow rounds due to schools and business closings. Asking to have a tee time in advance, which is not usually necessary this time of year , to keep from standing around the first tee for an hour waiting to get started.

[MountainGoat]

It's not open any more. All MD courses closed by 5pm Monday.

 

[Swisstrader98]

Untrue in the case of some of the private clubs.

[bsuwara]

Looks like all the Ventura County, CA public courses are now closed

[sailfishchris]

Here was today's update after yesterday's closures:

 

“Yesterday we notified golfers that state park courses would be closed. During subsequent discussions we determined that we would be able to allow limited rounds at select courses that are open.

 

Golf courses will implement a number of preventive measures, including increasing intervals between tee times, removing bunker rakes and ball washers, and decreasing use of golf carts; and facilities may take additional measures to ensure social distancing. Remember to be smart, stay six feet apart.

 

Visitor and staff safety remains our highest priority as we continue to monitor conditions daily. We apologize for any inconvenience and confusion this may have caused."

[ptjn1201]

Westchester County NY public courses remain open as of today, though we had snow and rain all day, so I doubt there was much play. Some of the daily fee courses around have closed (or never opened) but some are open for now. Golf courses don't seem to fit in the "essential services" definition, but do seem to fit the social distance recreation. And since the golf courses pretty much fund the rest of the county parks, I'm sure they're loathe to close down the only income generators they have.

[RSinSG]

I'm playing tomorrow. I always walk and the courses here have adopted some sensible policies that should help. All rakes are taken off the course. The cup is raised an inch above grade and thus no need to reach in or touch flagstick. Hit the cup = holed. I assume these rounds won't be posted for handicaps. They also are not taking cash, closed food counters, scrubbing down surfaces and carts throughout the day.

Nothing is a guarantee but walking your dog in the park or playing golf seem to be low risk activities. As serious as the current situation is, there is a balance that needs to be met lest the measures being taken end up leaving us in a situation that is unrecoverable. Kinda like the doctor who was asked how the surgery went and he replied "The operation was a success, but the patient died."

[ThinkingPlus]

Actually the USGA has provided guidance that scores should be posted under these conditions following the most likely score guidelines. Information is available on the USGA website.

[RSinSG]

Thanks.

[tmac7592]

thats incorrect, in NJ all private clubs are closed as well unless of course you own the course and play it yourself but its state law at this point. hoping the governor signs a waiver to allow members only to walk private clubs as a socially distant activity like they did in MI

[MountainGoat]

Maybe the USGA should worry less about posting scores and devote more advocacy to keeping courses open.

 

[rufus mangler]

I haven't heard of any courses closing in the Orlando area.

[nutmegchoi]

I was wondering about Westchester county public courses.

That's crazy they are still open.

I'm self quarantined day 10 and don't know when I'm gonna be able to leave the house, so I guess it doesn't really matter to me.

FYI, Sterling Farms seemed still open as well.

[Superbrit]

St Andrews links have announced that all courses are closed, that will be for at least 3 weeks with government guidelines

 

Really feel for anyone who's booked a dream golf holiday for the next 3 weeks

[Sean2]

All courses closed at noon today. At least I was able to get nine holes in today at my home course.

[MountainGoat]

This thing just took an even more ugly turn. My course in Maryland didn't just temporarily close, the owner fired all the staff. Only the GM and a couple of maintenance guys are left.

 

 

[Pepperturbo]

Courses in Orange Cty, CA are closed indefinitely. Courses in nearby counties are closed or closing. Some courses are trying to stay open by adjusting how people are distributed on the course and providing safer environments but that's not fitting the big picture of the State Order. A business is either essential or nonessential and the Governors office decides which is which. Also, a Governors Health order supersedes any and all county orders requiring compliance.

Thank goodness I bought a nice chipping net. Each day I am still able to enjoy chipping inside or outside. Helps make me feel connected to my clubs by getting the ball in the net. Last go inside, 9/10 in the net from 12 yards.

[DrOldSchool]

Interestingly as compared to other states, this course has now reopened even though Indiana's stay-at-home order is going into effect at midnight tonight. Another course pointed at the state and city of Indy not closing their courses as reason why they are staying open. The language of the executive order was a bit ambiguous towards outdoor activity, and it seems courses here will stay open for that reason.

[nutmegchoi]

Our trip's booked July 15th to 25th.

Everything's paid and tee times are booked.

I really hope our trip won't get scratched.

[RSinSG]

Played in men’s league today. Rather than a shotgun start we went off 1 and 10 either walking or 1 per cart. It was nice to get out after a 3 week layoff. Round pool float in the holes and no rakes made for an odd round.

 

[cristphoto]

Fired or furloughed? I know some golf course workers were told they're off until the mandate is lifted. So no paycheck but still have a job (at some point in the future).

What course by the way?

 

[az2au]

As of today two of the clubs I belong to changed the range policy. One is now closed and the other is only for warmup. The other one is still full range.

[ThinkingPlus]

Still open, but raised cups. Smoking hot here to. Well into the 90s with triple digit heat index.

[dcfas]

Just got our league email today, a shout out to get ready to begin the golf season. We are waiting to hear from the course as to what is actually going to happen. Courses haven’t opened yet (just snowed again) but it’s nearly time. What a bummer. No Masters and likely no golf this spring. All secondary, of course, to people staying well.

[MountainGoat]

I probably shouldn't say until the situation is clarified. Some of the affected staff said they were fired, but management is saying that there were "necessary layoffs". I'm not sure which is correct. Perhaps both. In either case, there are a lot of hard feelings going around as the owner appears to be preparing for a lengthy shutdown.

On a happier note, I heard of one course whose management appealed to the Governor to exempt golf courses from the mandatory shutdown. I'd like to see them open to walkers. Since, I'm one of the few at my course, this solution appeals to me.