Are you playing golf during the coronavirus outbreak?

[fozcycle]

My club is open for business with a few added precautions such as....water jugs were removed from the course and bottled water is available at 1/2 price. Disinfectant is being used hourly on the common areas such as the door knobs and counters in the pro shop. All carts are wiped with disinfectant between rounds. Signs in restrooms advising all persons to wash their hands.





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[mysterygolfguy]

Everything in my hometown is still rolling along. I played 18 this weekend and the course was packed.

 Were not scared of no beer flu.

[Lacassem]

Good article if you’re interested https://www.golfdigest.com/story/can-you-play-golf-amid-coronavirus-concerns-with-proper-precautions-yes

[ZenGolfer]

Im not playing golf right now.  All of the munis here in Columbus are closed and even most of the other courses are closing down too.  Everyone is just kind of hunkering down and letting COVID pass.

Id had hopes that my work would shut down for a few weeks and I could just golf every day but I dont see that happening now.  Its looks like if we do shut down, I will be playing FIFA on the Playstation.  Its a rough time: the golf courses are closed, the bars are closed (unless you want carryout) and the future in uncertain.

Even still, Im still healthy and I still have a job to go to every day, so I really cant complain.

[russtopherb]

No, because when pretty much every single medical professional says to stay home and not go out to help slow the transmission of the virus, I do the sane thing and listen. 

[SmoothG]

I haven't played yet due to weather.  When it gets a little warmer I'll probably get out under certain conditions.  I would most likely walk, refrain from touching rakes and flagsticks.  I can't imagine I'd be at risk being in the open air and touching only my clubs that I brought with me.  I don't think I'd be comfortable riding in a cart.  Information changes every day so we will see what the next couple weeks brings.  

[chisag]

7 hours ago, juspoole said:

Agree here.  My wife is in the healthcare industry and while I don't see any reason to slow my normal activities, I am because I don't want to spread anything to those who might have more difficulty fighting it.  Another issue is that many could have it and it be unknown for up to 14 days or with symptoms so much like a common cold or flu, believe they have that.

Imagine the craziness that has ensued at the supermarkets hitting all of the hospitals.  There simply isn't the infrastructure in place to digest that.  Let alone healthcare professionals will also not be immune so there will be fewer who can help those that need it. 

I am far away from thinking this has any threat to myself or a majority of society over other illnesses or causes of death, but the contagious nature of this makes it a bit more concerning.

Sorry for the rant and back to question at hand.   I plan on playing golf in the coming weeks as weather allows.  I will be walking and not touching the flagstick.  I feel like golf has built in distancing so should have no issues.

 

... I am supposed to leave for Phoenix this week. If I can live at home and have no contact with others, drive to the course alone, pay for my round without touching anyone or anything, wash my hands before playing just in case, touch nothing but my clubs and my ball including the flagstick, walk behind my remote cart at least 6 feet from playing partners, wave goodbye and get back in my car and drive home alone ... I will play golf in the hot Phoenix sun. At least until I am told even that may cause potential problems for others and I should self quarantine. 

... I am a little shocked but not completely surprised by someone saying they are not gonna change anything in there lives. This is a worldwide pandemic and as you said making changes can save lives and stop hospitals from being over run. So I won't be going to restaurants or concerts or shopping for anything but absolute necessities while keeping my distance as well as refraining from many activities I have done in the past until this is over. I do not live in fear of what this virus may do to me, but I have a very healthy respect for what it can do to others because of my callous selfishness. 

[Lacassem]

21 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... I am supposed to leave for Phoenix this week. If I can live at home and have no contact with others, drive to the course alone, pay for my round without touching anyone or anything, wash my hands before playing just in case, touch nothing but my clubs and my ball including the flagstick, walk behind my remote cart at least 6 feet from playing partners, wave goodbye and get back in my car and drive home alone ... I will play golf in the hot Phoenix sun. At least until I am told even that may cause potential problems for others and I should self quarantine. 

... I am a little shocked but not completely surprised by someone saying they are not gonna change anything in there lives. This is a worldwide pandemic and as you said making changes can save lives and stop hospitals from being over run. So I won't be going to restaurants or concerts or shopping for anything but absolute necessities while keeping my distance as well as refraining from many activities I have done in the past until this is over. I do not live in fear of what this virus may do to me, but I have a very healthy respect for what it can do to others because of my callous selfishness. 

Agreed not changing anything is not

ok. Pretty frustrating with what’s going on with shopping and all that because my family and I go on Sundays and it’s dead if you just did your normal shopping we would be a lot better off with added distancing. Either way I think golfing is an ok activity that can get you out of the house. Our courses up here are opening up and you bet your ass I’m hitting the range and trying to get some swings in.

[CarlH]

Just got this post from our golf club in regards to virus (only golf portion copied here)

Golf:

• Hours of Operation:  the Golf Course, Practice Facility, Pro Shop, and Snack Shack will remain open with regular hours.
• Golf Cars:  only one passenger per golf car is permitted unless utilizing a personal golf car with family member passengers that live in the same household.
• Safety Precautions:
  • Walking is encouraged instead of riding.
  • Try to remain six-feet apart at all times, even on the green.
  • Sanitize your car with a wipe before playing (club staff is already doing this, however, personally doing this can only help).
  • Avoid picking up clubs or golf balls of fellow members.
  • Avoid touching the green’s flag stick (leave it in if possible).
  • Avoid shaking hands on 18 but rather elect for an “elbow bump” or a distance high five.
  • Avoid congregating in groups (Pro Shop or Clubhouse).

[HardcoreLooper]

8 hours ago, pulledabill said:

The range is putting bleach in their ball washer which I found funny and helpful at the same time.

Man, you're taking me back to the club I worked at, when we'd have to bleach the range balls every few weeks to whiten them up.  The pro would come back into the bag room and announce that it was time to "bleach the balls" and you knew that pair of Dockers you were wearing were gonna get trashed.

As for me, right now I'm playing with my daughter, walking, pushing my own cart, leaving the flag in, picking up shorties.

[RoverRick]

I played yesterday, but I told my playing partners that I was not hitting my driver poorly, I was “maintaining my social distance off the tee box.”

I played my worst round in months. Cold, very wet, 2 hours sleep, but the other option seemed to be sitting at home watching Lifetime Network or The Cooking Channel.


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[yungkory]

Played Friday, and Sunday. Walked on Friday for 9-holes and rode on Sunday, with a cartner, for 18. I already posted my thoughts on the virus in the COVID-19 thread if you're interested to join us there. I am taking it seriously by being cautious and using common sense. I have loved ones who will quite frankly die if they contract it, and I don't want to be the one to give it to them. That said, I'm not going to be a slave to the outbreak. So, I'm going to keep golfing, washing my hands, not coughing on people, no hugs/kisses/handshakes anything. You can get the elbow for the memes if you're down with that, otherwise you're getting a shaka and I'll see you on the course next week. 

[Thin2win]

All the courses here (Washington) pulled the plug today after the governor put some edicts in place for what businesses can be open. 

 

However I got an email from my country club that while the pro shop, driving range and food options are all closed, I can still go golf. 

 

So, I think I'll just keep playing as a single or with my wife as this event continues. 

[fozcycle]

Our Tuesday game is on, will prob only get 20-30 rather than 49-50 as most of us are retired.

I am going to play my own ball, only drink from my cup of water & drive my own cart.




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[Golfspy_CG2]

As of today we are open and have pretty heavily booked tee sheets.  I have had a few outings canceled/postpone.  And with the CDC latest recommendation if no gatherings of 10 or more.  I expect wide scale cancellations.  I shouldn't lose my job but 80%  of my income is commission. 

But we are a county run municipal so with the Governor closing all bars and restaurants yesterday ans hearing of other local municipality closing it's courses.  I won't be surprised if we get that directive soon. 

In the meantime.  

Things we are doing at our course 

We will allow single carts 

We are washing down the entire cart and sanitizing the steering wheel, all keys, the forward back switch, the grip on the roof and all seating. 

in addition we are putting free range balls out, to avoid cash handling and individual use of the range machine buttons. Also encouraging everyone to pay online if possible and not requiring signature on credit card transactions inside.

Leaving our doors open to avoid common touching of door handle.

Setup a hand sanitizer section inside the clubhouse. 

Closed our bar and grill

 

 

[Pug]

16 hours ago, Apolloshowl said:

I desperately want to but we don't have courses open still being winter and all.

Could maybe find a simulator that's open. 

That's my world. Even the simulator I use was closed this past Sunday. Just when I was starting to knock the rust off. Remains to be seen what will happen with golf club openings here, since we are a month or more away from the earliest opening here in NS.

[Pug]

56 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

As of today we are open and have pretty heavily booked tee sheets.  I have had a few outings canceled/postpone.  And with the CDC latest recommendation if no gatherings of 10 or more.  I expect wide scale cancellations.  I shouldn't lose my job but 80%  of my income is commission. 

But we are a county run municipal so with the Governor closing all bars and restaurants yesterday ans hearing of other local municipality closing it's courses.  I won't be surprised if we get that directive soon. 

In the meantime.  

Things we are doing at our course 

We will allow single carts 

We are washing down the entire cart and sanitizing the steering wheel, all keys, the forward back switch, the grip on the roof and all seating. 

in addition we are putting free range balls out, to avoid cash handling and individual use of the range machine buttons. Also encouraging everyone to pay online if possible and not requiring signature on credit card transactions inside.

Leaving our doors open to avoid common touching of door handle.

Setup a hand sanitizer section inside the clubhouse. 

Closed our bar and grill

 

 

For what it is worth, you have my sympathy. I am one of the fortunate ones who has been ordered to work from home. The issue for those of us with this income security is what we can do to support those in our community who have to rely on tips or commissions for a significant part of their income. The governments here are putting in place a number of economic measures to try to mitigate the damage, but we suspect it will not be sufficient to alleviate the economic loss and the damage that flows from that to individuals. It is even more difficult to just go out and spend the money at restaurants, clubs and bars when they have been ordered to close or limit the number of people who can gather. Speaking for myself, I am still looking for opportunities for what I can do. Donations to the food bank hardly seem adequate. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 hour ago, Pug said:

That's my world. Even the simulator I use was closed this past Sunday. Just when I was starting to knock the rust off. Remains to be seen what will happen with golf club openings here, since we are a month or more away from the earliest opening here in NS.

Where in NS are you from? 

[berkeleybob]

Time willing, I'm planning on hitting the driving range, no personal interaction required. After that, come summer, who knows? The semi-private golf courses here also have 9-holes, hand carts only, and they are generally paid for via golf box, so apart from a touch screen, there's much social distancing built in. 

Am I panicked? No. Am I concerned about getting it? Only to the point of not wanting me or my wife to be sick. I'm still in an age group where I'm not under threat of dying from it. But I do take seriously my MIL's concerns. And as much as I want to help her, I traveled recently, so I'm staying put. I just came back from visiting my parents for 10 days, so, since they are in their 80s, I'm still concerned about their welfare.

I've hit four airports in the past month—three international, one regional. My wife hit three. We both changed planes in Munich. That's enough for me to say yes to self-quarantine.

Remedies for all that inevitable boredom? Well, there's that other hobby (woodturning), and I'm this close to pulling the trigger on a Wellputt mat.

[tony@CIC]

Our local Golfzon sim is closed as of last night and our course isn't open yet so I'll be either in the backyard practicing chipping or on our practice holes. Either way there is no interaction with other people and I have a full shag bag so don't need to worry about touching someone elses' balls (you know what I mean).

Once our course opens, I'll be playing since I use my own cart and can book tee times and check in on line,  so no interaction with any other individuals or .surfaces others have touched. .  .