Trevor Ng
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. states implemented stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of the virus. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on April 1, 2020, mandating Floridians to stay at home. While this order led to the closure of non-essential businesses, golf courses in Florida were allowed to remain open. This decision sparked debate, as some counties had already enforced bans on playing golf, and many other recreational facilities were closed. Nevertheless, golf was deemed an essential activity in Florida, providing a source of outdoor recreation and economic revenue for the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is golf permitted in Florida? | Yes |
| Percentage of courses open during the pandemic | 67.4% |
| Social distancing measures | Yes |
| Sanitation measures | Yes |
| Counties that banned golf | Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach |
| Counties with courses open | Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Sumter, Hernando, Polk, Volusia, Brevard, Sarasota |
| Notable resorts not taking tee times | Innisbrook Resort, Streamsong (Blue and Red Courses) |
| Resorts taking tee times | Mission Inn Resort & Club, Marriott's Hawk's Landing, Walt Disney World, TPC Sawgrass |
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What You'll Learn
- Golf courses in Florida remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Golf courses implemented social distancing and sanitisation measures
- Some counties enforced bans on playing golf
- Golf is considered an essential activity in Florida
- Golf courses in Florida remain open despite the closure of playgrounds, beaches and parks
Golf courses in Florida remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic
Many golf courses in Florida implemented precautions to ensure social distancing and safety. These included limiting the number of people in pro shops, allowing only one golfer per cart, providing hand sanitizers, and removing rakes and other shared equipment. Some counties in Florida, such as Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, did enforce bans on playing golf during the early stages of the pandemic. However, these restrictions were later relaxed, and by May 2020, Miami-Dade County had lifted its golf ban.
The decision to keep golf courses open during the pandemic was met with mixed reactions. Some, like Matt Sommers, a golf professional at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club, supported the idea that golf could be played safely while maintaining social distance. Others, like Dr. Wolfson, advised against any activities that involved close contact with others, even with precautions in place.
Florida's golf industry generates roughly $11 billion annually, and the state is one of 37 that allowed golf to be played during the pandemic. The ability to keep golf courses open, even with lower tourist traffic, provided some economic relief to the state during a challenging time. Overall, the pandemic significantly impacted the golf industry in Florida, with adjustments made to operations and a focus on ensuring the safety of players and staff.
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Golf courses implemented social distancing and sanitisation measures
Golf is a largely outdoor activity, which benefits from natural ventilation, reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread. Golf courses implemented social distancing and sanitisation measures to further curb the spread of the virus. These measures were in line with the CDC guidelines.
Golf courses in Florida remained open during the pandemic, despite the closure of playgrounds, beaches, and parks. Social distancing and sanitisation measures were implemented to ensure the safety of golfers and staff members. For instance, the Skyway Golf Course in Hudson County reopened with strict social distancing measures in place. Club rentals were suspended, and only hand carts were available. The number of golfers permitted in the clubhouse at a time was limited to five, and the facility was professionally cleaned regularly.
Golf courses in Florida adopted various sanitisation measures, such as providing hand sanitizers and sanitising golf carts. Bunker rakes and other 'course furniture' were removed, and ball washers were covered or closed. Some courses used hole liner systems to prevent the ball from dropping into the cup, eliminating the need for players to reach into the hole.
Social distancing measures were also implemented to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Golfers were asked to maintain a minimum distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from one another during the game, regardless of whether they were in the same group. To facilitate social distancing, courses implemented a pace of play so golfers wouldn't catch up with greenkeepers, and starting points were limited. Crowds were discouraged from gathering on patios or in clubhouses.
Golf courses also implemented capacity restrictions and occupancy limits in restaurants and locker rooms to reduce the risk of infection. Golfers were encouraged to wear face coverings in public spaces and promote contactless payments. These measures helped ensure that golf courses in Florida could remain open and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Some counties enforced bans on playing golf
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not announce a statewide "stay-at-home" order until April 1, which took effect on April 3. In the absence of a statewide order, several counties enforced bans on playing golf, including three South Florida counties: Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Some golf course operators also made their own decisions to close.
While the state allowed golf courses to remain open, many courses in Florida closed in response to the pandemic. According to GolfNow, an online tee-time selling service, about 32.6% of public-access golf courses in Florida were closed as of May 7, 2020, compared to 15.3% in Arizona and 19.4% in South Carolina. Notable closures included Innisbrook Resort and Streamsong, which closed two of its three courses to regrow the grass.
However, many golf courses in Florida remained open during the pandemic, and the state deemed golf courses essential. Golf was considered a recreational activity that could be conducted while maintaining social distancing. Courses implemented various safety measures, including sanitizing carts and handrails, removing rakes, and using foam inserts in holes to prevent balls from falling in.
As the pandemic evolved, some counties in Florida began to relax their golf bans. For example, Miami-Dade County, which had initially enforced a ban, later relaxed it. As of May 19, 2020, Florida allowed golf to be played, according to a state-by-state breakdown by Golf Digest.
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Golf is considered an essential activity in Florida
According to DeSantis' press office, the governor had not specifically stated that golf courses were essential. However, he did mention that certain activities were considered essential if they adhered to CDC guidelines for social distancing. These activities included walking, jogging, shooting hoops, and playing golf. Golf course operators implemented various safety measures, such as sanitizing golf carts and providing hand sanitizers to ensure social distancing and the safety of their patrons.
The state's decision to keep golf courses open during the pandemic was influenced by the significant revenue generated by the sport. Florida is one of 37 states that allowed golf to be played during the pandemic, and the industry generates approximately $11 billion annually. The North Florida PGA Section, which oversees the sport in a large region of the state, played a role in advocating for golf as an essential activity.
While some counties in Florida, such as Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, initially enforced bans on playing golf, these restrictions were later relaxed. Golf courses implemented social distancing protocols and other safety measures to ensure compliance with CDC guidelines and provide a safe outlet for residents.
Overall, the state of Florida deemed golf an essential activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing golf courses to remain open while following social distancing and safety protocols. This decision was influenced by the economic impact of the golf industry and the ability to conduct the activity while maintaining proper social distancing.
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Golf courses in Florida remain open despite the closure of playgrounds, beaches and parks
Golf courses in Florida have remained open despite the closure of playgrounds, beaches, and parks during the coronavirus pandemic. While many non-essential businesses were forced to close, golf courses were allowed to stay open. This was due to the state deeming golf an essential activity, providing a healthy outlet for residents.
In 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order mandating that Floridians stay at home. However, this did not include a ban on playing golf, and many courses remained open for business. DeSantis stated that certain activities were essential and allowed, including walking, jogging, and playing golf, as long as CDC guidelines for social distancing were followed.
Some golf courses did close, either by choice or due to county-level bans. For example, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties in South Florida enforced bans on playing golf. Additionally, some popular courses such as Innisbrook Resort and Streamsong's Blue and Red courses were closed.
However, many other courses remained open, including those in the Central Florida region and the North Florida PGA Section. Courses implemented various safety measures to ensure social distancing and sanitization, such as limiting the number of people in pro shops and providing hand sanitizer.
Florida is one of 37 states that allowed golf to be played during the pandemic, highlighting the importance of the industry to the state, generating roughly $11 billion annually.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, golf is permitted in Florida.
Yes, golf courses in Florida were open during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some safety measures were put in place, such as social distancing, sanitizing golf carts, and providing hand sanitizers.
Yes, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties in South Florida banned golf during the pandemic. However, Miami-Dade County later relaxed its ban.
Yes, notable golf resorts that were closed or not taking tee times during the pandemic include Innisbrook Resort and Streamsong. UF's Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville and Winter Park 9 were also closed.
Yes, several golf courses in Florida remained open during the pandemic, including Walt Disney World's 63 golf holes, TPC Sawgrass, Bay Hill Club and Lodge, and Marriott's Hawk's Landing.
