Trevor Ng
During the Coronavirus pandemic, golfing was deemed non-essential in some places, such as Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, while other states, like Arizona, allowed courses to continue to operate. In some places, golf courses were closed to the public, while members were allowed to play. In other places, golf courses were closed altogether. In some states, golf courses were allowed to remain open, but with restrictions such as social distancing, wearing masks, and allowing only one rider per cart.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Golfing allowed during coronavirus | Depends on the state/country and their respective restrictions |
| States/countries where golf is allowed | Arizona, Montana, Ohio, Delaware, Australia |
| States/countries where golf is not allowed | Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey |
| Changes in rules | No guests allowed, no rentals, one rider per cart, social distancing, online tee times and payments, no congregation of players, flagsticks to be left in holes, no scorecards, raking of bunkers with feet or clubs |
| Changes in facilities | Clubhouses closed, pro shops closed, tennis facilities closed, restaurants closed |
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What You'll Learn
Golf course closures
In the United States, the decision to close or restrict access to golf courses has varied from state to state and even within the same state. For example, in Connecticut, golf was deemed non-essential and courses were closed, while in Arizona, golf courses were included in the list of essential businesses and remained open. In New York's Westchester County, county-owned golf courses remained open, even as public health officials urged residents to stay home. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Queensland, Australia, golf courses were ordered to close, despite petitions and lobbying efforts from golfing organizations.
To ensure social distancing and safety, golf clubs and courses implemented various measures, including allowing only members, increasing time intervals between groups, prohibiting guests, limiting cart usage to one person per cart, requiring online reservations and payments, and following strict hygiene protocols. Some clubs also communicated the government's regulations to their members, encouraging them to stay away if they felt sick or had recently travelled.
The status of golf courses as essential or non-essential businesses has been a subject of debate, with some states characterizing golf as a non-essential business, while others have allowed courses to operate. Golf industry leaders have argued that golf can be played safely while following social distancing guidelines and that it provides physical and mental health benefits to participants. However, health experts and government officials have urged caution and recommended staying at home whenever possible to flatten the curve of the pandemic.
The closure of golf courses during the coronavirus pandemic has been a dynamic situation, with rules and regulations changing over time as governments and health authorities assessed the situation and made decisions based on the best available information. While some golf courses were initially closed, they may have reopened as restrictions eased, and vice versa. The impact of the pandemic on the golf industry has been significant, with many courses experiencing financial challenges due to closures and reduced operations. However, the safety and well-being of the community have remained the top priority in decision-making processes.
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Social distancing rules
Whether golfing is allowed during the coronavirus pandemic depends on where you live. In some places, golf courses have been ordered closed, while in others, they are allowed to remain open with social distancing rules in place.
Golf courses that remain open have implemented various social distancing rules and other measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus. These include:
- Limiting the number of people allowed to ride in a golf cart to one.
- Prohibiting the rental of golf carts and allowing only private carts.
- Increasing the length of time between groups starting their rounds to reduce crowding.
- Encouraging online reservations and payments to reduce physical contact.
- Closing clubhouses, except for the sale of takeaway food.
- Prohibiting the use of rakes in bunkers, allowing raking with feet or clubs instead.
- Leaving flagsticks in holes at all times or not using them at all.
- Prohibiting the exchange of scorecards.
- Prohibiting group photos.
- Implementing mask mandates in certain areas.
- Installing signs recommending social distancing.
- Providing hand sanitizer stations.
Golfers are also encouraged to stay home if they are feeling sick or have recently travelled.
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Changes to the game
Whether golfing is allowed during the coronavirus pandemic depends on where you live. In Connecticut, for example, golf was deemed non-essential and courses were closed. In Arizona, golf courses were included in the list of essential businesses and remained open. In some states, an executive order from the governor has either directly or indirectly put golf on pause, while in others, golf has been characterised as an essential business, allowing courses to remain open.
Golf courses that have remained open have implemented several changes to the game and associated facilities to ensure social distancing and safety. These include allowing flagsticks to be left in holes at all times or not used at all, removing the need for players to exchange scorecards, and allowing the raking of bunkers with feet or clubs instead of rakes. Golfers are also encouraged to wear masks and maintain social distancing on the course. Some courses have implemented tee times at 15-minute intervals to reduce crowding and are encouraging online bookings and payments.
The availability of carts has also been impacted, with some courses allowing only private carts and no rentals, while others are permitting one person per cart. Certain courses are allowing golfers to bring their own pushcarts, while some have restricted carts to members only.
Golf clubs have also stressed that members feeling sick or having travelled recently should not come to the club and must follow the recommended quarantine guidelines. Clubs are also adjusting their procedures to ensure there is no congregation of players, including increasing the time between groups starting their rounds.
While some courses have chosen to close despite being allowed to remain open, others have implemented these changes to ensure the safety of their members and staff while providing an opportunity for outdoor recreation during the pandemic.
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Golf as an essential business
During the Coronavirus pandemic, golf courses have been subject to various restrictions, with some being ordered to close and others allowed to remain open with limitations. Whether golf is considered an essential business has varied depending on the location, with different rules in different states and even within the same state.
In Connecticut, golf was deemed non-essential and courses were closed. In Arizona, golf courses were included in the list of essential businesses and allowed to continue operating. In Montana, there was no clear answer initially, but golf courses were allowed to remain open, indicating they were considered essential. However, not all services were available, and social distancing rules had to be followed.
In some cases, golf courses were allowed to remain open, but clubhouses and other facilities were closed, except for takeout meals. Golfers were asked to practice social distancing and follow safety precautions, and some courses limited riders to one per cart or only allowed private carts.
Some states, such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey, had golf courses ordered closed during the pandemic, while others, like Delaware, allowed courses to remain open with social distancing rules in place. Queensland, Australia, also advised golf courses to close but left the decision to individual clubs, with some choosing to open while adhering to social distancing restrictions.
The decision to include golf courses as essential businesses was often based on economic factors and the desire to provide outdoor recreation for residents. Golf officials in Ohio, for example, lobbied the governor to keep courses open, highlighting the industry's impact in the state and the opportunity for residents to enjoy nature and exercise.
Overall, the status of golf courses as essential businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic varied depending on the location and the changing restrictions implemented by local governments.
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Golf club adjustments
During the coronavirus pandemic, golf courses around the world had to adjust their procedures to prevent the spread of the virus. In some places, golf was deemed non-essential and courses were closed, while in other places, golf courses were allowed to remain open with certain restrictions in place. These restrictions included social distancing, limiting the number of people in groups, and adjusting procedures to ensure no congregation of players. For example, some clubs increased the time between groups starting their rounds and allowed flagsticks to be left in holes or not used at all.
Adjustable hosels are another feature that can be used to fine-tune your clubs. Many modern drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids come with adjustable hosels that allow you to tweak the loft and lie angles to suit your swing characteristics. Adjusting the loft and lie angles can also help with distance control. A higher loft produces higher ball flights, while a lower loft generates flatter trajectories, affecting the distance and control of your shots. Additionally, bending the loft can impact the bounce on the sole of your iron or wedge, affecting how much the club digs into the turf.
It's important to note that adjusting golf clubs requires time and patience. It may be beneficial to consult with a local fitter or golf shop before attempting any adjustments yourself. Making the wrong adjustments can negatively impact your game. However, with the proper knowledge and tools, you can fine-tune your clubs to optimize your performance on the course.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on where you live. In some places, golf courses were ordered to close, while in others they were deemed essential and allowed to remain open.
Golf courses are implementing social distancing rules, requiring reservations to be made in advance, and asking players to wear masks and use hand sanitizer. Some courses are also allowing flagsticks to be left in holes at all times or not used at all, removing the need for players to exchange scorecards, and allowing raking of bunkers with feet or clubs instead of rakes.
This varies depending on the club. Some clubs are only allowing members to play, while others are permitting guests but prohibiting the use of certain facilities, such as clubhouses and pro shops.
Golf clubs are adjusting their procedures to prevent the congregation of players, including increasing the time between groups starting their rounds and not allowing group photos.
Yes, some golf courses are offering reduced green fees during the pandemic.
