Roundup: Weekend Stories On What Golf Courses Are Doing During The COVD-19 Outbreak

Common sense said golf courses were good places to be—with precautions—during the spread of COVD-19.

But as communities struggle to get people to hunker down, the benefits of exercise and fresh air will continue to clash with those concerns.

I certainly see both sides to the discussion but ultimately, it’s hard not to see golf courses as good spots to be if open, taking precautions and considerate of circumstances in their regions.

Roxanna Scott has the best pros/cons story I’ve seen, though golfers won’t like hearing the ultimate conclusion of Alexei Wagner, medical director within Stanford’s Department of Emergency Medicine,

“I think the challenge is golf in of itself is a game that does allow for social distancing in some ways, but there’s certainly times during the golf game such as transitioning to the clubhouse, using the bathrooms, teeing off where you are within that 6-feet (boundary). The big thing is figure out what you can do that allows you to distance socially that may augment your game later, whether that may be strength conditioning alone in your house, stretching, running, walking.”

The USGA is acknowledging the current situation and allowing golfers to turn in scores in ways they are not necessarily used to, reports Golf World’s Ryan Herrington.

Starting with the bad news, Bolton, Massachusetts’ The International Golf Club and Resort has closed. Thanks to reader Andrew for Bill Doyle’s story on the private club closing after coronavirus fears added to financial woes.

The International has hosted several Jimmy Fund golf tournaments, including the fund’s first in 1983, and has also hosted many Boston Bruins golf events.

The Pines Course at the International was at one time known as the world’s longest golf course, playing 8,375 yards from the back tees, and is still the longest in the U.S.

ITT Sheraton executive Daniel Weadock purchased the International in January 1999. A second 18-hole course, the Oaks, was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2001.

It’s a mixed bag in the Dallas area, reports Matthew DeFrank.

Alex Walker on Kentucky golf courses remaining open.

Mark Cannizzaro on New York area courses offering a respite for some public courses reporting robust rounds, though some disturbing examples allowing two-people in carts.

How busy are our area courses? A person from American Golf Corporation, which runs six courses in the New York Metropolitan Area, revealed these numbers of play from Wednesday: Clearview in Queens had 199 players play, Pelham in the Bronx had 193 rounds played, Dyker Beach in Brooklyn had 164, La Tourette had 151 and South Shore on Staten Island had 115.

“All of us are on the fly trying to figure this out, trying to provide a little bit of escape for people in a safe way,’’ said Brian Giordano, the head pro at Westchester Hills, a private club in White Plains.

Bandon Dunes is getting cancellations but also remaining open.

Brian Napier on Missouri courses largely remaining open.

The City of San Diego has closed Torrey Pines, Balboa Park and Mission Bay until further notice, Tom Krasovic reports. He reports on other greater San Diego area courses remaining open.

Santa Barbara area courses, also closed reports Barry Punzal.

Trump National Los Angeles, like all privately operated courses in the region, is closed.

The City of LA courses were open and thriving reports Dakota Smith. The story appeared in Saturday’s LA Times. The courses were all closed on Sunday. Reader Alex sent in these photos of measures taken when play was open.

A similar change of heart regarding staying open for play took place in Salt Lake City, reports Mike Sorenson.

Trump Ferry Point, was open as of Friday according to this New York Times report.

The Villages only took major action this week, reports AP’s Mike Schneider. They’ve finally cancelled most activities for the mega-retirement community but are still allowing golf.

“This is The Villages. There would be a riot if they stopped golf," said Cathie Hardy, a resident, who gently chastised her husband, Michael, for playing golf that morning instead of staying home.

“This community loves to socialize," Hardy said. “Parties at the drop of a hat. Block parties. Potluck dinners. That's going to have to stop and that's going to be difficult."

Alan Shipnuck with a report on the greater Monterey courses. Poppy Hills had tee times available while Fort Ord expected to do 340 players at its 36-holes. So Shipnuck snuck on Pacific Grove even after it closed a few days ago.

Josh Sens hit an outdoor public putting green in Oakand and writes about it at Golf.com.

Nathan Dominitz on the scene in Savannah where golfers agree it’s the safest recreational option.

Denver and City of Aurora courses are closed for the time being, reports Courtney Oaks.

Mark Woods provides this update on various measures taken in Ireland, where courses have largely remained open.

And in Europe, almost half the courses are closed, reports Bunkered’s Michael McEwan. 

At least 4,121 of Europe's 8,940 courses are currently in lockdown - 46.1%. 

Germany accounts for the highest proportion of those, with all 1,050 of its layouts closed. A short statement on the German Golf Association website stated: "Play operations on golf courses are forbidden nationwide from Wednesday, March 18, 2020."