NEWS
Colorado golfers flock to courses during COVID-19 pandemic
By Jake Gadon, KOAA NEWS5
06 April 2020
COLORADO SPRINGS — With COVID-19 shutting down all nonessential business in Colorado, there is one essential place everyone has flocked to.
On Sunday, Patty Jewett Golf Course was one of many golf course in Colorado packed with golfers, giving them an excuse to get outside. For some, even work on their game like Terrance McCommins
“Look at this beautiful weather, we get to walk, we do not have to stand to close to one another because of the situation,” explained McCommins, who says he and his friends golf every Sunday (weather permitting).
“Golf is a great social distancing sport in its own right,” added City of Colorado Springs Director Parks, Recreation and Cultural Service department Karen Palus.
When Governor Jared Polis issued his stay at home order, it did have some exceptions for outside recreation, which included golfing.
As for the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Service department, they have taken the proper modifications to provide safe social distancing while enjoying a round of 18.
“If you are not feeling well, stay home,” said Palus. “Make sure you’re at least a minimum of 6-feet apart from one another. The governor has asked everyone to wear masks, so make sure you have your mask with you especially when you are at the minimum of 6-feet. We encourage people to separate, do not get too close to one another. And we have set it up so there is some lag time between the tee times, so folks have time to play.”
And the process to get on the green is very easy and safe.
Go to www.ColoradoSprings.gov and click ‘Explore & Play” and then click either Patty Jewett or Valley Hi. From there you can register and see how to get tee times at the two courses.
As for McCommins and his friends, getting out and teeing it up is ultimate hole in one.
” Our governor is doing a good job, the public is doing a good job. And if I get it, I get it,”joked McCommins. “Of course I am 70 so, I am supposed to die, but I am not planning on it.”
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 10 billion data points from more than 75 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 700 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 40 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $40-$60 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
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Golf courses open with restrictions, and minus the 19th hole
By Will Springstead, The Post Star
06 April 2020
The coronavirus pandemic could not find a more adaptable bunch than golfers and golf course operators.
From the moment New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on March 26 that golf courses could open so long as they followed certain rules, both operators and players have had a collective “tell me what I should do” attitude.
Courses must implement all CDC- and state-mandated guidelines and promote safe social distancing. There is no access to pro shops, locker rooms, indoor facilities and restaurants/bars (except takeout).
Other guidelines include staying at least 6 feet away from others, leaving the flagstick in the hole, not using rakes, ball washers and coolers on the course (most operators have removed them), only riding one person per cart, not sharing clubs or equipment and not shaking hands.
“It’s been very difficult, but we’re happy to do it,” said Joan Heber, the co-owner of Airway Meadows Golf Club in Gansevoort. “The people, they’re so happy and so helpful.”
Dal Daily, a veteran golf professional in his first year as pro of Battenkill Country Club in Greenwich, said he has had no pushback from anyone about the new rules.
“Everyone is just excited to be out,” Daily said.
Course operators are encouraging such things as becoming a member or paying by phone from the parking lot so there is less interaction outside the buildings. But if it must be done, via cash or charge card, they have set up tables and trays and will make the transactions themselves.
The inability to go inside has made it hard for golfers to buy balls, tees and such, but operators will tell golfers what they have and get them. And clothing sales are non-existent.
Once on the course, operators have either bought other cups to put on top of the existing cups or filled them with shortened pool noodles so that golf balls don’t drop into the cups.
“I play with a couple of other guys, and our mindset has been anything that gets you out of the house is good,” said Justin Nassivera, who has golfed at Hiland Park Country Club and Kingsbury National Golf Club. “And especially when you’re walking, you’re always going to be 6 to 7 feet away from your partners, that’s not hard.”
“Social distancing was no problem,” Gordon Woodworth said of his Wednesday round at Hiland. “But it felt so good being out there — a needed slice of normal in an abnormal world.”
Kevin Milza said that he has golfed several times at Hiland and been to the Glens Falls Country Club driving range. He said since the United States Golf Association changed the rule about leaving the flagstick in on putts last year, he and his usual partner don’t touch flagsticks much anymore, so that wasn’t hard. Not having rakes for the sand traps, though, was different.
“You would notice in certain bunkers that are used a lot the sand was messed up by the end of the day,” Milza said.
Once the motorized and pull carts are brought back, they get an extensive cleaning and disinfecting from top to bottom.
“Anything they possibly touched,” Heber said. “You have to wash them twice, essentially.”
The courses likely will take the biggest financial hit from the loss of indoor food and beverage sales. For now, operators will sell cans and plastic bottles of non-alcoholic drinks and, in some cases, beer. But the 19th hole is no more for the time being.
Ron Walker, the owner of Green Mansions Golf Club in Chestertown, had his club’s second-earliest opening ever on Friday, so he’ll get greens fees he doesn’t normally gets, but they can’t make up for what was sold inside.
“It’s pretty easy for me; I’m a one-man show, at least for the month of April,” Walker said. “I don’t do a ton of food early on, so I’m not going to do any food. I’m going to lose a lot of business on beverage sales inside because people liked to hang out with their friends for a bit. I’ll lose several thousand on that just in April.”
The next thing owners and operators have to worry about are leagues and tournaments, the latter of which would be very hard to run while maintaining social distancing. In the Capital District, some early season tournaments have already been postponed in the hopes that they might be rescheduled.
“I’m 60 years old and I’ve been working since I was 23. I’ve learned over the years that it is what it is,” Walker said.
For now, however, golfers are taking what they can get. Daily said that Battenkill, a private club that also allows public play, has had some busy days. Heber said Airway Meadows had 136 starts on March 28 and over 100 on Wednesday.
And, as Nassivera pointed out, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott closed his state’s golf courses until at least April 15.
“I give the courses here credit for doing what they can,” Nassivera said.
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 10 billion data points from more than 75 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 700 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 40 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $40-$60 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
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Golfing During A Pandemic? New York, Florida Courses Stay Open Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
By Carli Porterfield, Forbes
04 April 2020
Topline: As states increasingly crack down on “nonessential” business operations during the coronavirus pandemic, golf courses have fallen into a grey area between permitted recreational activities and potentially dangerous places for people to gather.
- According to a tracker from Golf News Net, most states have not ordered golf courses to shut down as part of coronavirus crackdowns on movement and public activities, with notable exceptions including Washington and New Jersey, two of the worst-hit states.
- Even New York, home to the nation’s most confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths, allows courses to remain open if social distancing measures are enforced, along with Florida courses.
- Golf course proponents argue the sport is like hiking, running and bicycling in that it can largely be performed as a solo recreational activity and therefore safe.
- In states that have ordered golf facilities closed, some course owners are turning to the courts to keep them open, often invoking the Fifth Amendment, and hoping for fair compensation for property seized by the government.
- In New Hampshire, golfers have started a petition to ask the governor to amend the state’s stay-at-home order to let them out to the course as the season begins.
- About 37% of golf courses nationwide have been reportedly closed since the beginning of the pandemic, whether it’s because of orders to close nonessential businesses or at the owner’s own discretion.
Key background: American golf is big business, with one study finding that golf drove more than $84 billion in economic activity across the United States and supported nearly 2 million jobs in 2016.
Interesting fact: This week, speculation that President Donald Trump was planning a golf trip was fueled by reports that the Secret Service had signed a contract to rent a fleet of golf carts in Sterling, Virginia, for $45,000. Sterling is home to one of Trump’s golf clubs. The Washington Post reported that the contract resembles past documents that enabled agents to follow Trump on golfing trips to Florida and New Jersey.
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 10 billion data points from more than 75 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 700 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 40 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $40-$60 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
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Webinar: Adapting golf operations for success during Covid-19 and beyond
In case you missed it, the Tagmarshal Expert Session webinar is now available on-demand. Register now to watch the free video.
A panel discussion between our expert guests and Bodo Sieber, CEO and Co-founder of Tagmarshal.
- Matt Barksdale, PGA Head Professional, Pinehurst
- Drew Dunn, Director of Golf, East Lake
- Dennis Rye, Director of Golf, Mizner Country Club
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 10 billion data points from more than 75 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 700 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 40 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $40-$60 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
SOLUTIONS
NEWS
Why golf courses are open during COVID-19 pandemic
By Marshall Zelinger, 9News
1 April 2020
The state has given guidance to golf courses on how to comply with the stay-at-home order and still operate.
On Wednesday morning, the state provided guidance saying that maintenance of facilities is approved as essential, but to be open for playing required rules that must be followed.
“As a practical matter, the most important thing is social distancing and complying with the state and local directives on distancing,” the state wrote in a guidance email.
“Functionally, that means no collecting money, no sharing of golf carts, no touching of bags, clubs, balls or anything where the virus could be transmitted. Operators would need to get express approval from a local public authority that they comply with all social distancing directives in the current state and any local orders in effect. The burden of compliance is really to the operators, and they could be shut down, which is why it’s so important they work closely with their public health departments,”
Denver public golf courses remain closed. City of Thornton golf courses are closed too.
Nearby, Riverdale Golf Course in Brighton is open.
On Wednesday, there were enough parked cars that you might have mistaken it for a grocery store parking lot.
“We believe that this is an incredibly safe way to get out, get some fresh air for a few hours,” said Adams County spokesman Jim Siedlecki. “You’re not touching anything else. You get back in your car and you go home. Know that when you look around this golf course, there are no people packed together.”
The golf course starter made the same announcement with every call to the first tee box.
“Attention golfers,” said the starter. “Please maintain your social distancing at all times while on the premises. We would like to keep the golf course open.”
Adams County implemented new golf course rules including:
- Pay online
- Driving range closed
- No carts
- Don’t touch the flagsticks
- Cups turned upside down, so ball easily retrievable
“Tri-County Health has reviewed everything and they believe that if this is going to be an acceptable use, our approach is one that others should model,” said Siedlecki.
“We’re OK with golf courses staying in business, as long as they practice appropriate social distancing,” said Dr. John Douglas, executive director of Tri-County Health Department.
Tri-County Health has provided golf courses in Arapahoe and Douglas Counties with similar rules adopted by Adams County.
Last week, when Tri-County issued its own stay-at-home order, it specifically closed golf courses. Once the statewide stay-at-home order was issued, Tri-County rescinded the local one. The statewide order keeps the greens in a gray area.
“I clearly get there may be some mixed messaging, ‘look at all those people, they’re not at home, why aren’t they doing what they’re supposed to be doing?'” said Douglas. “This is absolutely not a science. It’s an art of figuring out how we identify things. Staying cooped up, mental health, it’s an issue. We’re trying to find ways of, I wouldn’t say creatively, but flexibly acknowledging that.”
During his news conference on Wednesday, Gov. Jared Polis (D-Colorado) repeatedly encouraged people to stay inside.
“To save lives you’re staying at home.”
“Stay at home to reduce the spread of the virus.”
“To honor those who are working hard every day is to stay at home to the best of your ability.”
By 7 p.m. Wednesday night, a spokesman for the governor had not responded to questions asking why the statewide order isn’t more explicit with golf courses, and how golfing is different than skiing. One of the first emergency executive orders by Polis was to shut down ski resorts.
Besides non-golfers emailing wanting to know why golf courses are open and how golf is essential, hardly anyone associated with golf would talk on the record.
One well-known Colorado golf writer has written a yet-to-be-published opinion piece entitled: Golfers should miss this tee time. In it, he wrote, “We need to care more about the game itself than anyone’s right to play it at this historic and dangerous time.”
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 10 billion data points from more than 75 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 700 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 40 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $40-$60 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
SOLUTIONS
NEWS
How golf is doing good during the coronavirus crisis
By James Colgan, Golf.com
1 April 2020
Even for the eternal optimist, the first three months of 2020 have been a struggle. But times of incomprehensible struggle often beget extraordinary good—a paradox that has proven itself uniquely true to golf, a sport whose professionals aren’t competing, whose venues are shuttering, and whose businesses are feeling the effects of the global economic downturn. In the midst of struggle, golf has discovered a remarkable capacity for good.
Here’s the best of that good.
Augusta’s $2 million gift
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced a $2 million donation to support coronavirus relief efforts in the Augusta area. Augusta University and the Central Savannah River Area’s COVID-19 relief fund will split the gift. The two organizations are planning on using the money to expand testing and research efforts in the Augusta area.
Just two weeks prior to Ridley’s announcement, Augusta National postponed the Masters and ended its playing season early in an effort to stop the spread. The donation made Augusta National the first major club to contribute to relief efforts for the virus.
Brooks leads the charge
For all the talk of Brooks’ careless facade around the course, he was the first major pro golfer to contribute to relief efforts. Through his foundation, Koepka donated $100,000 to the newly created COVID-19 Relief Fund in his hometown (and current residence) of Palm Beach County.
A trio (independently) commits to feeding the hungry
While it’s tempting to act selfishly in a year that’s been defined by toilet paper shortages and bulk shopping, three people independently decided to focus their efforts on the most vulnerable in their respective communities.
Billy Horschel came first, giving $20,000 from his cut of the Players Championship purse to his local food bank, Feeding Northeast Florida. Horschel then helped orchestrate the PGA Tour’s massive donation of unused food from the Players to Feeding Northeast Florida.
Tony Finau came next, announcing he’d teamed up with “Feed the Kids,” a charity in his hometown of Rose Park, Utah. Finau donated enough meals to feed 500 kids in the Rose Park area for the next six weeks.
All while Erik Anders Lang is nearing the end of his campaign to raise money for No Kid Hungry. Lang is donating 20 percent of all sales on his website to the charity, and Waste Management will match Lang’s donations dollar-for-dollar. Thus far, the pair have raised nearly $30,000.
Max Homa’s big shave
Max Homa is losing while others are gaining, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for either party. Homa issued a challenge to Twitter: if a user donated $2500 or more to a local food bank, he’d shave his arms completely. A week later, Homa had spurred nearly $40,000 in donations. As an act of goodwill, he shaved both his arms AND legs. You don’t have to go to those lengths to give back, but hey, it worked for Max.
So, a deal’s a deal. After raising nearly $40,000(!) for food banks in need of some help during this critical time and one incredibly generous donation, I need to honor my commitment to the cause. Today, I will be shaving my arms AND my legs (yes it was a very generous donation) pic.twitter.com/xpCVTsoh8y
— max homa (@maxhoma23) March 31, 2020
A course carries a community
Golf is just about the only thing you can’t get at the Indian Wells Golf Resort. With the course closed, the barebones staff has instead been running the local grocery store and course restaurant, fielding and serving up to-go orders. When they’re not working, the crew has also begun making mask kits for healthcare workers in dire need using supplies from a local volunteer coalition. They claim they’ve assembled as many as 500 kits in a day, and that’s just what they’re doing when they’re NOT working!
Flatten the curve and support the stinger
It’s incredibly important to flatten the curve, but let’s be honest, the whole premise is a lot cooler when you view it through the prism of hitting a sick stinger. Linksoul thinks so too, which is why they created these sweet t-shirts designed to get the word out about flattening the curve (and hitting everyone’s favorite golf shot). All the proceeds from the tee (which retails for $40) go directly to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 fund.
Buy this tee, 100% goes to charity. Together, we can #flattenthecurve. Please help us aid in the relief for COVID-19. Proceeds heading to @funds4disaster. ???? Our hearts are with everyone at this time ❤️ Art by co-founder, Geoff Cunningham. https://t.co/GE1oGMgDdS pic.twitter.com/pJ0aMBGIUu
— linksoul (@linksoul) March 27, 2020
A golf company stops production
Seamus Golf has a reputation as one of the young guns in the golf apparel industry, but that’s likely to change. Seamus briefly stopped all production at its Beaverton, Ore. facility and shuttered its online store. The purpose? To transition the company’s operations to begin making face masks for healthcare workers. In total, Seamus estimates they can make as many as 1,700 masks per day. Maybe it’s time we stop looking at them as the young guns and start looking at them as the good guys.
Pinehurst auctions off ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences
When local and state governments forced Pinehurst resort to close its lodging and restaurants, course executives raced to help the hundreds of employees whose jobs were displaced. Quickly, they created the Pinehurst Employee Relief Fund, and with it, the idea to auction off dozens of once-in-a-lifetime “Pinehurst Experiences.” By the end of the weekend, golfers from around the world pitched in to donate more than $220,000 to the employee fund.
Larry David’s pretty, pretty good crowd-funding campaign
Riviera Country Club is closed indefinitely due to the coronavirus, but that didn’t stop Riviera membership (led by “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator Larry David) from coming together to support their own. David started the “Riviera Caddy Fund,” a crowd-funded campaign that’s raised over $130,000 for the course’s newly unemployed workers.
No word on whether Vandelay Industries is among the contributors, but with less than $20,000 left to reach the campaign’s goal, they might not be needed.
Rory, Jack enter gear in huge raffle
Rory McIlroy, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo are among the horde of professional athletes whose memorabilia is being raffled off for coronavirus relief. You can enter to win a signed Players Championship flag from Rory, Faldo’s old putter, or even a set of personalized wedges. The raffle will run you $25 per entry, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 fund.
Summit Golf answers the call
Summit Golf, an apparel company based out of Wisconsin, is sacrificing profits in the name of supporting the healthcare system. Summit is producing surgical masks for local healthcare workers in accordance with demand. Those who wish to support Summit’s mission can click here, where a series of Summit products are still for sale.
Teach, Grow, Achieve…from home!
If you’re at home with kids throughout all of this, TGA feels for you. They understand the difficulty of reestablishing structure and order in your child’s life, which is why they produced a series of golf videos meant for just that. Get your kid swinging (safely) in the house and practicing golf skills with their videos (which you can view here and here). And if your school district is associated with TGA, keep an eye out. Some school districts are working directly with them to build virtual golf classes similar to what your child would’ve had in an after-school golf program.
PGA Tour Commish takes pay freeze
There aren’t any PGA Tour golfers making money while the game is shut down, so commissioner Jay Monahan figures he shouldn’t either. Monahan announced that he is foregoing his salary while other top-level executives are taking pay cuts until golf returns.
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 10 billion data points from more than 75 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 700 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 40 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $40-$60 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
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