There was confusion after DeWine’s order because were golf courses considered one of the “open recreation areas” permitted to remain open or like playgrounds should they be forced to close? If they could remain open, what measures would they need to keep in place for golfers and employees to comply with the order?
Then early Monday afternoon, Allen Freeman, publisher of the Northeast Ohio Golf website, reported Dan Tierney, DeWine’s press secretary, confirmed that courses could remain open as long as they adhere to social distancing guidelines and hygiene and sanitation rules.
But on Friday, Carrie Yeager, environmental health director for the Butler County Health District, said she was calling courses in the county to alert them they should be closed. Erin Smiley, health promotion director for the county, said DeWine said this week during one of his daily news conferences that courses should be closed.
Earlier in the week, general managers/head pros at several Butler County courses said they had implemented several steps to reduce the risk of the spread of the coronavirus.
“If everybody listens, I don’t think we will have any issues,” said Steve Timmer, director of Hamilton’s Parks Consortium.
The city owns two courses: Twin Run was scheduled to open Thursday and Potter’s Park on Monday, he said.
Cheryl Ackerman, general manager of Walden Ponds Golf Club in Hamilton, said the course was scheduled open Friday to walkers only. She said tee times must be made in advance over the phone and green fees paid with a credit card.
When golfers arrive, they should check in with the starter and their credit cards will be billed, she said.
The pro shop and concession area will be closed to reduce golfer contact with staff, she said.
Brown’s Run Country Club in Madison Twp. recently opened to the public. Bob Wilson, director of golf, said players are encouraged to pay online and once they arrive at the course, a staff member will meet them with a cart key.
Wilson said the pro shop and banquet room are closed and there is no food service. The men’s and women’s locker rooms are open, he said.
On Tuesday, there were six golfers on the course and Wilson hopes the golf industry returns to “normal” as soon as possible.
Otherwise, he said, “it could be devastating.”
This year Brown’s Run purchased 54 golf carts and signed up numerous public leagues and tournaments, Wilson said. It also hired a new superintendent and Wilson said the course will soon return to “a whole new level. Spectacular.”
Jordan Lawson, general manager at Wildwood Golf Club in Middletown, said the course is open and about 30 golfers were playing Tuesday morning. He said food and beverage at Wildwood is carry-out only.
When asked about the impact of the coronavirus, Lawson said he was “pretty optimistic,” but added “it’s a little deflating. We’re hoping for a huge year.”
Wildwood, which is owned by its members, is going through a $375,000 makeover that includes new cart paths and reconfigured bunkers, Lawson said. Those upgrades have dawn four Miami Valley Golf Association tournaments to the course, the most in recent memory, he said.
GOLF COURSE PRECAUTIONS
Here are numerous steps Butler County golf courses have implemented to reduce the spread of the coronavirus:
One person per golf cart or walk.
Pay with a credit card when you make a tee time.
Keep social distancing of at least six feet.
Fewer tee times to reduce golfers coming in contact.
All concessions are carry-out.
Do not remove the flag stick.
No water available on the course.
Carts sanitized after every round.
Bunker rakes have been removed.
SOURCE: Area golf courses
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