Area golfers ready to get back in the swing
Local golfers got some good new Thursday — they can tee off again, starting Saturday.
The opening of Ontario golf courses was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford announced that golf courses, tennis courts and some other outdoor facilities will be allowed to open, with health measures in place.
After the winter experienced this year, the golf courses are looking good, said the managers of three Peterborough golf courses: Peterborough Golf and Country Club, Kawartha Golf and Country Club and Liftlock Golf Club.
“We had a wonderful winter and came out of it beautifully, it might have been one of our earliest openings on record because we had a great April,” said Jamie Carter, general manager, Kawartha Golf and Country Club.
Physical distancing will be regulated as will other rules that have been set forth by the provincial government. There are many regulations for the upcoming openings and tee times for each of the courses.
“There is only one way into our golf course and there is one way you are going to be able to access the golf course,” said Michael Gillan, general manager, Peterborough Golf and Country Club.
With social distancing, people are going to have to stay in their car until 15 minutes prior to their tee time, he said.
Four people maximum will be allowed on the putting greens and teeing off at a time to maintain social distancing protocols.
“We have a great layout and a map of where you can be and where you can’t be,” said Gillan.
Guidelines specifically for golf, set by the government, will need to be enforced, said Barry MacIntyre, director of golf at Liftlock Golf Club.
“They haven’t come out with any specific ones for golf courses,” he said. “We will have our marshals out, kind of playing security on the course, giving people reminders of the sixfoot social distancing to stay apart.”
Golf course staff will ease into their new training, from groundskeepers, trainers, and kitchen staff, some of the courses will offer limited services.
Kawartha Golf and Country Club will be offering members only access as it eases back into the swing of things.
“One of the first phases of our opening is we are opening to members only at first,” said Carter.
“That will probably last for about two weeks.”
There is a real excitement to get back to the way things were, but Gillan is still cautious and wants to lead by example when it comes to the golf course and people physical distancing.
“We want to keep our members and our staff extremely safe that is No. 1,” he said. “Golf is an important part of people’s lives; it is not the end all of everything.”
Courses in the county are ready to open, too.
Keystone Golf and Country Club will be opening Saturday, but won’t be accepting any walk-ins.
“So all tee times need to be made by telephone, you can’t just show up and go,” said owner Natalie Wood.
Only one person will be allowed in a cart, unless they are golfing with their spouse or can prove they are living at the same address as the other person.
“We’ll be adjusting as things change, but I feel folks have been living in this reality for a few weeks and everyone really knows what’s expected,” Wood said. “We all need to be responsible for ourselves, but it would be really nice to go out and play a round of golf.”
During their closure period, Wood said, they completed several renovations.
“We were actually able to get quite a few projects done that we wouldn’t have been able to do with people out here, so there are positives,” she said. “It hasn’t been a vacation, that’s for sure.”
Wood said this season is Keystone’s 25th anniversary.
“It wasn’t the way we were maybe expecting it to be played out, but we’re still here and that’s pretty exciting,” she said.
Hart Moroney, owner of Tamarac Golf and Country Club, said they are also taking several precautionary measures as they prepare to open this upcoming long weekend.
No carts will be accessible and no one is permitted in the clubhouse, Moroney said.
“We’ve also got sanitizing stations and a Don On The Job at the front and one on the golf course that we will continue to clean throughout the day,” he said.
No walk-ins will be permitted, Moroney said.
“We’ve got an online tee booking sheet, so people can book through the online system or through the phone,” he said.
Only two people will be allowed in the pro shop at a time.
“And I’ll probably lower that to one,” said Moroney. “We’ve got an extra couple of staff on board here to take this on.”
Because of the weather this spring, Moroney said the club was able to cut a month and a half earlier than last year.
“We had an awesome spring this year compared to last year. When we do get that water, it’s tough to get it away from here. We’ve done a whole lot out here and I can’t wait to show it off,” he said.
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