All state golf courses must close
With the weather getting warmer and people adapting to social-distancing strategies to combat the spread of coronavirus, it seems like now would be an ideal time to break out the clubs and get ready for golf season.
Outside of events, golf courses aren't exactly places where crowding usually is an issue. On the links, social distancing is usually par for the course.
However, according to Gov. Tony Evers' safer-at-home order, golf is an outdoor activity that will not be allowed for the next 30 days.
There are more than 500 public and private golf courses operating in Wisconsin and all of them have been forced to close. Staff at courses and country clubs are allowed to perform minimum basic operations.
Playgrounds, too, are closed, but state parks have stayed open. Other outdoor activities such as walking, running, hiking and biking are still allowed and people are directed to maintain social distancing while engaging in those activities.
States around the country have been grappling with the decision whether or not to allow golf courses to remain open. Most others don't mention golf courses specifically in their stay-at-home orders.
A change.org petition titled, “Let Wisconsin golf ” received over 100 virtual signatures in its first hour Wednesday morning.
That petition asks Evers to reopen golf courses with the following modifications: electronic payment only, closed clubhouses, no flag sticks, holes placed two inches above ground so no one touches a hole, no golf carts and adherence to all social-distancing guidelines.