Want to play golf? Here's what you should know
Tuesday would have been business as usual at Memphis National Golf Club. The only thing keeping members away was the cold and rain.
Jon Kitchen, the course general manager, said he hasn't seen a decline in foot traffic due to coronavirus concerns. On Saturday, he saw about the same number of members he'd see this time of year.
The main differences, however, were the changes in safety. Members can't share carts, there's more space in between golfers on the driving range, and the ball washers, rakes and putting green pins are gone to limit touching.
"It's a constantly evolving thing for us and our leadership so we're going to do everything we can to keep our members safe until we can't," Kitchen said. "It's a weird time"
Most golf courses are closed after several Memphis municipalities issued executive orders requiring residents to stay at home unless they were leaving for essential services.
Some, however, are still open. Kitchen said the rain hampered foot traffic more than fears of the virus and if they're still open, he looked forward to Thursday with a forecast of clear skies and a high of 82 degrees.
But other courses, like Ridgeway Country Club, faced a temporary closure and fewer guests.
Stephen Hall, the club's general manager and chief operating officer, said members completed close to 60 rounds last week, which was down from around 750 the week before.
With doctors among the membership, Hall said the club began making changes three weeks ago.
"We tested for temperatures before people walked in and began spacing out tables at least eight feet apart," said Hall, who added that he closed the club's indoor tennis facility and pro shop.
Hall said the weather also kept people away Monday and Tuesday. Yet as he prepared to temporarily close the club, he supported civic leaders' decisions.
"We have to be smart. If you don't lock down, You're going to have problems," Hall said. "We'll just get through this and keep taking care of our membership."
In Knoxville, golf courses considered parks, open for business
As of Tuesday, golf courses in Knoxville will remain open following the "safer at home" order.
There are restrictions for the majority of the facilities. The most common practice is to restrict access to clubhouses, with no more than 10 people allowed at any time.
Concord Park Par 3 has closed its clubhouse, creating a walk-up window for golfers. Cherokee Country Club has also closed its clubhouse and will not offer bag retrieval.
Dead Horse Lake is only allowing golfers checking in to enter the clubhouse.
In addition, golf courses are either
After a Yahoo! report in February speculated that assistant coach Mike Miller is a candidate to become a head coach, his name hasn't surfaced for any available jobs so far.
After the departure of James Wiseman and an injury to Jeffries left Memphis with a depleted roster most of the year, there are no Memphis players known to be in the transfer portal right now.
Guards Boogie Ellis and Quinones, meanwhile, have each put out Instagram posts recently that suggest they're planning to return.
"It's not what we have in our life, but who we have in our life that matters," Quinones wrote for the caption of a picture in which he's hugging Hardaway.
"I'll be back to finish my journey," Ellis wrote alongside a collage of photos of him wearing Memphis jerseys.
It means there's a good chance the Tigers bring back much of their nucleus from this past season.
It means there's a good chance they'll still have Miller in the fold when top-10 2020 prospects Green and Brown announce their college decisions next month.
It means there's a good chance that as Hardaway makes recruiting calls, to high school prospects and transfer candidates alike, he's not the only one talking about how this season became one, giant “What if?”
That's no small detail considering the Tigers also have a NCAA infractions case hanging over the program right now.
Add Green and Brown to a Tiger roster that could include Ellis, Quinones, Jeffries, Tyler Harris, Lomax, Lance Thomas and Malcolm Dandridge, and the hype from last offseason will begin anew.
But even if Texas or Kentucky or Auburn ends up with those two recruiting wins, the unprecedented circumstances that led to the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament haven't hurt Memphis, beyond the fact that the Tigers missed out on the AAC Tournament.
There was a fear during all those close Memphis losses down the stretch, and throughout the team's struggles in conference play, that none of this would be worth it. That not only Achiuwa would be leaving for the NBA, but other disgruntled players and staff members might leave for elsewhere because this season hadn't gone as planned.
It's an issue that accelerated the demises of Josh Pastner and Tubby Smith before Hardaway, that every team faces in a disappointing season. So just keeping most of the key pieces in place, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding the NCAA infractions case, would be a major statement of stability.
It would ensure Memphis basketball begins an otherwise uncertain offseason with an infusion of hope and confidence.
You can reach Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto via email at mgiannotto@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @mgiannotto