So far, so good
Unprecedented offseason working out for the Tigers
They're all walking on the tarmac from the bus to the plane. Precious Achiuwa is laughing and D.J. Jeffries is joking around. Lester Quinones has his arm around Alex Lomax's shoulder. The season is over because of the coronavirus outbreak, and Memphis coach Penny Hardaway is adding some perspective into the final scenes of the ESPN+ documentary series, “The Harder Way.”
“When you look back at this team, we stayed resilient,” Hardaway said. “We really fought through every situation. So much happened and a lot of teams wouldn't have been able to keep winning and overcome. But we did. The youngest team in the NCAA but a very mature group.”
There's hope and confidence infused within that statement.
As if this moment won't be remembered as the unsatisfying end to a tumultuous Memphis basketball season that's seemingly frozen in time because a worldwide pandemic left us in this new, socially distant world in which sports of all kinds are suspended.
As if this moment will be one that works in the Tigers' favor and signifies the start of a more fruitful journey than what those players boarding that plane just endured.
Coronavirus may have completely altered the seasons of the Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Redbirds and Memphis 901 FC. It may have led to the postponement of the Masters and the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament. But it didn't stop the college basketball offseason from starting, and it's starting off well for Memphis.
Since this sports hiatus began more than a week ago, coaches have been fired and Rick Pitino got re-hired. Arizona's Sean Miller and LSU'S Will Wade may actually be in trouble with the NCAA. Wichita State had six scholarship players enter the transfer portal. Top Memphis recruits Jalen Green and Greg Brown announced their decision dates.
But it doesn't feel quite as frantic as recent years, and perhaps that's exactly what Memphis needs after a season defined by unexpected twists and turns.
raising the holes or putting pool noodle cuttings in the bottom of the holes to make it easier to grab the ball without touching the hole or the flag.
Facilities are also encouraging golfers to walk instead of using carts, and they are increasing their efforts to sanitize carts. Whittle Springs Golf Course and Three Ridges Golf Course will only allow one person per cart.
In Nashville, following mayor's proclamation
The parking lot at Hermitage Golf
Course was deserted Tuesday morning, save for a few scattered cars and a white catering van.
The privately owned public course wasn't closed, though, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mother nature was to blame on this day.
While "non-essential" businesses were urged by Nashville Mayor John Cooper to temporarily shut down Monday, some golf courses remained open.
Mccabe Golf Course and Heritage Golf Course were occupied Monday, before Tuesday's storms wiped out play. Both were open as of Wednesday.
"We looked at the proclamation the mayor put out and then I made some calls to officials to try and clarify what I'm doing is going to be in line with what the mayor's proclamation," said Mike
Eller, who owns the Hermitage facility.
"The big thing for us was the mayor encouraged people to get out and walk and exercise in the park, so that's what we've been doing. That was kind of our lead.
"We're trying to support the mayor in every way we can and provide a service for people."
The courses' clubhouses and pro shops are closed, and the restaurant at the Hermitage course has been doing carry-out only orders for two weeks, Eller said.
Golfers at Hermitage are registered in the breezeway at the course, with blue lines on the ground eight feet apart to promote social distancing. Players swipe their own cards and "never make contact with anybody," Eller said.
All carts are wiped down and golfers are directed to stay on the cart paths.
All clubhouses at the Metro courses have been closed since March 18, but the courses are open and free to the public, with the exception of Shelby, which has been closed due to tornado damage.
The Metro courses also have removed all flags, rakes, ball washers and coolers and urged players to "play to the center of the green, lift clean and place in bunkers and bring your own water bottles."
No carts are available.
Will Backus in Knoxville and Paul Skrbina in Nashville contributed to this report.