The great golf debate: Should courses stay open or close?
Connecticut State Golf Assoc. seeking clarification from state before advising local golf clubs
As the spring weather warms up, golfers are dusting off their clubs and flocking to local courses. A mild winter has sped up that annual spring migration.
The burning question is, will there be anywhere for them to play due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
At least two local courses and perhaps more will remain open for now.
Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton and Norwich Golf Course are both taking added steps to protect their members, customers and employees.
Area courses debated whether or not to stay open after Gov. Ned Lamont ordered that all non-essential businesses close by 8 p.m. Monday. The Connecticut State Golf Association stated in an email sent out in the morning that the temporary closures include golf courses and encouraged membership to comply with the Governor's order.
Later in the day, CSGA reached out to Gov. Lamont's office for clarification and more information. The CSGA had yet to announce an update by Monday evening.
Shennecossett decided earlier in the day that it would stay open.
"The director of parks and recreation, Mark Berry, met with the (Groton) town manager and we're going to stay open," Shennecossett pro Todd Goodhue said. "But there are some other restrictions beyond the ones that we already had in place that we're going to be doing.
"... It's an open area recreation activity. It's no more risky than taking a hike."
Some restrictions — removal of ball washers
and rakes and recommending golfers leave flag sticks alone — already were in place. On-site restaurants had been closed.
Both Shennecossett and Norwich ramped up restrictions for its membership and guests, including not allowing golf carts.
"We've instituted all kinds of things here just like everybody else has," Norwich pro Mike Svab said.
Also at Shennecossett, only four people at a time are permitted in the pro shop. It also extended the starting tee time intervals by a few minutes to 12 minutes, therefore reducing the number of players congregating to tee off. Cups have been altered so the ball drops less than two inches into the hole, making it easier for golfers to retrieve their ball.
Common areas, credit card machines, phones and computers are wiped down every half hour.
The staff also is stressing the need for golfers to maintain a safe social distance, something that may already be natural for those that regularly find the rough.
"We're trying to do the right thing over here while still keeping open," Goodhue said.
Business is starting to build at area courses. On a recent Sunday, Shennecossett had over 250 golfers show up.
Alan Rustici, who owns Elmridge Golf Course in Pawcatuck and Cedar Ridge in East Lyme, also has seen a recent uptick in business.
Golf is about the only active game in town right now.
"Nobody is playing any stick and ball sports, so a lot of people have time on their hands and would like a way to get outside," Rustici said. "I think people would like the opportunity to play golf if it is afforded to them."
Rustici pointed out Rhode Island and Michigan issued exemptions for golf courses to stay open in those states. He hopes that Connecticut follows suit.
"If you think about it, there are many businesses that are deemed essential because of the nature of it but have a much higher risk of transmission than you'd have on the golf course," Rustici said. "Pumping gas at the gas station, going to the grocery store, it's necessary but a lot of hands are touching those items.
"I just don't think that the risk involved here in any way justifies the reaction. Plenty of social distancing happening on a golf course."
As of Monday, Old Lyme Country Club had yet to officially open for the season, although some golfers walked the course when the weather cooperated. Members were informed to take precautions and be careful.
"We didn't get much play anyway," pro Rob Barbeau said. "A lot of our members are in Florida. The people are somewhat on the older side, so they're being cautious. Some of our young people, like everybody else, wanted to get out for some fresh air. They were doing that in the past week.
"We were taking precautions. Our general manager put out a note to the members to be careful out there with the flag stick, the rakes, the ball washers and so forth. We were telling people to be cautious and be careful." g.keefe@theday.com