BACK IN THE SWING
Golf courses opened for play in Saskatoon on Friday as part of the province’s plan to gradually reopen the economy after the COVID-19 lockdown. The game is being played under physical distancing restrictions, but few on the links seem to mind.
By 6 a.m. Friday, Saskatoon’s golfers were teeing off for the first time in 2020.
Lorry Guffei was lucky enough to play the very first round of the 2020 golf season at Holiday Park.
Guffei — who takes pride in “usually” being the first one off the tees — was thrilled to be in the first group to tee up their golf balls at 6 a.m. Friday as golf courses in Saskatchewan opened for the first time in 2020 with various new restrictions and protocols in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was pretty anxious because, really, there was nothing else to do,” admitted Guffei, who was the lone golfer using a power cart in his group. “I’m always usually the first one out early in the morning. I’m booked for the next 10 days at 6 a.m.”
The chance to play golf again was “long-awaited,” added Guffei, who made his booking back on May 5.
“Usually, by this time last year, I was out at 5:30 in the morning. I’m usually the first one off the tee.”
Gary Mulligan — with a true golfing name that may come into play once in a while (“It works,” he admits) — couldn’t contain his excitement at Holiday Park.
“I’ve been sitting in my condo with this virus thing happening, just dreaming on this day today,” he said while preparing for a 6:40 a.m. tee time. “I couldn’t wait.
“I wasn’t as fortunate as Tim here to go down south last winter.”
Tim Ryan was also in that 6:40 group.
“It’s good,” he said of the renewed golfing opportunity. “We’re happy. Last year, I was down in the desert and down in Mexico, and we never golfed down there for different reasons — we usually do — so we’re looking forward to (be golfing again). It’s going to be different. They have that raised cup thing.
“But there won’t be any more five-putts.”
Added Mulligan: “I could care less (about the scores). I just wish it was a little bit warmer. But I’ll be golfing Sunday with my son and it should be a little warmer.”
It felt like -3 C when they arrived at the course.
Mclaren Taylor, general manager of the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, said golfers were in a particularly cheerful mood on Friday.
“It’s great,” he said. “The staff has commented that everybody’s a little more cheerful than we’ve seen them, generally. Golfers are generally happy, but right now, they’re happier than normal.
“We have seven days of sheets out right now and each day is pretty much full … It’s different (with protocols in place) but, in a lot of ways, it’s the same.”
Over at the Wildwood Golf Club, member Wayne Berry had his clubs in order for his first round of 2020.
“It’s a little cool, but I’m very excited,” he said.
“I’m happy to be back out playing. We haven’t had any (spike of ) cases for over a week, so I feel safe and stuff. You have to respect your distancing and not be shaking hands and stuff like that. It’s a little different.”
The flagstick will be kept in. Ball-washers aren’t in use. Bunkers aren’t in play. Other protocols are in place from the time a golfer checks in while driving into the parking lot.
As for the raised cup? “It’ll make it a little faster, playing,” Berry said. “How long it will last, I don’t know, but it’ll be alight. It’s nice to be out.”
We haven’t had any (spike of) cases for over a week, so I feel safe . ... You have to respect your distancing and not be shaking hands and stuff like that. It’s a little different.