COVID rules rule at golf and tennis clubs in Conn.
Just because they’re played outside doesn’t mean golf and tennis are exempt from playing by the rules of COVID-19.
And country clubs, whether they’re public or private, have had to navigate safety and health precautions even as they have allowed members to play their rounds or face off across the court.
“I think golf itself has shown it is really an incredible sport and exercise and physical activity,” said Bill Shaw, general manager of the Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield.
And limits on the use of golf carts, because of the extra work needed to keep them sanitized, have had a positive side. “I think a lot of people, they do enjoy walking,” Shaw said.
When it comes down to it, the community at Brooklawn is like any other. “Everyone’s being just so careful. … It’s heartwarming when you see them out there,” Shaw said. “We’re only frustrated because we do want to be with our families and friends.”
Tim Dillman, general manager of the Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange, has kept the course open, along with an outdoor grill so members “can grab a beer and a burger and get back on the course.” For a time, he was the only employee of the club, which had to let people go after all of the social events the club caters were either canceled or rescheduled.
“Those that can golf can find a little bit of tranquility while they’re out there,” Dillman said. “Once everything else closed this is all that was out there.” Members of other clubs that had closed joined Grassy Hill, he said.
Grassy Hill’s course was open throughout the winter, but it hasn’t been easy for the club. “We do almost $1 million in catering revenue up here,” Dillman said.
“Since March 21 there was a full stop.” Catering for weddings, bas and bar mitzvahs, baby and wedding showers and golf outings is “really our bread and butter,” he said.
The next date on the calendar is a baby shower scheduled for late June. “We’re going to do it a la carte on the front patio,” Dillman said.
Even though there is less of a chance of being exposed to the coronavirus outdoors, the country clubs have taken significant steps to keep staff and members safe.
Like other parts of the state economy, the country clubs are opening in phases. Shaw said Brooklawn and the other golf clubs in Fairfield have worked with the town to determine how and when to reopen. First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick “has been incredible. I would say she’s the right person at the right time,” Shaw said.
At the beginning of May, golfers were allowed to play 18 holes, but they had to walk the course; carts and caddies were not allowed. “You had to carry your own and there were no facilities of any kind,” Shaw said.
“Near the second week of the month, we finally allowed carts,” but only for those physically unable to walk the course and only single riders. “Last Wednesday [May 13], we opened up carts for everyone,” but still allowed only single riders, Shaw said. “No caddies still, even though we have a big caddy program, we still don’t have any caddies.” The driving range also has been limited.
At first, only four of the seven tennis courts were opened, separated by empty courts, and no doubles were allowed, except for families living together. “They could only serve with their own ball. They couldn’t touch the other person’s ball,” Shaw said. “A week ago, we put orange cones between all the courts and opened up all the courts.”
The decision was based on “looking at the patterns of the members and the traffic. We wanted to go really slow,” he said. “You had to stay in your car until it was time to go to your court” and leave once the match was over.
On Wednesday, Brooklawn started outdoor dining with 16 tables. “We’re very fortunate. We have a huge wraparound porch that goes around the front of the building,” Shaw said. The tables are set “much further apart than what’s recommended by the state.” Each table is used just once for lunch and only four can be cleaned and turned over at dinner.
The staff is given specific tasks. “We have two teams of four,” Shaw said. “One person takes the order, one person serves food and beverage, one person clear the food and one person sanitizes.” He said it’s worth the trouble. “The more people see what you’re doing to keep them and your staff safe, the more comfortable they’ll be in coming here.”
The golf course also has remained open at the New Haven Country Club in Hamden. President Bob Cox said the clubs received guidance from the state Department of Economic Development, working with the Connecticut State Golf Association.
“What we’ve done is to as scrupulously as possible follow every one of those DECD guidelines,” Cox said. “Our course has remained open but with some decidedly different protocols than in years past.”
Like other clubs, at first, “our golf course was open just for walkers,” because cleaning the carts would require extra staff. More recently, “we found some old gas-powered carts, we had t0 or 15 of them, and we basically leased them to members” who were physically unable to walk the course. “We gave you the key to the cart; we gave you a parking space.” Each member was responsible for cleaning his or her own cart.
“That worked OK and now that we’ve hit May 20 … we are going to add staff and begin the process of bringing our fleet of golf carts out, not just for any member who’s physically limited but for any member who desires to use them,” Cox said. Even now, however, “members are going to be strongly encouraged to continue walking.”
Carts still are limited to one person and there is no storage of golf clubs, which the club usually offers. Guests won’t be permitted at the club until this week. “We want to get our house in order with our own people,” Cox said.
Not only will no one touch a member’s clubs but, on the green, “there is a strict rule that no one touches the flag stick,” Cox said. Foam rubber has been put in the holes so members can retrieve their balls easily and in some there is a mechanism that pops the ball out when triggered by a putter.
In the bunkers, there are no rakes to smooth the sand. Golfers have to smooth out divots with their feet and if a ball lands in a divot, the member may move it to a smooth spot, Cox said.
Food has been available for takeout, which “has been successful beyond our wildest imagination,” Cox said. There is a large patio and other outdoor areas, and tables were put out Wednesday so people can sit for lunch and dinner.
Cox said serving as president this year has “certainly been challenging but it’s also tremendously rewarding in some ways, in the sense that my board members who serve with me I couldn’t be more complimentary.
“I think everybody is doing as good a job as possible to make it as good as it can be, recognizing health and safety concerns. It’s like a family. … I think everybody’s doing the best they can.”