[Colin Macqueen]

Jon, I wouldn't advertise yer "truckload of loo rolls" if any Aussies are in close proximity. I have never seen so many rolls in one supermarket trolley in my life. Apparently some idiot was trying to get a refund on their excessive purchase from Woolies after realising they had over-egged their purchase!
Hope your enterprise gets through this and can be sustained.
Cheers Colin 

[Thomas Dai]

None touching of surfaces is now important.
Seems like this might be a good opportunity to get rid forever of bunker rakes and probably quite a bit of unnecessary on-course furniture too.
Atb

[MCirba]

The golf course may be one of the only safe spaces left, of course with proper distancing and hygiene.  In any case, I'm running with that.


I played yesterday walking 18 holes in 55 degree (F) sunny weather and thought about how lucky we are to have this game.


Stay safe, friends.

[Joe Bausch]

The golf course may be one of the only safe spaces left, of course with proper distancing and hygiene.  In any case, I'm running with that.


I played yesterday walking 18 holes in 55 degree (F) sunny weather and thought about how lucky we are to have this game.


Stay safe, friends.

Lucky cart paths, too.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Walking is recommended; however, individual carts are suggested. Social distancing should be observed.



https://www.golfdigest.com/story/can-you-play-golf-amid-coronavirus-concerns-with-proper-precautions-yes

[John Kavanaugh]

Isn't it about time for resorts and private clubs with caddies to address this situation?

[jeffwarne]

Isn't it about time for resorts and private clubs with caddies to address this situation?

Just sent an email to MET Clubs and leaders re recommendation/precedents.
My guess is they will be obsolete in a week


Also ordered 10 pullcarts

[John Kavanaugh]

I would suggest you implement some form of an adopt a caddie program as benefits for independent contractors are tougher to define for the government. I would be shocked if your members wouldn't pay the same for a pull cart that they pay for a caddie if they knew the proceeds would help sustain the program.

[jeffwarne]

I would suggest you implement some form of an adopt a caddie program as benefits for independent contractors are tougher to define for the government. I would be shocked if your members wouldn't pay the same for a pull cart that they pay for a caddie if they knew the proceeds would help sustain the program.

Way ahead of you..
I'd guess "the govenment" never heard of many "independent contractors"

[Mike Policano]

Spoke to two clubs yesterday about “Adopt the Caddie Program”. Suggested a voluntary member contribution program run by a few members for at least a month.


I am looking for best practices that other clubs are considering/using.


Cheers

[Sandy Smith]

My club will be closing the clubhouse by the end of today. All the other clubs are doing the same. Whistler ski resort has shutdown as well as the local mountains. This must be a huge financial hit with perfect conditions and spring break days away. Tennis and sports clubs in the area closed a couple of days ago. I predict once one golf club closes its course the others will follow.

[Pete_Pittock]

Langdon Farms (Cupp/Fought), a public course in the Portland metro area, has this on their website, very customer friendly


UPDATE – COVID-19 Coronavirus update


Langdon Farms Golf Club remains committed to being a leader in the community by maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and helping our customers to do the same. As such we continue monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and implementing practices according to the CDC guidelines.
The nature of golf with only a small group playing together in an outdoor activity greatly minimizes exposure. Despite the low chance for exposure, our staff will be wearing gloves when needed and have been instructed to wash and sanitize their hands after every potential encounter. The cart staff are washing down all carts after each use and using disinfectant on steering wheels, dashboards, and switches. Indoor surfaces and all door handles will be wiped with disinfectant regularly throughout the day. Our Servers and Golf Shop staff have been instructed to use sanitizer on commonly touched surfaces between transactions.
We appreciate the trust that you place in the Langdon Farms staff. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and take actions necessary to help keep our employees and customers safe while providing the exemplary services you expect from us.
Sincerely,
David Stead
 General Manager

[Mark Chaplin]

Jon and Adrian good luck over the next couple of months, I sincerely hope you can keep your heads above the parapet. There will be some good clubs suffering this year.


In East Kent we hope if the Open is cancelled everyone is moved back a year and we host it in 2021 with the 150 going to St Andrews in 2022. The Open is worth around £100m to Kent over 10 years, that’s a serious loss to any economy.

[Kevin_Reilly]

My club in the SF area is still open for play (recent heavy rain has put a timely damper on demand), but no carts are allowed (push carts ok) and we have shut down many other club activities/services.


Of course, things are very fluid so the above can change.

[Alex Miller]

Here in LA my club has shut the locker room, gym, dining, and golf shop with the course remaining open to members only with no formal staff. No gatherings, no shared equipment or carts of any kind - I think this is the right call. Golf where you bring your own equipment and don't go indoors is the only way to responsibly create an environment to facilitate play in this environment, and yes being a private club that doesn't have to handle any physical transactions makes this possible and is a blessing.


My only concern is the flagstick - guess I'm a pin-in guy now. I think for public courses to stay open they'd need limited staff wearing gloves for handling credit cards / cash. At least dues to the private club will continue to largely support staff during this time, but the caddies are out of luck and it's unfortunate that there's no good solution for that.

[V. Kmetz]

I inquired of a handful of the clubs I've regualrly worked...

Many if not all of courses in the Westchester are standing down for 3 weeks and then re-assessing...this ranges from the spartan (anyone [member or staff] visiting the property without authorization will be treated as a trespasser, subject to discipline) to the regularly cautious (course open, no services).  Indoor/winter/first spring teaching is mostly stopped and one close friend pro told me there won't be a range/practice facility open by the end of this week. (We were actually going to practice together today, but we had/have nowhere to go).


Also, MET/PGA/USGA/manufacturers seminars are/will be suspended.


***In context, the densely-populated area I'm referencing includes New Rochelle, a specfic community under state restriction as of last Monday, which is surrounded by like 10 courses immediately in or on its boundaries (WF, Quaker, Wykagyl, Pelham CC, Pelham Split Rock, Siwanoy, Hampshire, Bonnie Briar, Lake Islve and Leewood)



Most of these are re-assessing the week of April 6, but circumferential talk is not to expect anything fully "open" until week of Mon April 27, subject to events and conditions.

[Carl Rogers]

Ditto the flagstick comment.  Watch out for the ball washers and the water jugs!

[Mark Pearce]

Jon and Adrian good luck over the next couple of months, I sincerely hope you can keep your heads above the parapet. There will be some good clubs suffering this year.

This.  The game (and that's what it is, a game) aside, there are people in the golf "industry" just like every other, whose businesses will have a very hard few months ahead.  To all those here whose businesses will be most directly affected, good luck, my thoughts are with you.

[jeffwarne]

In East Kent we hope if the Open is cancelled everyone is moved back a year and we host it in 2021 with the 150 going to St Andrews in 2022. The Open is worth around £100m to Kent over 10 years, that’s a serious loss to any economy.

Noooo-say it ain't so.
4 months ago I miraculously scored a Air bnb perfectly situated in Deal at normal season rates, with eveything around it crazily priced due to the Open (maybe they had a crystal ball...)

[Pete_Pittock]

As you arrive at the course don two gloves ala Tommy Gainey. Keep them on until you leave. Disinfect. Repeat.


The Oregon Golf Association cancelled all their March events, such as tournaments, seminars

[David Davis]

Gents,


I'm afraid what we experienced in Europe this weekend might be headed your way.


Almost every country passed immediate CV ruling that all Golf Clubs be shut down completely. In The Netherlands, where I live they have apparently also instilled a 10,000 euro fine if you are caught breaking this order. That means, all gates locked, no trespassing period.


I echo the statements from others and even the Golf Digest article that said golf is safe if people practice social distancing. In the big picture it's not important but I'm not talking about the big picture, only the golf aspect of it that's relatively important to us.


Wouldn't you know it, today is beautiful and the sun is out, first day in a while here in NL. No golf, no driving range and I fear the US and the UK are not far behind. Bare down guys...don't shoot the messenger.


Stay safe.

[Mark_Fine]

A golfing buddy in Austria just told me all golf courses are closed over there.  They are in lockdown mode.  Can only leave your home for limited reasons.  Beyond unprecedented times 

[John Kavanaugh]

There is a reason why when we see a long lost friend at a funeral we don't ask them to dance.

[David Federman]

Played yesterday afternoon at Downingtown (a really nice George Fazio design now owned by Ron Jaworski near Philly). Sunday afternoon round in just under 4 hours. Never got closer than the requisite 6 feet or so to anyone else, even on the greens. Course was in great shape, lots of players, but not crowded. No food or beverage service - which was fine. In my opinion, much better than walking on a crowded trail.

[Jon Wiggett]

Mark C,


thanks for the kind comments. One of the things I am currently doing is putting up just short of 2 miles of perimeter fencing in readiness for grazing sheep on the course. This will bring in some much needed income to help bridge the gap and reduce the need to mow as much. One big positive for an operation like mine is I could reduce the maintenance down to just mowing tees, greens and collar and leave the sheep to do the rest. I am still planning to open over Easter Weekend but suspect it will not happen.


I think for many other clubs it will need the government to help out or the membership to make a massive effort.


Jon

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