Golf Courses Open during Stay Home Order in Florida

We are currently living in tough times for a lot of businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading fast and practicing social distancing seems hard for those who like to be outdoors.

The Florida governor Ron DeSantis has issued a Stay Home order that was placed into effect Friday April 3rd at 12:01am, which states that everyone should stay home unless they are practicing essential services and activities, but what does that mean?

Floridians are encouraged to stay home unless they need to go to the grocery store, pharmacies, urgent care, hospitals or other essential needs. People who are still allowed to work are those who work in those essential services that are needed to support a living to others, such as, medical and healthcare, telecommunications, defense, food and agriculture, construction, transportation and logistics, energy, water and wastewater, law enforcement, and others. 

The executive order also provided a list of essential activities that Floridians can do outdoors while keeping social distance, such as walking, running, hunting, fishing, biking, swimming and playing golf! "We have received a communication from the Governor's Chief of Staff that golf would be considered an essential recreation activity provided the proper social distancing is followed and that would mean only one person per cart," South Florida PGA Section, which includes courses in Collier and Lee counties, stated in an emailed release Wednesday.” (Naples Daily News) 

The PGA of America has released many guidelines for golf course maintenance and golf operations that can be found on pga.org

• Golf Course Maintenance (management practices for a safer environment for employees)
• No visitors in maintenance facilities (outside distributors and manufacturers) Meetings held via phone, zoom or others.
• All uniform/laundry services suspended immediately
• Designate a drop zone for distributors
• Disinfectant spray to be available at time clock. Employees must wipe down time clock after every use
• All employees are required to wash hands for 20 seconds before the start of every shift
• Locker to be clear of all belongings. No personal belongings to be stored on site
• Break room facilities to be suspended immediately
• Management and office personnel must practice social distance and not share desks or any belongings.
• Social distancing rules of 6 ft or more between all staff. No one to congregate in groups in confined areas.
• No employees permitted in the mechanics area. All mechanics to use latex gloves during work.
• Staff responsible for disinfecting equipment prior and post operations

Some golf courses in Lee and Collier County have already established some regulations to help stop the spread of COVID-19. West Bay, Copperleaf, LaPlaya, Cypress Woods, Twin Eagles, Gateway, Stoneybrook, and others have already decided to close operations until further notice. Some other courses are still open, but only for members and not allowing guests into the course, like Pelican Nest, Olde Florida and others. And Calusa Pines is not allowing caddies anymore until further notice as well. These decisions came from some of the PGA of America recommendations stated below.

Golf Operations Recommendations

• Frequent cleaning/sanitizing of high touch areas
• Frequent cleaning/sanitizing of golf cart high touch areas (steering wheel, handles, cup holders, reverse buttons, seats, etc)
• All cart attendants should wear rubber gloves to attend guests
• Space golf carts in staging area, one person per cart
• Golf bags must remain in the golfer's possession at all times. After play, no staff member should handle the bag and it should not return to the bag room
• Staff levels appropriate to facility activity
• All bathrooms must be wipe down and clean every few hours
• Caddies need to wear gloves and should not touch grips
• Walking should be encouraged 
• Consider shutting down all locker room amenities (spa, showers, etc)
• Fitness facilities should be closed
• Restaurants only for take out
• Beverage cart operations should be single serving and drivers should wear gloves
• Consider remote check-in
• Sanitize coolers/dispensers multiple times a day
• Remove bunker rakes
• A “gimme” circle painted around the hole (2ft) to avoid touching the hole/flagstick
• Signage to not remove the flagstick
• Modify flagstick and cups on course
• Flagstick cup liners can be elevated 2-3 inches above surface to avoid removal of flagstick
• Flagstick remove from play and cups turn upside down
• Foam water noodles cut to fit around the flagstick and fill the cup to avoid having to remove the ball from the cup
• Sanitize flagsticks

As we keep trying to do our best and help society into practicing social distance, let’s not forget that it does not mean total isolation and for those who are used to being outdoors, do not panic, we can still do some exercise and play golf.