Owners and staff taking extra measures to ensure health and safety of patrons

NORWICH – With the winter-like weather working it’s way out of the 10 day forecast and temperatures predicted to be in the 60s next week, heading to a local golf course could be featured in your plans.
After several changes to the executive order from New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo since the COVID-19 pandemic first struck the area, golf courses have been allowed to open back up after a brief stint of being deemed non-essential.
On March 22, when the first New York State on PAUSE Executive Order was signed, the golf industry was told it was allowed to remain open but with certain guidelines provided by the CDC and state heath department.
Some things that were included in the CDC’s original recommendations were no access to pro shops or the locker rooms, leave the flagstick in the hole, don’t share equipment with others, and don’t shake hands before or after play among other rules that could not enforce the social distancing rule of 6-feet.
Many golf course owners and operators were taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of all participants. Some made it possible to make a tee time, arrive at the course, head to the first tee and play without coming into contact with another person.
However, on April 9, Cuomo’s revised the orders and considered courses to be a non-essential business, forcing them to shut down. Many say that the change was due to many complaints by the general public
The first change was not to be expected until April 29 on this topic but a petition organized by Ryan Evans, a Norwich High School graduate and the head golf professional at Conklin Player’s Club went viral on social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.
“We understand the social responsibility we have during this pandemic and want to provide a place where we can get away from the stress,” stated Evans in his change.org petition. “It is understood that there were many complaints by the general public that caused the closure of all golf courses. We can understand the frustration of others as their daily recreational activities were restricted but golfers still were able to continue the activity that they enjoy.
Evans continued by saying,“The answer is not closing golf courses. Instead, let golf courses set examples for other businesses that need to be socially responsible and safe once our economy is able to restart.”
About a week after the public appeal was started, Evans received over 35,000 signatures in support of golf being brought back to the state. On April 20, the executive order was reversed and courses were allowed to reopen to walkers only.
Once more a revision was made to the executive order and over the weekend, golf carts were allowed to be rented again. Adding to the list of CDC recommendations, the rule is one person per cart, unless two players are from the same household.
The cleaning and sanitizing of carts have been the staff’s main priority at several different courses in the area since the new revisions of the order.
As seen in a video posted to the Canasawacta Country Club Facebook page, owner Tim Carson went over the steps of the disinfecting process he and his pro shop staff are taking in between patrons.
Carson also noted in another video that all items that are needed from the pro shop (such as cart key or a pencil and scorecard) are not in common areas and are only touched by a member of the country club staff.
Bluestone Golf Course in Oxford is also spraying down carts in between use and are adding a new pencil and scorecard after each wash by the staff member.
Before you grab your clubs and head to one of the many courses in the local area, it is suggested you call ahead to ask about a course’s rules and see if a tee time is needed.