“Fantastic!”
That’s how Debora Miller at Innisbrook Golf Club described May 16 – both the weather, and the response to the reopening of private golf courses, as part of the province’s staged reopening of the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The golf course has been working on its reopening plans since the middle of April, Miller said – coming up with strategies and rules to meet safety standards, and keep both golfers and staff safe.
Those include online bookings only, prepayment of rounds, and single riders in power carts – except for persons from the same household (ID required). A handwashing station has been installed near the first tee, the putting green has been closed, and food and beverages are available for take-out only.
Staff have instituted extra sanitation of all public spaces and frequently touched surfaces.
Golfers are asked to stay away if they have symptoms, and practice 2-metre physical distancing – and avoid shaking hands or high-fiving.
“Everyone’s really great,” said Miller, happy to follow the rules to be back on the links. For more information, click here.
It was every bit as busy at Bradford Highlands GC, in Bradford, where staff had also developed detailed plans for reopening, once the Premier indicated that courses could reopen "soon."
“It’s very busy,” said Ryan Lamb. “We’re following all the government guidelines.”
The driving range, putting green and chipping areas are all still closed, all transactions are by debit or credit, and no food or beverages are available at this time.
Golfers are asked to practice social distancing, and to bring along their own trash bag, and to take home any garbage they may generate. They must arrive no more than 20 minutes before their booked tee times – and while both pull carts and power carts are available, it’s “single riders” only.
“We’re very walkable,” said Lamb, and with the summery weather, after weeks of chilly temperatures, “we’re getting a lot of walkers today.”
For more information, click here.
The Club at Bond Head in BWG, and National Pines in Innisfil are both Clublink courses, and have also opened on May 16. Tee times can be booked online; check websites for more information.
On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford announced that privately-owned golf courses, parks, boat launches and campgrounds would be permitted to reopen on May 16, in time for the Victoria Day long weekend. Other openings, including some retail stores and recreational facilities like tennis courts, are slated to begin May 19.
