With the world’s most famous golf tournament now underway, local duffers are also enjoying hitting the links this week.
Across the region, above normal temperatures and lower precipitation levels have allowed golf courses to reopen for business. And rather than just sit back and watch the Masters Tournament on TV, local residents have proven eager to get out and play.
“We opened up Tuesday and the weather's good,” said Jason Harris of Orr Lake Golf Club, noting tee times are a hot commodity with both club members and the green-fee buying public excited to be outdoors and playing again.
But while golf courses were not included in Premier Doug Ford’s latest stay-at-home order, Harris said he feels sorry for the many businesses who must now close or adapt their business practices to comply with the measures.
“It’s a bittersweet thing,” he said. “we're happy that we're allowed to be open, but I feel bad for all the people that can't be. You know, you feel for all those guys.”
Midland Golf & Country Club has set its start date for next Friday while a little further down Highway 93, Brooklea Golf & Country Club planned to reopen its course and driving range Friday after starting to book tee times Wednesday.
Balm Beach Golf Club, meanwhile, starts its season today and began taking tee times Friday at noon. In Coldwater, Bonaire Golf Course was the first local club to open, officially welcoming back golfers last Saturday.
But like last year’s grand opening during the start of the worldwide pandemic, this year features more ways golf clubs have had to adopt and adapt to a new set of rules that has nothing to do with balls landing out-of-bounds, water hazards or sand traps.
Harris said the provincial government seems to have figured things out a bit more this time around, now that we’re a year into the pandemic.
“The big change that happened this year is in terms of government regulations,” he said. “Last year, the government really didn't seem to know what they were doing. And they gave guidelines, but no sort of regulations.”
One new regulation this year involves requiring players to wear face masks when riding in a cart with someone who’s not part of your household.
Harris said last year it was kind of left up to the golf courses to figure out what best to do, including limiting carts to one person or putting up dividers to separate the driver (no pun intended) and passenger.
“The government never really came out formally. They provided guidelines, but they never said, ‘here’s what the law is,'" he noted.
"And then this year, they've actually found a law that says if you're in an open-air vehicle, like a golf cart, two people can share a cart that are not from the same household, but they must be wearing masks while they're sitting in the cart.”
Harris said his course has plenty of signage to let players know what the rules are.
“We're running at pretty much the same as last year,” he said, noting they again have a walkup window to purchase green fees.
“And nobody's allowed in the clubhouse, except for the washrooms. They’ve also got to wear masks everywhere, social distance and you’ve got stay in your car 15 minutes before the tee-off time.”
Harris said the reception from golfers has been very positive so far.
“We're just trying to keep everybody safe,” he said. “Many people are happy with it and to have something to do.”
Harris said the real test for golf courses will be next week when the weather’s expected to turn a bit chillier with some precipitation also in the forecast.
"Whenever it's 20 or 22 degrees like it has been, people are anxious to get out at this time of the year,” Harris noted.
“The real tell will be when it’s seven and eight degrees next week.”
And despite the amazing April weather, Harris said this isn’t the earliest they’ve welcomed back golfers.
“Actually, the earliest we were open was March 21 about 10 years ago,” said Harris, who added that April almost always features a winter storm or two.
“I’m waiting for the snow to come.”
