Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker reopened his state for golf Thursday, effective immediately, making the Commonwealth the last state to announce when the sport could be resumed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Maryland and Vermont had been the most recent holdouts to announce the reopening of their courses. Both those states’ courses also were allowed to reopen Thursday, according to the National Golf Foundation. New Hampshire beat each of those to the announcement this week, allowing its courses to reopen May 11, making it the last to have it courses closed despite the earlier announcement.
Alaska is still closed due to seasonality, and some courses are still closed because of municipal or county mandate. Across the country, 79 percent of golf courses in the United States were open as of May 3, according to a National Golf Foundation update. That’s up from 58 percent the week before.
The latest NGF data shows that 66 percent of municipal courses, 83 percent of public daily-fee courses and 77 percent of private courses were open as of May 3.
Many top resorts have announced their reopening dates as well, and off-course retail golf shops in several states have started allowing customers into the stores as governors have loosened stay-at-home orders.
On Tuesday, golf industry leaders announced a set of guidelines that could help courses reopen safely as part of the new Back2Golf initiative that includes the PGA of America, the U.S. Golf Association and the PGA Tour, among others. The guidelines were developed in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Massachusetts laid out many rules for its golfers as they return to the course, as reported by massgolf.com:
- Security personnel can be delineated by each club (example: a pro and the head starter) and will be present to enforce social distancing. There can be no other employees working at the recreational component of the golf operation.
- All staff must wear face coverings while on property.
- Course facilities including but not limited to the clubhouse, golf shop, restaurant, bag room and locker room must remain closed.
- No caddies allowed.
- No golf carts allowed.
- Push carts may be used. Players must either carry their own bag or use a push cart.
- All golfers must maintain proper social distancing of at least 6 feet at all times.
- Groups of players are restricted to no more than four players at one time.
- Members-only clubs can allow guests as determined by the security personnel on the golf course.
- Private clubs that allow non-members to make reservations can do so at their discretion.
- Maintenance personnel are permitted to work on the golf course.
- Tee time policy must be 15 minutes between groups.
- Golfers must stay in their car until 15 minutes before their tee time and must return to their car immediately following play.
- Online and remote payment options must be utilized.
- All golfers must use their own golf clubs. Sharing golf clubs or rental golf clubs is not allowed.
- Flagsticks must remain in the hole. Hole liners must be raised so picking a ball out of the hole doesn’t occur.
- Bunker rakes must be removed, and ball washers must be removed or covered.
- Practice putting green, driving range and chipping areas must be closed.
- Facilities must have readily accessible hand sanitizer.
