Minnesota joins neighboring Wisconsin in announcing that golf will reopen soon, with Governor Tim Walz allowing golf to resume at 5 a.m. Saturday.
Courses and driving ranges had been shut down in Minnesota because of COVID-19 concerns since March 17, when Walz announced a closure of bars, restaurants and other public accommodations that included golf courses.
Many of the state’s courses were not open before March 17 because of seasonality. Parts of state has snow this week, and the golf allowance comes as some of those courses were approaching their planned opening dates.
“It’s important for us to stay active and enjoy the outdoors while preventing the spread of COVID-19,” Walz said in the statement announcing the new provisions. “This measure will allow Minnesotans to take advantage of more opportunities to get outside, while still doing their part to keep their neighbors healthy.”
The allowance of golf was part of a larger announcement opening the doors to other outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and boating, so long as participants follow social-distancing guidelines such as maintaining a 6-foot space between people and avoiding crowded areas.
