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COVID-19 Guidelines for CNY Golf Courses are Still Unclear COVID-19 guidelines for CNY golf courses are still unclear

Private Golf Courses in Onondaga County taking precautions to keep golfers safe

By Alexander Peebles

Alex Peebles:
Summer is here, and golfers are hitting the links as covid-19 restrictions loosen in central new york, but owner of westvale golf club says guidelines for golf courses have not been communicated thoroughly.

Gary Hewitt:
It’s very unclear, and a lot of what we see on tv like the average public does. And you would think someone would be telling us something.

Peebles:
But two rules have been clearly communicated from the county executive’s office: the club house must remain closed and a social distance of 6 feet must be enforced at all times. But central New York golf courses like Westvale have taken additional precautions to stop the spread of the virus.

Hewitt:
They come down to the table, we walk outside and do business. People aren’t coming in the shop. We’re sanitizing carts every time they come in. It’s one person per cart unless they’re living together. We have noodles in so the ball doesn’t drop in the base so people don’t need to pull the flag, they can just pick the ball up.”

Peebles:
Despite all the precautions in place to prevent the spread of the virus there is no guarantee that the virus wont spread. But for some the mental benefits of being outside and playing golf outweigh the chances of contacting the virus.

Will Downs:
I think its great that people can get out hear during the pandemic its tough to get outside I think its great our golf courses are open

Peebles:
Covering COVID-19 from Central New York. NCC News, Alex Peebles.

On April 18, private golf courses in Onondaga County were given the go ahead to open their doors. That was just 13 days after County Executive Ryan McMahon ordered courses to close amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then golfers have flocked to local courses looking for fresh air following a two-week voluntary shelter-in-place order. This all in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

But According to Gary Hewitt, owner of Westvale Golf Club, guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on open courses have not been clearly communicated.

“It’s very unclear, a lot of what we see is on TV like the average public does,” Hewitt said. “We are trying to do what we can to do things right.”

What guidelines have been communicated include maintaining strict social distancing of six feet between individuals, and that there may be no gatherings. But private golf courses have taken things into their own hands adding additional precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the golf course.

  • Collect money outside
  • No golf ball washers
  • One person per golf cart
  • Pool noodles in cups so golfers avoid touching the flags
  • Sanitize golf carts after each round

Although the additional precautions were put in place to prevent the spread of the virus, there is no guarantee golfers will not contract the virus on the golf course. For local golfer Will Downs, though COVID-19 risks remain in the back of his mind those are outweighed by the mental benefits of being on the course.

“I think it’s great that people are able to get out here, and you know during this whole pandemic it’s tough to get outside and do things,” Downs said. “I think it’s great our golf courses are open.”

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