Posted on 04/01/2020 2:31:53 AM PDT by real saxophonist
Pelican Lakes Golf Club among courses still open during COVID-19 outbreak
News | March 30, 2020
Jadyn Watson-Fisher
Select Weld County golf courses remain open for tee times and takeout food during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Colorado stay-at-home order says people shouldn’t go out unless they are performing an essential task. These include getting groceries, attending work at a “critical” business, picking up food or receiving medical care. Residents may hike, walk and participate in outdoor activities while remaining six feet from others.
Pelican Lakes Golf Club General Manager Jason Kusel said the course is the “perfect place” for fresh air and exercise. The course is in Windsor.
“We’re providing an amenity to a guest that allows them to get their exercise without being subjected to this virus. That’s the whole point,” Kusel said. “(If the club is a critical business) might be one of those things that is debatable, but I would ask people to take the business aspect out of it and look at it from a general health standpoint.”
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in a statement courses need to comply with state and local distancing mandates. Courses shouldn’t collect money, share carts, touch bags, clubs, balls or any item that could transmit the virus.
“Operators need approval from a local public authority that they comply with all social distancing directives,” the statement says. “If they can’t, they can’t operate and may get shut down. The burden of compliance is really to the operators and they need to understand that.”
Pelican Lakes contacted the Weld County Health Department earlier this month about its operations but didn’t receive a response, Kusel said.
Golf course amendments
The United States Golf Association amended its rules and suggested changes to courses to prevent spreading COVID-19.
One of the biggest changes allows courses to make minor modifications to holes. The reasoning is that it will limit the contact a golfer could have with the cup.
For example, some course superintendents modified the cup by flipping it upside down or leaving an inch showing above the surface. Players can still count their putt as made if the ball hits the cup.
In accordance with other USGA and CDC recommendations, the staff removed pins from holes, rakes from bunkers and limited golf carts to one person. The club strongly encourages walking.
Carts are sanitized after each use and hand sanitizer stations are available in the buildings.
Pelican Lakes closed its driving range to prevent social gatherings and prevent users from touching equipment multiple times. The pool is outdoor only and is not typically open at this time.
Food changes
The club’s two restaurants require a Weld County food handler’s permit or ServSafe certification for employment. It has now increased its sanitation processes, minimizes use of “high-touch” items and making sure there are enough supplies. Limited numbers of people can enter the buildings, too.
Members can order takeout, single items, a breakfast kit ― including eggs, bacon, milk and Bloody Marys ― and will soon have delivery. Kusel said the club is trying to be “inventive” in how it serves customers during this time.
“I feel like we’re doing a lot of things that we weren’t doing before and things we were doing but just amplifying those,” Kusel said.
Pelican Lakes is working with other course operators around the country to ensure employees and guests stay safe.
According to a sign, the Greeley Country Club said takeout is available from the restaurant. It cited the state health order requiring restaurants to stop dine-in services. Golf will occur depending on the weather.
The Eaton Country Club is also providing takeout. It was scheduled to hold a men’s opening day tournament on Saturday and women’s event this Wednesday, according to its calendar. No one from the club provided the status of the events.
The Greeley Tribune reached out to both clubs for information about event schedules and updated procedures. Neither club responded to multiple requests for comment.
Good for them.
Everybody wins by keeping business as usual. And I have golfed many times never seeing another soul after paying, so very little if any danger from the kill virus.
YMMV
Yep.
If I owned the business I’m not sure I’d let foursomes out on the course, certainly not if they were sharing a cart. Sperate Carts, twosome or singles sure.
Got a tee time at 2 this afternoon. Playing with my father in law. Supposed to be mid 70’s here today. This will be the first time away from home in 6 days. I gotta get out of here or I’m going to end up in the mental ward.
Have fun!
Would you let them ride to the course together if 3 hang their heads out the window? Or do we need to arrive in 4 separate automobiles?
Free golf!
DAC21 wrote: “If I owned the business I’m not sure I’d let foursomes out on the course, certainly not if they were sharing a cart. Seperate Carts, twosome or singles sure.”
That’s exactly what this course is doing.
My course has gone so far as to remove the rakes from sandtraps telling golfers to use their feet to ‘rake’ the trap.
“Would you let them ride to the course together if 3 hang their heads out the window? Or do we need to arrive in 4 separate automobiles?”
Snarky much?
Why not? If you’re golfing by yourself, it’s a great form of social distancing and exercise.
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