Whatcom golf courses planning to re-open after nearly 6 weeks of coronavirus closure
There’s a Pacific Northwest saying in golf — “If you don’t golf in the rain, you don’t golf.”
But there has been no golfing in Washington state — rain or shine — since Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order took effect March 26 in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Golf courses, like all other non-essential businesses, were forced to close.
With the temperatures slowly rising and, more importantly, the number of new coronavirus cases and related deaths slowly declining, Inslee on Tuesday, April 27, announced that he would dial back some of those restrictions and allow outdoor recreational activities to resume with the caveat that good social distancing guidelines be followed. Golf courses, along with fishing and hunting seasons and state parks, will be allowed to open Tuesday, May 5.
A number of Whatcom County courses have announced that they plan to take full advantage of the opportunity to re-open on Tuesday.
In a City of Bellingham Press release Friday, Premier Golf Centers LLC, which operates Lake Padden Golf Course, said it will re-open after being closed the past six weeks. Beginning Tuesday, daily tee times will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“We look forward to welcoming the community back to our beautiful golf course and know that players have been waiting to get back outdoors,” Interim Bellingham Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Oliver said in the release. “As we reopen, our highest priority is the health and safety of Premier staff and guests.”
Sudden Valley Golf and Country Club announced in a release Wednesday that it also would be opening Tuesday.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to re-open the golf course and we realize that we are fortunate to be able to offer golf as a recreational opportunity during these challenging times,” the Sudden Valley release read.
Posts on websites or social media sites for Shuksan Golf Course, North Bellingham Golf Course, Loomis Trail Golf Course, Homestead Farms Golf Club, Raspberry Ridge Golf Course and Sandy Point Golf Course say those courses are planning to re-open on Tuesday, as well.
Semiahmoo Golf Resort Head Golf Professional Carl Hetterle told The Bellingham Herald that the course plans to re-open on Tuesday, while Bellingham Golf and Country Club Head Golf Professional Cameron Fife said tee times will be available beginning Tuesday. A voice message at Dakota Creek Golf Course said that course will re-open Tuesday and is currently taking tee times.
Grandview Golf Course Manager Hong Phan said the course is waiting until Monday, May 11, to re-open.
Golf course restrictions
According to a release by Washington Golf, Inslee’s decision to allow golf to resume in the state has the following restrictions:
▪ Online or phone tee time reservations systems must be used to limit interactions and payments must be done by credit card to eliminate handling cash.
▪ Golf courses must maintain a log of all customers, including contact information.
▪ Foursomes are allowed only if they are from the same household, otherwise no more than two players from separate households are allowed in a group.
▪ Only one rider is allowed per cart, unless a minor is also playing.
▪ Courses must regularly sanitize counter tops, door knobs, range buckets, golf carts, push carts, cash registers, score posting kiosks and other common surfaces.
▪ Flagsticks must remain in holes at all times and players educated not to touch them for any reason.
▪ Find ways to prevent players from having to reach into a hole to retrieve a ball.
▪ Eliminate cups and holes on practice greens.
▪ Club and equipment rentals are not allowed.
▪ Restrict use of driving range and putting greens to those with tee times in the next 30 minutes. Driving ranges should also keep golfers at least 10 feet apart.
▪ Remove bunker rakes, benches, ball washers and water coolers, as well as on-course garbage cans.
▪ Install signs to discourage group congregation, promote social distancing and limit the number of people in the club or pro shop.
▪ Marshall the course to ensure proper social distancing and warn repeat offenders.
▪ Ask golfers to leave as soon as they complete a round.
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 10:12 AM.
