I'm not allowed to golf and I'm okay with that. I was asked to sign a petition to reopen golf courses and I declined. Just because I want to do something doesn't mean I should be doing it. I have to assume the people making these decisions know a lot more than I do.
Then I hear that people are fishing. Fishing may be marginally safer than golf, but not enough that one should be allowed and the other not. Please be consistent. Hopefully it's not just a matter of the state selling fishing licenses but not golf licenses.
I signed the petition to open the golf courses.
Golf is as safe as being at home, in your home. Maybe safer than being at home if you go outside, walk around the block or talk with neighbors at the end of their driveways as you walk.
Here's the golf process that will be deployed.
1. Call the course get a t time, pay over the telephone, if you use a cart it will be waiting for you near the first tee which you will ID by the cart #.
2. One person in a cart which makes no sense for spouses or those who live together so I'm sure that will change.
3. Maintain distance on tees.
4. Cups are raised 1/4-1/2 inch, flags are pulled ( for those of you in Pittsburgh that means no flags), play to the green, putt to the raised cup the ball bounces off the raised cup. Most courses paint the cups white so they will be visible. A lot are using the down time to re-paint cups not knowing how long this process will be required.
I played to raised cups last week it works great considering the situation.
Most can see the white part of the raised cup from 100 - 120 yards out if the terrain is flat.
If you cant just play to the middle of the green the cup cant be far away. Actually many pros teach that to mid handicappers -play to the middle of the green- the pin wont be far away and as you get better you can pin hunt.
At this point golfers just want to get out and hit the ball.
5. Maintain distances on fairways and rough.
6. Golf courses naturally create separation of 100's of yards due to the nature of the game.
7. Drop you stuff off at your car.
8. Leave the cart in front of the club house.
9. Walk directly to your car and go home.
Golf courses have spray washers, so they'll wash and disinfect the carts with the spray washers.
Thats was less interaction and more separation from others than a walk in the neighborhood or park.
I'm glad they opened up for trout fishing. Opening day could be a problem but it thins out real quick after that. Most people find Their place in the woods where they fish, and the shoulder to shoulder dam or hole fishing dies down.
Lots of people fly fish which creates a natural separation.
Good activities to phase in!
A high percentage of fisherpeople like my wife and I fish in a single or two person kayak.
Even in a two person kayak which is almost 14ft the kayak-ers have ample separation.
But we're husband and wife so when we get home we'll be doing all kinds of things that will require no separation.
