North Reading courses ready for the green light
Published May 7, 2020
NORTH READING — Fore…what?
It’s a question Massachusetts golfers are currently asking themselves: What are we waiting for?
The state’s golf industry was hoping for some good news during Governor Charlie Baker’s latest update on Covid-19 closures on Monday. They had reason for optimism as representatives from the golf industry met with the Governor’s advisory board over the weekend. The meeting, in which the reps detailed a plan for safe practice tips on the courses, reportedly went well, however the Governor chose not to lift the ban on the sport.
“We are hoping to get good news,” said Chris Carter, the PGA professional at Hillview Golf Course just hours before Baker addressed the public on Monday.
Carter was optimistic because he believes that golf can be played in a safe environment.
For now, Hillview will continue to work and get ready whenever Massachusetts joins all but two other states (Vermont and Maryland) in the country who have agreed to open courses.
Best practices to help maintain social distancing and limit touch points were recently sent to courses from allied golf associations including Mass Golf and the New England PGA.
“Getting on the course will be the hardest part,” said Carter. Once there, he is confident that rules of social distancing will be easy to follow. From there, the courses will be able to follow tips and rules about the shift prep, cleaning and sanitizing that will keep staff members and customers safe.
Players will each have their own cart which staff members will sanitize after each use. It won’t be perfect for any course, public or private as tee times will have to be more spaced out to ensure there won’t be any issues with social distancing between groups (Carter says the typical eight-minute intervals might be bumped up to the 12-minute range) but it is certainly plausible to get all the benefits of playing a beloved sport outside while maintaining a social responsibility to safety.
“Being outside, across 150 acres, there should be no problem social distancing,” said Carter.
Mass Golf director Jesse Menachem said last week that tee time intervals and reducing touch points on the course (like flags) were examples of some best practices laid out to the governor’s board to prove that golf can be played in a safe and measured way.
“Golf is on their (governing board) radar,” said Menacham last week. “I think it’s a matter of time now. We need to make sure these (Covid-19) cases go down and defer to the experts who are able to monitor and allow for the all clear as has been done in other states but we feel strongly golf can be played safely. We’re equipped, prepared and ready.”
Carter confirmed that Hillview already has the necessary equipment to limit touch points. For example the course will use foam rings in the cups so players won’t have to reach their hands all the way in.
Surrounding states such as Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island have played through so to speak, all surely with some new adaptations. Maine opened their courses on Friday and New Hampshire will open on May 11. May 18 is no longer the hopeful date of a green light for Massachusetts. Many in the state fear a longer delay perhaps to Memorial Day or beyond as thousands of golfers will continue to cross borders.
An online petition called “Please let Massachusetts Golf” was up to 41,680 on Change.org as of press time on Wednesday.
The effect on local courses is equal parts alarming, hopeful and unknown.
Courses will suffer financially without leagues and large group outings, typically the key sources of income for public courses – not to mention the extra staff that will be required to sanitize carts and the course inside and out.
However, especially with families unable to travel this summer, it might create an opportunity for junior golfers to try the sport in a safe and economical way as a great outlet. Even though that will require some patience from pros like Carter who want to teach the game but will have to adapt for the time being, it is still a step in the right direction.