Hawaii golf courses return to business with caution after month-long shutdown
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Ed Gayagas golfed at Navy-Marine Golf Course on March 3. After a month-long shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell announced public and private golf courses were among the businesses that could open today.
The rules of golf will be accompanied by a few more guidelines as players return to Oahu courses this weekend.
After a month-long shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell announced public and private golf courses were among the businesses that could open today and the Aloha Section PGA issued guidelines for reopening, dubbed Hawaii Golf Phase One, which include rules for operators to maintain cleanliness and distancing.
“(We’re) just trying to make sure everybody is on the same page with the guidelines as far as the operators are concerned and putting a lot of faith in our golfing community to continue following the rules, which they’re already used to following with the rules of golf,” said Wes Wailehua, executive director of the ASPGA. “I’m optimistic it’ll be a good thing for Hawaii.”
Groups will be limited to four players or fewer with an increase to 12-minute intervals between groups, which Wailehua said will mean “45 or 50% of the normal inventory of tee times will be available.”
Players are recommended to walk “with the exception of ADA requirements” and those who ride will be limited to one per cart, unless they live in the same household. Once on the course, they are not allowed to touch the flagstick when they arrive at the green and rakes will not be provided for bunkers. Players may be allowed to pick up their ball and smooth the sand with their hand or foot. Courses are also recommended to make modifications to keep players from having to reach into the hole to pick up their ball.
Carts are required to be power washed and disinfected after each round.
Wailehua said players are also reminded to come prepared with masks to wear around the clubhouse area and while they are not required on the course, “we highly encourage players to keep it on for their own personal health.”
Wailehua added: “It’ll be a learning curve this weekend. I’m already hearing a lot of courses are getting phone calls for the last 24 hours excited to get back out there and and we’re excited to get the ball on the tee and get it up in the air, for the industry and to get a lot of our great employees back to work.”
Hawaii Golf Operations Guid… by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd
