Playing through the pandemic: Local golf courses reopen with more safety measures
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara County Public Health's new health order released last week clarified what is deemed an essential business, allowing public and private golf courses to reopen--with added safety protocols.
Those measures include, in part: mandating social distancing, allowing only one person and one bag per golf cart, removing ball washers, rakes and flag pins, keeping golf shops closed, and inverting the cup on each green to eliminate a frequently touched surface.
Santa Barbara Golf Club and Glen Annie Golf Club were among the courses to reopen over the weekend.
"It's been an overwhelming response of joy from the golfers," said Santa Barbara Golf Club general manager Randy Shannon. "To be able to get out of the homes, keep social distancing so we're all safe, yet enjoy some good exercise and camaraderie with friends, has been just outstanding."
Santa Barbara Golf Club closed on March 20 but reopened Saturday. Golfers are encouraged, but not required, to wear masks.
Shannon says compliance to the new rules has been very good at the club so far, despite "a little bit of concern" initially because it had never been open with these health guidelines before.
"Better than I could have ever expected," he said of golfers following the rules.
Shannon also says the club is frequently sanitizing restrooms, golf carts, pull carts and driving range baskets. The driver range is only accepting about half capacity to increase spacing between guests.
One guest can enter to golf shop to pay at a time, but no cash is accepted. One golfer is encouraged to pay for the entire group, and no merchandise in the shop is currently being sold. The course restaurant is open for takeout food and drinks only.
Despite the changes, golfers getting back on the course is a welcome sight for many.
“We’re not getting back to normal yet,” Shannon said. “But this is just, as we might call it, ‘Phase One’ for golf… We have now some hope that we can get back to some normalcy. And this is just a small step towards that.”
