Should we play golf with all of the restrictions coming down across the country? With spring creeping up faster then ever and with almost ZERO live sporting events to watch on TV, it seems like the perfect time to tee it up with your buddies. Now, hopefully you didn’t click on this article looking to receive an actual answer to that question because I don’t think anyone can actually give you that answer! My plan is to give you some easy tips on how to try and avoid the Coronavirus (and people) at the country club and on the course .
Social Distancing Best Practices on the Golf Course
- Prepare – What does this mean? Make sure to bring all of your virus fighting tools. This includes your hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, etc. If you have the option/ability to either ride a cart or walk, this might be a time for you to choose to walk! Who knows what kind of precautions the guy that rode the cart before you has been taking. Hell, for all you know a doctor just looking to get some time away from all of the hysteria could have been in that cart! For those of us that refuse to walk or can’t, make sure to wipe down your cart and avoid touching anything as much as possible.
- Avoid the Clubhouse and Locker room – I don’t care what the course is saying about how they are taking extra precautions to make sure everything is clean blah, blah, blah. It is just not worth it, you can’t put your trust in other people. For the men out there reading this, if it’s between going inside and peeing in the restroom or peeing behind a tree, I think we both know which one we should choose. (Don’t forget to use that hand sanitizer afterwards!)
- Avoid the Driving Range – I know this is a hard one, but I think we all need to give ourselves a few extra breakfast balls during these times. We need to try and have the mind set of “car to tee box with the least amount of human interaction as possible”.
- Avoid Cart Girls – I know this one might be tough for some of us, but let’s think about this for a minute…cart girls are interacting with almost every single golfer on the course!! This is exactly what we are trying to avoid. For those of us that still want to have a couple of drinks out there on the course, a little preround prep (flasks and small coolers) can work. Now, I understand this move is frowned upon at most courses, but these are not normal circumstances. Honestly, I’d be surprised if courses even have cart girls working, so this may be a non-issue.
- Play with People You Know – This could also be considered the opposite of Social Distancing, but I would rather play with friends that I know have been working from home and taking all the necessary precautions to avoid COVID-19 then a random person that I am meeting for the first time. The last thing I want to do is get paired up with a guy who just finished his shift at the hospital or even worse, some asshole in their early 20’s who still went on spring break or took advantage of the cheap flights.
- Know the Symptoms – Finally, this one should be a no-brainer. Know the symptoms. If you or anyone you are with is experiencing any of the symptoms of COVID-19 you should STAY HOME!
Let’s face it, we are going to encounter a lot of hard decisions during these complicated times. In the chance that you are deciding between going to a bar or some type of social event or heading to the golf course, I think the golf course is the safer choice.
Disclaimer: We at golflocks.com are not medical professionals and any statements on this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message. Always consult your personal physician for specific medical advice.