COVID-19 and golf

[mathc38]

I agree that this is a much better design: https://twitter.com/CobblestoneGolf/...71223929335809


Requires no touching of anything with your hands

[big mac]

I don't think Snazzy was saying lets go hog wild and open things up willy-nilly. I think what he is saying "lets look at the facts" and draw conclusions from them,
Here is one to consider----why place elderly folks in crowded retirement and nursing homes and have inadequate staff and facilities to meet their need ? I don't think this has to be proven---it's been evident BEFORE the outbreak.
Another---why does government allow 8 homes on one acre of land---a 55 story condo on 3 acres and high density living for low income.
I have never even considered a socialist state or anything like that but it sure seems to me that the scales have been tipping in the wrong direction and if it had not been for Tommy Douglas many years ago---where would we be now ?
It's all is a matter of $$$$$$$---it may well be a time for tax restructuring.
Too many questions to be answered here---lets let the experts (doctors---scientists--engineers) not career politicians, bankers and lawyers make the right choices JMHO

[BARGEGOLF]

I like this design better: https://twitter.com/CobblestoneGolf/...71223929335809

Hands keep further away from the hole / flagstick.

Yes, better, but Multiple putters will touch the surface of the “hook” mechanism. When putting your putter head over on, I would suggest there would be a risk of exposure to the virus.

[Gobble_It]

I agree that this is a much better design: https://twitter.com/CobblestoneGolf/...71223929335809


Requires no touching of anything with your hands

Will need an easy-T from ZeroBend and we dont' have to touch the ball at all at tee off.

[mjf]

Yes, better, but Multiple putters will touch the surface of the “hook” mechanism. When putting your putter head over on, I would suggest there would be a risk of exposure to the virus.

Could use your shoe to life the hook too. Unfortunately, we're going to be living with risk for a while almost regardless of what we do.

[jvincent]

Pool noodle. $20 for the entire course.

[BC MIST]

Here is one to consider----why place elderly folks in crowded retirement and nursing homes and have inadequate staff and facilities to meet their need ?
I have never even considered a socialist state or anything like that but it sure seems to me that the scales have been tipping in the wrong direction and if it had not been for Tommy Douglas many years ago---where would we be now ?
It's all is a matter of $$$$$$$---it may well be a time for tax restructuring.
Too many questions to be answered here---lets let the experts (doctors---scientists--engineers) not career politicians, bankers and lawyers make the right choices JMHO

If the old folks are not in retirement homes or nursing homes, where do you place those who cannot take care of themselves?
Certainly agree with your last statement. Let the doctors decide, in this case, the epidemiologists, the best course of action, not the self serving politicians. And I’m not referring to Dr. Oz or Dr. Phil, who have no problem with letting older people die.

[prophet]

I wonder if we rolled the clock back 30 years how are younger selves would view these restrictions?

[Johnyc]

I wonder if we rolled the clock back 30 years how are younger selves would view these restrictions?

You mean staying at home with iPads, Mac books, Netflix, streaming services, next day delivery, slip the dishes, iPhones, group chats......thirty years ago compared to now? I’d take the present situation without hesitation.

This is a temporary inconvenience. Have we all forgotten the sacrifices those who came before us made? It’s been what, a few weeks (I’ve honestly lost track working at the hospital). Yeah it sucks but this will come to pass. Everyone has had to make sacrifices. We sent our three boys, 9-7-4 to live with grandparents 4 weeks ago. We miss them but we had to make sure they were taken care of and with my wife and I both working at the hospital we didn’t want to take any chance with transmission. So hang in there. If we keep this up we will be golfing sooner then later. Now is the time for resolve. We will be over the crest and on the way down shortly.

[Michael]

You mean staying at home with iPads, Mac books, Netflix, streaming services, next day delivery, slip the dishes, iPhones, group chats......thirty years ago compared to now? I’d take the present situation without hesitation.

This is a temporary inconvenience. Have we all forgotten the sacrifices those who came before us made? It’s been what, a few weeks (I’ve honestly lost track working at the hospital). Yeah it sucks but this will come to pass. Everyone has had to make sacrifices. We sent our three boys, 9-7-4 to live with grandparents 4 weeks ago. We miss them but we had to make sure they were taken care of and with my wife and I both working at the hospital we didn’t want to take any chance with transmission. So hang in there. If we keep this up we will be golfing sooner then later. Now is the time for resolve. We will be over the crest and on the way down shortly.

Great post and a personal thank you to both you and your wife for being on the front lines during this crisis. Well done, take care and be safe.

[eez]

You mean staying at home with iPads, Mac books, Netflix, streaming services, next day delivery, slip the dishes, iPhones, group chats......thirty years ago compared to now? I’d take the present situation without hesitation.

This is a temporary inconvenience. Have we all forgotten the sacrifices those who came before us made? It’s been what, a few weeks (I’ve honestly lost track working at the hospital). Yeah it sucks but this will come to pass. Everyone has had to make sacrifices. We sent our three boys, 9-7-4 to live with grandparents 4 weeks ago. We miss them but we had to make sure they were taken care of and with my wife and I both working at the hospital we didn’t want to take any chance with transmission. So hang in there. If we keep this up we will be golfing sooner then later. Now is the time for resolve. We will be over the crest and on the way down shortly.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this ...

[BARGEGOLF]

As to managing risk, I totally agree. Just thinking about what conceivably could get approved by the authorities for golf course use in order to be able to putt out...

[Marcos]

As to managing risk, I totally agree. Just thinking about what conceivably could get approved by the authorities for golf course use in order to be able to putt out...

Gimmies are good for me lol

[scrollerpete]

Just to be able to go out and hit the ball around we don’t need to have to play by all the crazy rules of The PGA. We still can talk from a distance enjoy the good shots and laugh at the bad ones, get a little bit of exercise and I bet after the game when we get back home, we will feel much better. We still can enjoy golf and play safe but there will be some ass@#$&& that will spoiled it for the rest of us.

[eez]

Just to be able to go out and hit the ball around we don’t need to have to play by all the crazy rules of The PGA. We still can talk from a distance enjoy the good shots and laugh at the bad ones, get a little bit of exercise and I bet after the game when we get back home, we will feel much better. We still can enjoy golf and play safe but there will be some ass@#$&& that will spoiled it for the rest of us.

I agree with this, but like you say, there's always that 1% guy.

And is it worthwhile for the courses to operate with half the paying players and no food / bar revenues ?

[Gobble_It]

Just to be able to go out and hit the ball around we don’t need to have to play by all the crazy rules of The PGA. We still can talk from a distance enjoy the good shots and laugh at the bad ones, get a little bit of exercise and I bet after the game when we get back home, we will feel much better. We still can enjoy golf and play safe but there will be some ass@#$&& that will spoiled it for the rest of us.

It won't be the same without the 19th hole

[Gofish2]

Minnesota got the green light to open up courses and driving ranges as of today. Will be interesting to see how our southern cousins handle "safe" golf.

[big mac]

BC---Oh I am not advocating the demise of nursing homes etc.-----I would just love to see the elderly taken care of much better and my "much better" does not depend on the "bottom line". I am 75----think of what our parents and grandparents sacrificed for us---personally I think we could do better. "Dr" Phil and "Dr" Oz------these guys are a joke when it comes to something serious.....all about $$$$ and ratings.

[KOKO72]

I would imagine that a bit of revenue coming in would help. Obviously they would have to staff accordingly. I think the government has allowed them to have maintenance staff able to work on the courses (spring cleaning, cutting etc) so the bit of revenue coming in could offset a a fraction of this cost. Courses have had a rough couple of years.

[scrollerpete]

I would imagine that a bit of revenue coming in would help. Obviously they would have to staff accordingly. I think the government has allowed them to have maintenance staff able to work on the courses (spring cleaning, cutting etc) so the bit of revenue coming in could offset a a fraction of this cost. Courses have had a rough couple of years.

My course did not hire their workers back yet because they have no income coming in, they will try to maintain with just family members(4 total) since I worked at this course for 5 years after I retired I offered my service free of charge to help them get the course in playing shape when the go ahead come. Fresh air and a little bit of work like mowing Green and fairway is kind of fun. Any little bit to help the course owners.

[BC MIST]

BC---Oh I am not advocating the demise of nursing homes etc.-----I would just love to see the elderly taken care of much better and my "much better" does not depend on the "bottom line". I am 75----think of what our parents and grandparents sacrificed for us---personally I think we could do better. "Dr" Phil and "Dr" Oz------these guys are a joke when it comes to something serious.....all about $$$$ and ratings.

I am only a year behind you and am not looking forward to having to go into some facility where I have to rely on others for my care. Let's hope that when this crisis is over that our politicians seriously look at long term care and do what is necessary to make it better.
I was never enamoured with Oz but Dr. Phil's comments shocked me as I felt he was more of a straight shooter. My bad.

[MarcArt]

In response to SnazzyD questioning post and justsomeguys' responses. To begin, I don't agree with SnazzyD overall, but I appreciate his efforts. What I don't appreciate, nor do I think his post deserves in being belittled, with the "Duh" comment from justsomeguy in response to one of SnazzyD's questions. And, I believe almost all of SnazzyD's initial comments (not his questions) contained sources, even to the point where in one case, SnazzyD goes so far as to apologize for not having a particular source. In addition, with all the sourced information SnazzyD provides, justsomeguy disputes the post as not being fact based, going so far as accusing SnazzyD of, "...spouting conspiracy theories", that too is not appreciated.

Having said that, and, using the facts SnazzyD made available of 61,000 influenza-associated deaths in the United States in 2017-2018, that equates to 167 deaths per day. If we don't continue to observe the present means to stem the spread of the virus, then half the population may get COVID-19, and if 6% of those will die, then of the 328,000,000 people in the US, 9,840,000 could die in a year, that averages out to 26,959 per day, which is 161 times the rate of influenza.

Adding that there is no COVID-19 vaccine, no cure for this virus, I think I will practice what SnazzyD said in his own words, I too, "...will continue to follow the guidelines to keep my family and others safe." And, if we do manage to stay safe, we will be golfing in some form or another, soon. My hope, and in the common vernacular sometimes used, by 'sucking it up', we'll be golfing by May 9th.

[BogeyGolf]

Okay, let just keep this thread on track with local golf and the Covid-19 situation...

[EagleEagle]

Ottawa is lucky to have so many retired Civil servants here that have the finance to keep the courses running.If 1 out of 10 homes are applying for 6 month mortgage relief and 4.5 million have applied for subsides so far because of no work,does not look too good for any business and some golf course were already hurting.
Longer this goes the worse it will get.

[justsomeguy]

My hope, and in the common vernacular sometimes used, by 'sucking it up', we'll be golfing by May 9th.

The current lockdown in Ontario runs until May 12th, so we will not be golfing on this side of the river until May 13th at the earliest.

The current lockdown in Quebec runs until May 4th, so there is a possibility of golfing on May 5th on the Quebec side.

While the rate of growth has slowed in both provinces, the curve has not yet "flattened" in either province. Quebec continues to lead the country in number of cases and deaths (it ranks second behind Ontario in total population), so I would be shocked if the lockdown is not extended in Quebec in some form on May 5th (which is only two weeks from now). Whether that includes golf or no golf in Quebec on May 5th depends on what happens in the next two weeks.

[Jasonreg]

"Flattened Curve" does not mean we are out of the woods or that new infections are not occurring - it just means that they are increasing at a manageable rate (i.e. a rate that will (hopefully) not saturate the ERs and ICUs). There are new infections every day and there will be until a vaxine os developed.

Early return to quasi-normal is a sure fire way to spike the curve again and as much as I love (and miss) the game it is just not worth it to push too early, too fast. And yes, I have already paid my annual membership fees so this is in spite of that. I said it beofore, but I do not expect to be back playing before June if not later. And at that, it will be a compleetely different game all year long I feel. Guess I need to stop bugging the fellas about trunk slanmming - That will be the "new normal" for all of us I suspect.

My two cents.

[Gobble_It]

Even with another 2-3 weeks, I would still be nervous in crowded place like Costco or walking on Bank St or strolling on the canal.
I think playing golf will give us back the sanity and I'm looking forward to it in early June

[MikeRaganold]

Some perspectives you might find an interesting read...

NY Gov Cuomo reopens marinas, many golf courses, with restrictions

• The fast-moving changes in what is considered an essential business or a relatively safe recreation during the coronavirus pandemic follows a decline in infections and hospitalizations.
• Private courses can now allow golfers to walk the fairways but they must carry their own bags. State and other public courses are still closed, but municipally owned courses can open under restrictions with local officials making the final determination.
• No employees — caddies, bartenders and others — can work on any course unless they are involved in essential services such as grounds maintenance,
• Full article, read more → click here



California Health Official Visits Courses, Deems Golf a Safe Activity

• Dr. Peter Beilenson, a non-golfer, toured a pair of properties before making his decision to allow courses in Sacramento County to remain open with heightened precautions.
• Although he saw a “significant” number of cars in the parking lot, “I went out on the golf course and saw social distancing,” Beilenson reported.
• “The putting green could have been a problem, but everyone was six feet apart. The driving range the same way.”
• Full article, read more → click here

[The Enigma]

I was driving by a couple of courses lately...making deliveries...
and thought the ground must be grateful...no idiots beating up the turf before it has a descent time to wake up...
I know I'm grumpy if woken up early...LOL

I'm looking forward to the best ground conditions we've seen in years...
Exercising and practising...without a ball...
I'm looking forward to starting a season in the best shape I can be...I hear it might help

[Gangrel]

Last year if an 80 year old man would have died of pneumonia nobody would have batted an eyelash probably said he lived a good life this year not so much .when was the last time anyone heard of someone dying of cancer or heart disease?

If you had pneumonia, you wouldn't walk around and play golf, or go out in public unless absolutely necessary.


If you had Covid, you may not know for 14 days, at which point during "normal times" you could infect thousands, who then infect thousands, and increases exponentially.


THAT's the problem.