Courses will open, but golfers will have new guidelines during pandemic

Golfers itching to hit the links Friday will see many changes.

It’s going to be a little different, but nothing that should make rounds less enjoyable.

The Pennsylvania Alliance for Golf sent out a list of safe reopening guidelines for golf courses. Similar guidelines are on the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association and Tri-State PGA websites.

With the coronavirus still prevalent in the state, the PAG said maintaining a safe environment for all staff and golfers is crucial to maintain open status during the pandemic.

“The phone has been ringing off the hook,” Glengarry Golf Course owner Jamie Costic said. “The speed of which we found out was surprising. We’ve been in the works of trying to prepare the proper way.

“There are some things we have to change and do differently. The toughest thing is one cart per person. We’ll run out of carts quicker. We have to limit tee times and availability.”

So if you want to play golf, here’s how you do it: Saturday tee times are filling up. No walk-ups will be taken. Golfers must call for a tee time and prepay, with tee times 15 minutes apart.

All golfers will be assigned a cart (no walking).

“You can’t come into the pro shop,” Costic said. “You come to a side window, and we’ll tell you what cart you’ve been assigned. The key will be already in the cart.”

Jesse Horner, the director of golf at Cranberry Highlands, said a tent outside the clubhouse will be set up, and golfers — one at a time — will be allowed to check in. Cranberry Highlands will open Saturday.

Also, expect to handle your own bag. Courses are prohibited to load your cart, and caddies aren’t recommended.

The course staff will wear protective gloves and face masks.

On the course, there will be no rakes in sand traps, no scorecards available and no ball markers or tees provided. Ball washers and water coolers will be removed. Flagsticks should not be handled, and a raised cup liner or foam inserts will be used.

Social distancing should be maintained at all times, handshakes eliminated and equipment should not be shared.

The pro shop should remain closed with only take-out service available for food and beverages. Golfers should bring their own water.

“We going to learn on the fly and make adjustments,” Costic said. “We’re just glad we’re opened.”