While golfers rejoice, courses in a rush to get ready

Golfers are rejoicing all over Pennsylvania after Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday he was allowing courses across the state to open Friday.

While most golfers have been eagerly awaiting a chance to hit the links and cursing every wasted beautiful day away from the fairways and greens, course managers, pros and greenskeepers are in a rush to get ready for the unexpected restart.

“We were preparing for the start on May 8,” Cranberry Highlands Golf Course director of golf operations Jesse Horner said. “Now we’re rushing to get ready.”

Course superintendents and staff members throughout Western Pennsylvania were busy hosing off carts, raking bunkers, rolling greens and mowing fairways Tuesday, working to provide a welcome recreational respite from the coronavirus pandemic that has shuttered businesses around the world for the past month.

Golf courses may open as part of a statewide reopening of outdoor recreational activities, according to a statement from the governor’s office.

Courses must follow the life-sustaining business guidelines put in place by the governor’s office, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance for outdoor recreation.

The Pennsylvania Alliance for Golf announced guidelines Tuesday night the organization said were designed to meet the requirements of the governor’s office.

The guidelines are designed to make sure there are no gatherings of any kind on the course and appropriate social distancing of 6 feet is kept.

Golf carts may be utilized but must be single occupant only. Staff levels should be kept to a minimum.

Restaurant activity is limited to take-out or delivery, though many courses will offer packaged sandwiches and drinks for sale to golfers.

Golfers also are encouraged to avoid touching the flagstick or another player’s or group’s equipment. Rakes are to be removed from bunkers, with golfers instructed to smooth out the sand with a club or their shoes. Water coolers and ball washers are also to be eliminated.

Courses also are trying to limit interaction with staff members during check-in, using online registration and prepaid tee times when possible.

Other logistics are still being worked out, but courses are making arrangements to make the process as normal as possible.

Horner said he answered 24 voicemails Monday, and tee times at many courses, especially for Saturday, are filling up quickly.

With rain forecast for Friday, most golfers are waiting for the better conditions Saturday.

Horner said he’s planning 15-minute tee time intervals and, with only 80 carts available, rounds at Cranberry Highlands will be cut in half because each golfer in a foursome must have his or her own cart.

River Forest Country Club pro Josh Schreckengost also was surprised by Wolf’s announcement but got to work quickly in preparation for a busy weekend.

He said while six members of the maintenance crew kept the course in good shape the past month, the Freeport-area club called back nine staffers Tuesday to clean the clubhouse and pro shop for the start of the season.

“It’s been crazy trying to schedule tee times,” Schreckengost said. “We’re almost filled up for Saturday and Sunday already. Right now, I’m trying to resolve an online registration issue, and hopefully it will be solved by Wednesday.”

Manor Valley Golf Course owner Vince DeAugustine said he’s just glad to be able to open his course in Export.

“I know some courses allowed their prepaid members to walk,” DeAugustine said. “We decided to follow the rules so we could help stop the spread.

“Our tee sheet is filling up, and we’ll be ready for golfers a week earlier than expected. I know some of the guidelines, but I had a parent call and ask if his son, who is younger than 18, will be allowed to drive a cart. I can’t answer that right now.”

Hannastown in Greensburg was another course to abide by the shutdown rules until recently. The club allowed members to walk the course beginning April 24.

Hannastown Golf Club pro Craig Mankins said many members headed to West Virginia and Ohio to play since officials in those states allowed golf courses to remain open.

“I think we had 250 to 300 rounds by our members played at Lakeview Resort near Morgantown and an additional 40 or so at Williams Golf and Country Club in Weirton,” Mankins said. “I want to thank Lakeview director of golf Aaron Gizzi and Williams Golf and Country Club pro Paul DiLorenzo for their hospitality.

“I know one thing, play in West Virginia and Ohio will go down now that Pennsylvania is opening back up.”