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OPINION UPDATE: Corona Virus And Your Local Golf Course

Public Service Announcement PSA

DISCLAIMER:  This is an OPINION piece.  It is not to be taken as gospel.  The points and arguments set forth are the express opinions of the writer and do not expressly coincide with the opinions of management of GreensKeeper.org or GreensKeeper LLC.  Do this at your own risk.

DON’T PANIC!

The sky is falling!  The sky is falling!  — Chicken Little

It’s madness out there.  The media is spinning their doom and gloom predictions.  The federal and state governments are shutting down services and businesses.  The basic tenets of the actual message, however, has not changed:

  1.   Wash Your Hands with Soap Often
  2.   Don’t Touch Your Face
  3.   Keep Your Distance from Others (Social Distancing)
  4.   Protect the Elderly.

Who do we believe?  What do we do?  What precautions do we follow?  Not being Doctors or medical professionals, we laypeople can only use our common sense in this sort of situation.  Panic is the last thing we should do.  It accomplishes nothing.  It only creates more aggravation and despair.

What we do know is that COVID-19 is here.  We can do nothing to prevent that from happening.  In light of this harsh reality though if we practice these basic tenets above we can limit or reduce the opportunity of being infected with this virus.  (Be sure to check on our previous posts regarding home-made Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant).

Remember it’s ALSO cold and flu season and with spring just around the corner allergies are going awry as well –be diligent!  Be smart.  Play Safe.

BUILD YOUR IMMUNITY

In the meantime now would be a great opportunity to eat properly.  That is to say eat your fruits and vegetables.  Improve your immunity it’s perhaps the best way to combat this virus.  You do this by eating your fruits and vegetables.  Eat healthy.  Be smart.  Play safe.

To Golf or Not to Golf?

Until we get advice from our local governments, we can still follow these basic tenets; limiting our exposure to risk.  So can we still play golf?

That is the questions isn’t it?

As stated we’re not doctors or medical professionals but using reason we can still enjoy a round of golf if we employ these safety measures.  (Golf Course Operators be sure to check this blog post regarding what you can do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 HERE.)

Check out what Golf Digest has to say about COVID-19 HERE.

Editors Nate:  Added 3/10/20 Additional articles include Golf Magazine: Golf and the Coronavirus:  How to Play with Confidence, According to an Expert.

Look at it this way, with all these “Shelter in Place” directives we will all get a little stir crazy being cooped up in our own homes.  Perhaps a little away time will be needed?  Perhaps you need some fresh air.  Perhaps you have this itch you can’t scratch without a round of golf.

Whatever it is  you will have to get out sometime.  Why not at a place where you can employ proper spacing and some good personal hygiene (wash your hands or use hand sanitizer regularly.)  Walk the course.  Ride and ask the starter for a single rider fee.  Keep your distance but play smart and play safe.

With golf you get sunshine, fresh air, and exercise.  It would be safe to say so long as you employ these basic tenets you could limit your exposure to COVID-19.

Whatever you decide to do is your responsibility.  It is the opinion of this writer that as stewards of the game and golf enthusiasts we will use our wits to mitigate exposure and get to play these golf courses to let off a little steam during this trying time.

Play smart.  Be safe.

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Corona Virus — What Golf Courses Should Do?

Public Service Announcement PSA

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on golf our GK Community can provide important suggestions and guidance to the golf course industry.

What should golf courses do to make us feel safer playing should the Corona Virus become much bigger?

Some ideas to consider.  These do not necessarily expressly reflect  the opinions of GreensKeeper.org they are however suggestions from our demographic of AVID Golfers, most of which happen to be Senior Citizens.  (Fun Fact: GK is a community of over 70,000 registered members.  40% of the GK Community reside in California.  Of that 40%, 60% are over the age of 50, and of that 60%, 70% play more than 24+ rounds of golf yearly.)

  • Provide germicidal disposable wipes with every golf cart rental.
  • Provide a non latex disposable glove to handle the flag-stick.
  • Foam insert (Cut down pool noodle) placed into cup to raise the golf ball from the bottom of the cup. (Added 5/14/20)
  • Anyone that shows signs of being sick at check-in must not be allowed to play.
  • Disinfect ALL equipment at least Daily.  Or in the case of golf carts after each use.  Recommend spray and wipe clean all carts with Disinfectant or use a pressure washer that can include bleach in wash down procedures. (Added 4/1/20)
  • Any employee or vendor showing signs of being sick must not be at the golf course.
  • If walking is not an option, SINGLE RIDER ONLY for carts. (added 3/17/30)
  • Remove all rakes, ball washers; disinfect all benches, flag-sticks, hole cups and smooth surfaces regularly.  (added 3/25/20)
  • (extreme measure) – eliminate foursome play and only allow twosomes.
  • (extreme measure) – cancel or postpone large tournaments/outings.
  • Credit/Debit Card Sales Only.  No Cash Sales (Added 5/14/20)
  • No pre- or post congregating of golf groups before or after round of golf in common areas (Added 5/14/20)
  • SEE MORE (Click HERE) Be a part of the conversation

Our Take

Honestly I feel a golf course might be one of safest places for those of us that need to get out for some outdoor recreation during this crisis.

Politics aside, since the supply chain is waning; consider the homemade options for making disinfectant sprays and hand santizing gel.

UPDATE:

From the Editor 3/17/20  The media hype can be overwhelming.  Who do you believe?  The message however remains the same.  Please keep these in mind when making your policy changes.

  1. Wash Your Hands OFTEN.
  2. Don’t Touch Your Face.
  3.  Keep your Distance.
  4. Protect the Elderly.

By keeping these points in mind while you make your decisions on play you can not only thrive as a business BUT also keep your playing patrons safe.  Be smart.  Play Safe with GreensKeeper.org.

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BE SAFE from Covid-19 (Corona Virus)

Public Service Announcement PSA

With the current health crisis and Covid-19 (Corona Virus) hysteria we at GreensKeeper.org felt it necessary to be at least the voice of reason during the madness.  There is no reason to be scared.  You can still play golf.  You can enjoy life.  Just be vigilant; using these helpful hints.  

Some helpful tips for our fellow golfers.  Proactive , common sense things you can do to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other beasties out there — Remember it’s also FLU season out there.  

Editor’s Note: We are not medical personal. Some of us however read the news and this is a compilation of steps and measures you can take to at least mitigate exposure. Play safe. Play smart with GreensKeeper.org.

4 WAYS TO MITIGATE EXPOSURE to the COVID-19 (Corona Virus)

  1. MOST IMPORTANT. With the supply of hand sanitizer short the most easiest and perhaps one of the most effective things you can do is WASH YOUR HANDS. Wash your hands under warm or hot water WITH SOAP for 20 seconds. The soap and the action of rubbing your hands sanitizes your hands and anything you may touch.
  2. WHEN YOU COUGH OR SNEEZE — COVER UP. Sneeze or cough into your elbow. Coughing or sneezing out in the open will spread droplets and possibly spreading any disease or possible infections.
  3. AVOID LARGE GATHERINGS. You know your own personal hygiene you cannot however be responsible for others Avoid major contact of large groups BUT if you do find yourself in that situation, practice what they call “SOCIAL DISTANCING.” Keep your distance — 3-6 feet at least.
  4. If you find yourself sick.  AVOID contact with other individuals.  It has been recommended that this individual practice self imposed quarantine.
  5. Older Individuals with pre-exsting conditions OR compromised immunity STAY HOME.

Folks COVID-19 is a VIRUS.  It means this beasty is both alive and dead at the same time.  This means it can exist without a host for a period of time (A host being you or me.)  The problem with a virus is that it’s not a bacterial infection.  With a bacterial infection you can use anti-bacterial measures like penicillin to mitigate the illness.  In the case of COVID-19 the problem is, as for any with viral infection, the only thing you can do is let it run its course being sure to care for the symptoms.

Stay Safe.  Play Smart and Know Before You Go with GreensKeeper.org.

www.coronavirus.gov

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/workplace-school-and-home-guidance.pdf