In time of social distancing, local golfers taking advantage of sport that promotes it
The Chambers Bay loop was bustling Wednesday afternoon — much like it would be on any sunny summer weekend.
But, it was an odd sight for a weekday in March.
Available spots in the parking lots at the regional park in University Place were few and far between, and the spaces that line the eastern side of the trail along Grandview Drive West were just as full.
Children — out of school until at least late April in an effort to help slow the coronavirus outbreak — adults on modified work schedules, and others searching for fresh air, and maybe some clarity during this strange break from normalcy, scrambled to the walking trail, the grassy fields and the bridge leading to the beach below.
In the middle of it all, the rolling golf course seemed to be the only entity operating as it usually would.
It was calm and quiet, and every few minutes, another group of four golfers would amble up the 18th green to finish their round.
“Everybody’s a little bit anxious right now in these times,” said Levi Goodin, a 26-year-old Kent resident. “All I wanted to do was get out here and play some golf. It worked out nice.”
Goodin is one of thousands of golfers who have flocked not only to Chambers Bay, but golf courses around Pierce County in the past week, as directives regarding recreational activities have been released by governor Jay Inslee.
When Inslee laid out his social distancing summary Sunday evening, golf courses, given their natural spacing, were listed as one of the few recreational sites Washington residents were still permitted to visit.
“It’s one of the recreational activities you can do — and still pretty effectively socially distance yourself from other people,” said Peren Bjork, a 55-year-old DuPont resident.
“I was able to play a round with three other guys with no human contact at all. … Especially being cooped up more than normal, it’s great to get out, as long as you can get out and maintain a safe distance from other people.”
Now, course managers and workers around the county are taking additional steps to make sure they can continue to offer safe environments for the public until these proclamations limiting social gatherings are lifted.
“One of the fortunate things about golf, the very nature of it, is typically it’s four or five people in a group moving down the fairway more than 6 feet apart, and not really coming into close contact at all,” said Mike Moore, whose family owns The Classic Golf Club in Spanaway and Oakbrook Golf Club in Lakewood.
“They can enjoy each other’s company and still maintain a social distance that allows them to communicate without touching, and without being in each other’s space. It was a relief that at least there’s an opportunity for folks to exercise, and get out, and enjoy a game they love.”
Courses in the area have already adopted the broad safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization, and have been in contact with each other about more specific measures they can take at their facilities.
“It’s a small world in the golf world,” Moore said. “We know each other and talk. We’ve received calls from folks asking what we’re doing and offering what they’re doing.”
Many are encouraging golfers to putt with the flagstick in at each hole, and not touch it or the bunker rakes, instead smoothing the sand with their feet. Some courses where golfers use carts are encouraging single riders, while courses with caddies are requiring gloves to be worn. Some are removing tees, scorecards and pencils from the pro shop, and instead asking golfers to keep score on personal devices like cell phones.
In line with the governor’s restrictions on gatherings, restaurants on courses have closed, with many now instead offering takeout or delivery options.
Most courses are encouraging golfers to book tee times in advance online — a common practice anyway — to stagger check-ins at the pro shop and avoid crowds of 10 or more people.
And most have upped their usual cleaning practices, having pro shop workers who handle cash and credit cards wear gloves, and frequently sanitizing surfaces like counters, doors and carts that golfers touch.
WSGA executive director and CEO Troy Andrew said there is not a specific guideline for courses statewide to follow, but many have adopted similar practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“While it’s great that golf courses can provide something for people to do during these difficult times, there’s still a lot of safety (precautions) being taken so we can keep that benefit for people,” Andrew said.
While many golfing events and tournaments statewide, including qualifiers for national competitions, have either already been postponed or canceled, or are likely to be in line with nationwide major sporting event cancellations — this year’s U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship has already been scrapped, with Chambers Bay, which held the 2015 U.S. Open, still scheduled as next year’s host — Andrew said the hope is recreational golf will be able to continue in the weeks ahead.
“The natural distancing that happens fits well for this,” said Roxanne Miles, the director of Pierce County Parks and Recreation, which oversees the Chambers Bay and Lake Spanaway courses. “We of course are going to be monitoring the situation. … We are definitely working closely with the health department, following the governor’s orders as they come out and monitoring this to be sure that people remain safe.
For the courses it operates, Miles said the county hopes to continue to be able to offer the public access to these recreational spaces, and asks people to remain mindful of their own health, and stay home if they are showing signs or symptoms of illness.
“Hopefully everybody is really respectful of that,” Miles said. “But, for those who are trying to maintain their health, where exercise is such a crucial part for them, we’re glad we can provide some of those spaces.”
Many, it seems, are taking advantage of the opportunity to get outside. Chambers Bay booked 590 rounds between March 11-17, and Lake Spanaway 605. Moore was at The Classic on Wednesday, and said afternoon availability filled up quickly. He didn’t believe Oakbrook had missed any tee times by late afternoon Thursday.
Tacoma’s Allenmore Golf Course has also been busy, though Meadow Park Golf Course has closed along with other Metro Parks properties.
“We’ve been very busy and we’re thankful for that,” Moore said. “Folks are just looking for a chance to get out and do something. They can’t go to the mall, they can’t go to the restaurants, they can’t go to the movies, they can’t go to the bowling alley — they can’t go anywhere there would be more than 10 people in one place at one time under the same roof.
“But, out here, we’ve got 124 acres, and there’s plenty of room. I think we have over 200 people out here playing golf today, all day long. If they were all here at the very same time, that would still be half-acre apiece that they’re walking on.
“It’s a sad, scary time. … I think we’re all in the unknown. I think the government has done what they can to try to step in and provide some answers and some help, and I think it’s up to us to just kind of restrain and stay home a lot. Play a little golf, get some fresh air, get some exercise walking, but try to avoid close contact.”
