In yet another reversal, the state will now allow golfers to
go out and enjoy their sport as long the clubhouses and pro shops remain
closed.
Golf courses will remain nonessential businesses under the
state’s directives for social-distancing, however, and people are still not
allowed to congregate during coronavirus.
But the state’s Empire State Development has reversed an
earlier decision regarding golfers.
The following is the updated guidance on use of golf courses
in the “Recreation” section:
“Private operators may permit individuals access to the
property so long as there are no gatherings of any kind and appropriate social
distancing of six feet between individuals is strictly abided.”
Players also cannot shake hands before or after a round, and
flag sticks have to be left in the hole. There also isn’t any club sharing
allowed and carts are limited to one per person.
The new guidelines also will permit “essential services,
such as grounds keeping to avoid hazardous conditions and security, provided by
employees, contractors, or vendors.”
Initially, golf courses in the state were allowed to remain
open, as long as all Center for Disease Control (CDC) and state mandated
guidelines were met for social-distancing, but the state pulled the plug on
golfing April 10.
ESD has announced a series of guidelines on which businesses
can remain open during the pandemic, but they’ve been criticized as confusing
and changing on a daily basis.
