Regina golf courses prepare to open with COVID-19 restrictions in place

Golfers can start bringing the clubs out of storage in Saskatchewan.

Courses around the province can open up as of Friday as part of Phase 1 of the Government of Saskatchewan’s reopening plan.

For courses run by the City of Regina, people can now book their tee times.

“This is new for everyone. It has been sort of a moving target. You’re waiting to see what you’re allowed to do and what you’re not allowed to do. We’re just making darn sure these places are set up really safe,” said Gus Vogelsang, the head professional at the Murray Golf Course.

“I want everyone to have a good time, I want everyone to be safe (and) I want my employees to be safe. It has been different – this is my first global pandemic. We’re just listening to the health authority and we do what is asked of us to do.”

Vogelsang said tee times can be booked five days in advance of the day people are looking to go out.

“We’re in the process of just getting our clubhouses and pro shops so that we are following the Sask. Health protocols and anyone that visits us are going to be safe,” he said.

There are going to be many restrictions put in place by golf courses to fall under the guidelines from the province.

Clubhouses will not be open to the public and people will need to pre-order food and pick it up after the ninth hole of their round.

“The clubhouse is closed so there is no gathering. You can’t sit down and have a beer or anything like that,” Vogelsang said.

Tee times will also be spread out to allow 12 minutes in between each group heading out. Power carts will be allowed to have only one person on them unless the people come from the same household. Clubhouse washrooms will have a limit of one person at a time and all course washroom facilities will be closed.

Rakes and ballwashers will no longer be on the courses and the snack cart will not be running.

“We’re just asking for people, when they’re on the golf course, to practise social distancing,” Vogelsang said. “(It’s) no different from any other day when you’re out walking in the park.”

And once people head out onto the course, Vogelsang said it will be ready for them.

“The City of Regina turf crew have been working hard and doing the things they would normally do on any other year,” he said. “These little rains and this heat that we’ve been getting really helps a lot.

“The golf courses are in good shape, they’ll be in great shape come (Friday). Maybe that’s one of the silver linings – crews are out there working hard and there’s no golfers to work around so they can get lots done during the day.”

Vogelsang said he already has received lots of calls and emails from golfers asking when the course would be opening.

“People have been great and they’re just excited to get out and I’m just impressed by the work everyone did to get us to this point,” he said.