Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended her shelter in place order until Mid-May, but offered several exceptions, including golf.
Hallelujah!
Under the order:
7a. Individuals may leave their home or place of residence, and travel as necessary: (1) To engage in outdoor recreational activity, consistent with remaining at least six feet from people from outside the individual’s household. Outdoor recreational activity includes walking, hiking, running, cycling, boating, golfing, or other similar activity, as well as any comparable activity for those with limited mobility.
• All individuals who leave their home or place of residence must adhere to social distancing measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), including remaining at least six feet from people from outside the individual’s household to the extent feasible under the circumstances.
In addition, golf carts are not permitted; walking only.
This is good news for Michigan’s golfers. Now it is up to us not to screw it up. All it will take is some busybody posting pictures of non-compliant golfers on social media to convince state authorities that golf needs to be shut down once again.
A press release from the Michigan Golf Alliance follows:
Governor’s Executive Order Opens Golf With Guidelines
FARMINGTON HILLS – Governor Gretchen Whitmer introduced today Executive Order 2020-59 which extends “Stay Home, Stay Safe” and includes golf in this exception:
7a. Individuals may leave their home or place of residence, and travel as necessary: (1) To engage in outdoor recreational activity, consistent with remaining at least six feet from people from outside the individual’s household. Outdoor recreational activity includes walking, hiking, running, cycling, boating, golfing, or other similar activity, as well as any comparable activity for those with limited mobility.
As communicated to the Michigan Golf Alliance, which includes the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) by the Governor’s office, golfers must adhere to the guidelines in place:
• All individuals who leave their home or place of residence must adhere to social distancing measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), including remaining at least six feet from people from outside the individual’s household to the extent feasible under the circumstances.
• Golf carts are not allowed until further notice.
The Alliance urges golfers to check with their local courses for updates.
The Michigan Golf Alliance supports the efforts of our state leaders to protect the public health of Michiganders during the COVID-19 crisis and to guide the community back in recovery.
The GAM has made several schedule adjustments to tournaments, qualifiers and GAM Golf Days that were planned for early in the season, and changes will be ongoing and updated on a regular basis at GAM.org: https://gam.org/?News&newsID=1313
Score posting season has started for golf courses in the state of Michigan. If the course being played has hole liners that have been raised to prevent the ball from being holed out, golfers still must post the score using the most likely score guidelines laid out in the Rules of Handicapping. For a full explanation click HERE. For more information on how to post scores view the GAM’s Score Posting Guide.
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I have not done a close survey of the current situation but it appears courses are not exerting a big effort in controlling social distancing on the course. The courses have limited staff and not much control over the number of people arriving at the course, the use of face masks or how they move about. Perhaps with time, the checking in process and subsequent separation of individuals while playing will work itself out. I hope that happens before the first video airs showing a dozen golfers hanging together and downing beers.