Great Lakes Region Golfing

Yes, you can enjoy golf this summer!

By Mark Okrant

The game of golf is near and dear to the hearts of both Granite State residents and visitors. According to a study conducted by SRI International, golf engenders nearly 300,000 day occasions and more than 100,000 overnight trips annually within New Hampshire. The state’s 113 golf courses are significant resources for recreation, tourism, real estate development, and a range of other activities, producing a total economic impact in excess of one-half billion dollars.

With the COVID-19 outbreak, governors throughout the nation responded by implementing policies designed to limit the spread of the disease. In New Hampshire, quarantining and social distancing had an immediate impact upon everything from retail to recreation, and from travel to teaching. Golf was not immune from these measures, as courses and driving ranges were shuttered for nearly two months. 

The following is an explanation of the initial reopening of Lakes Region golf courses. Later in this article, we bring readers up-to-date on the most current rules and happenings pertaining to golf.

On May 11, the governor permitted golf courses to open, but not without strong protective measures in place. As the day to open approached, courses began to alert golfers to several realities. Only New Hampshire residents and course members were permitted to play golf here. During normal times, golfers tend to arrive at a course an hour or more before their scheduled tee times. Then, after completing their rounds, many players would head for the course’s restaurant or bar—lovingly referred to as the 19th hole—to recall the trials and tribulations of the day. 

Under the new policy, only golfers who made a reservation well in advance and paid remotely with a credit card were allowed to play. Golfers were instructed to remain in their cars until 15 minutes before scheduled tee times, then to leave the course immediately after playing. 

Starts were separated by exactly 15 minutes. There was no pre-round practice, as driving ranges and putting greens remained closed to the public. Each golfer was instructed that she/he must ride solo in a sanitized golf cart provided for them by the course, or else walk throughout the round. Beer and beverage carts were not operating. 

Once on the golf course, each member of a group was required to wear a face mask and remain a minimum of six feet apart from playing partners. Golfers handled their own golf clubs. If a wayward shot landed in a sand trap, the player was expected to blast out, then smooth the trap using a golf club because no rakes were provided. The flag or pin that identifies each hole’s location on the green was not to be touched. Instead, the course was required to provide raised cups that prohibited the golfer from reaching deep inside the hole. Furthermore, upon completion of each hole, it was necessary for the golfer to remember her/his score or write it on a piece of scrap paper, as no scorecards or pencils were provided. At the end of the round, golfers were instructed to remove all personal belongings—clubs and bags, clothing, food wrappers, and beverage containers—from their carts. At this point, a member of the course’s staff was to wash and thoroughly disinfect carts. Amazingly, none of this deterred diehards from their appointed rounds.

Much of what was just described changed beginning on Friday, June 5, at precisely 3 pm. This is when the governor implemented the second phase of his COVID response policy. In order to learn more about how this new phase impacted golfers and golf course personnel, I interviewed four people: Kristy Gleason, golf professional at the Donald Ross designed Kingswood Golf Club in Wolfeboro; Jonathan Rivers, golf pro at Indian Mound Golf Club in Ossipee; Barbara Jenkins, co-manager and co-owner of Oak Hill Golf Course in Meredith; and Bob Santos, golf pro at Waukewan Golf Club in Center Harbor.

I learned that all four courses quickly became active after May 11, despite restrictions. However, all golfers—residents and non-residents alike—are now welcome to play on New Hampshire courses. Tee times still must be made in advance; however, golfers now have a choice of paying online or upon arrival at the course. 

Each of the courses I canvassed continues to require golfers to remain in their cars until 15 minutes before beginning their rounds. This regulation is gradually loosening as facilities such as driving ranges, putting greens, and onsite food services are opening to the public.

Playing at these four courses is beginning to resemble traditional golf experiences. The interval between tee times has been reduced from the 12-to-15 minute range to a more normal 10 minutes. While sanitation stations and instructional signage are situated at entrances to restrooms, the regulation about riding solo in golf carts has been relaxed. Some courses, like Indian Mound, prefer that tandem cart usage be limited to people from the same household. One safeguard remains in place, as face masks and six feet of separation during play remain de rigueur for the present. Indian Mound continues to require golfers to wear masks in its clubhouse and restaurant facilities. 

Golfers who have less control over their shot-making and those who are mathematically challenged will be relieved to know that sand trap rakes and pencils and scorecards were permitted as of June 5. Other changes include the removal of those devices that prohibited golfers from reaching into golf holes. 

The professionals and management at each of these courses were happy to welcome the return of their golf leagues. In each case, tee times are required, as opposed to shotgun starts practiced by some leagues. There are two distinct differences from previous seasons: the leagues are smaller and socialization before and after rounds is dramatically reduced. Much like the general golfing public, league golfers are expected to quickly take their belongings, so the golf carts can be thoroughly sanitized for later groups.  

Perhaps the greatest change that has occurred since implementation of Phase 2 is in clubhouse services. Pro shops have reopened and food services are gradually being reinstituted, albeit with safety regulations. As of June 15, Waukewan intends to open its indoor restaurant—with social distancing. Oak Hill has a screened-in outdoor dining area, while Indian Mound is providing full food and beverage services for fewer customers. There is one thing that these four golf courses have in common: Each has food and beverage services, an important part of their businesses. 

Back on the fairways themselves—places where it never rains and even a bad round of golf is better than almost anything else in life—play has resumed, even in the face of this enigmatic pandemic.