Central Alberta’s snow-covered golf courses are waiting for spring temperatures, and hoping for the thumbs up from Alberta health officials to open during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical health officer, has said that greens and fairways can be maintained by staff, but that golf courses are considered non-essential and have to remain closed for now.
Some golf courses were considering opening when the weather warms up, prior to her announcement.
Mike Kenney, general manager of the Red Deer Golf & Country Club, said associations are working with the province to determine whether courses could open up if rules were in place to protect players and staff.
“I remain optimistic we’ll be golfing sooner, rather than later. Everyone wants to be safe and follow the rules, and so do we. It’s been shown in other jurisdictions we can do it in a safe manner,” said Kenney, citing clubs operating in British Columbia and areas of the United States.
He said food and beverage service could be put on hold at the Red Deer club to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus, and equipment that people touch, such as benches and water coolers, can be removed.
The facility’s 600 members also bring their own clubs, and the size of the course easily allows golfers to stay two metres apart at all times, said Kenney.
“Of all the members we’ve talked to, I think everybody understands the situation, but they’d prefer, obviously, to be golfing if possible.”
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The industry’s lobby group, Alberta Golf, has started a petition to have the game considered an essential service, arguing it’s a safe and manageable activity during the pandemic.
Kenney said no workers have been hired at the course, but minimal staff will be needed to prepare and maintain the grounds. Even without the pandemic, it will take until sometime in May before the snow is gone and the grounds are ready, he said.
“It was a pretty good winter. There was one melt back in November that wasn’t helpful. But right now, it looks like everything is OK.”
Most of the clubhouse staff were laid off, and will receive assistance through an employment insurance program. They will be called back to work as soon as it is possible, said Kenney.
— With files from The Canadian Press
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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