Well, the time is almost upon us to hit the links. Because of COVID-19, all golf courses in Ontario have been closed since last fall (Well since mid-March for COVIC-19 and winter for the rest). Now we await patiently for the government to give us the thumbs up. And last Friday, Premier Doug Ford told golf courses to start full scale maintenance and to prepare for opening day! This is great news for all golfers in Ontario.
Continue readingCOVID-19
COVID-19 Golf Solutions
I applaud entrepreneurs who are thinking of ways to overcome the challenges golfers face during this current pandemic. One of the greatest concerns is the handling of the flagstick on every hole. Obviously, as a golfer I do not want to touch the flagstick at all and require a solution for removing my ball from the hole. What is a golfer to do?
Continue readingThe Amazing Spirit of A Small Community
I recently moved to the small town of Mattawa, Ontario. It is my wife’s hometown and our decision was driven by the desire to be closer to family. Over the years, I have visited this beautiful town that was built around the junction of the Mattawa and Ottawa rivers. The scenery is fantastic, especially in the fall, but I never really understood the pride of so many of the people who live in Mattawa. That is until I moved here!
Continue readingIs The Golf Industry In Trouble Amid This Current Crisis?
In Canada, like many parts of the world, golf courses are closed. Touted as a possible breeding ground for the COVID-19 disease, government officials at all levels have decided to close these facilities. This decision is a positive step to #flattenthecurve, however the powers to be should not make blanket decisions the will crush the future of the golf industry so they will have a chance to survive at the end of this very difficult journey.
Continue readingCOVID-19 and Temporary Golf Rules
I purposely have refrained from talking about COVID-19 because I believe there are way more qualified people who should be heard from. All I can say is that I am doing my part by staying home as much as possible and practicing social distancing. Having said that, golf season is quickly approaching and courses in my area might be open as early as three weeks. If that is the case, I will have to make some decisions on whether to hit the links or wait it out. We will call that a game day decision.
In the meantime, the R&A and USGA have temporarily modified some of the rules to address the COVID-19 challenges from playing golf to level out the playing field during competition. Before I give my opinion on these efforts, I thought it important to outline the modifications.
Continue reading
The Grateful Golfer 