Really frustrating… Two of the parks we’ve taken our kids to in the GR area aren’t options for us at this point because they’re so crowded. My favorite is big groups… wait for it… playing disc golf! No distancing. Touching each other’s frisbees, etc.
Seems like opening up golf courses would be an ok option.
Initial thoughts: Don’t touch flagstick, Shallow cups pay online,12 mins between tee times, minimal starting/ranger staff, no f & b staff…
To piggy back course could limit tee times to the afternoon. Would allow the essential maintenance crew to get in there do what they need and then get out, so no overlap.
I’ve witnessed multiple instances of “allowed” activities that people don’t or won’t practice the requested distancing that we are able to do on a golf course. As far as solutions:
Online tee times/pre-payment only, walking only, no F&B, no touching flags (take em out if you need to - but the inserts were helpful), no bag staff. No bunker rakes.
As far as maintenance staff - I do see some of the concerns there, courses can (not saying they all do) have staffs easily over 20 people and gathering for morning starts all in the same place could be a problem, but there’s also ways around this by spacing out shifts: AM/PM, have a system that the Sup develops a work plan for the day, assigns jobs sends text or email the night before so those staff members come in, virtually punch in if necessary and go right to their machine/equipment. That equipment is then wiped down appropriately at the end of the day as they’re cleaning the equipment like happens daily anyways. OR: limit the staff to do the bare minimum. No one who’s looking to get out right now should be expecting pristine conditions. Mow less often, don’t roll greens as often either. A little shag is more than acceptable right now. don’t use bunker rake machines.
sorry for the long winded answer - clearly I’m frustrated like a lot of people. just don’t understand why I can go to a state park, walk down a path next to 45 of my new closest friends. Keep in mind for the runners and bikers out there - theres now data coming out that the heavy expiration during exercise has a much wider dispersion so if a runner passes you - it could make you more likely to get COVID. But the gov doesn’t mention that.
It seems fine but there is more to it than this.
You need maintenance staff for equipment. Equipment takes gas and so does driving to the course. Not everyone actually follows the rules!
It’s a “stay at home” order and it’s for three more weeks (at the moment). It’s fine, golf can wait. It’s an epidemic and, outside of NYC, Wayne County is being hit harder than anywhere in the country.
Hi,
Just dipping my toes in the water here at NLU. I live on the right side of the Detroit/Windsor border. 
I play quite a bit of my rounds in MI, specifically the AA area.
Sucks that everything is on pause everywhere right now. A good friend of mine owns a track and manages a couple others and is frustrated beyond belief about the inconsistencies state to state for golf. It can absolutely be managed through. Best of luck to all course staff and those players anxious to get out.
Cheers!
According to the order from the governor you shouldn’t be doing these things either. All of the parks near me that I’ve seen have been closed by the city.
I’m not-but people still are.
I know of A LOT of courses that maintenance staff are still going in every day. Public and Private both.
Look - I 100% fall in the “At risk” category. Not only does my wife work in healthcare, in an Emergency room no less, but 6.5 years ago I received a kidney transplant, so I have a severely compromised immune system. But I know I can more than manage to get in to my vehicle (or better yet walk out my back door) go to a course, get out, touch NOTHING on the way to the first tee and enjoy a nice walk while not getting anywhere close to another human for 4 hours.
I don’t doubt that you are capable of this. HOWEVA
Know what I mean? It’s three weeks. There are far more important things going on.
I do know what you mean HOWEVA
I don’t need any explanations on its 3 weeks. OR how bad it is. I see it in my wife’s eyes every night when she walks through the door after another 12 hour shift. The purpose of my original answer was to offer solutions to someones question. And Staff’s are still doing it regardless. As are the general public.
i’m gonna get back to looking at lefty gear that i want to buy.
I assumed after Michigan closed non-essential businesses GAM lobbied really hard for maintenance crews to keep working to preserve courses. Then after the state approved that, GAM probably asked to be able to keep having customers too. At which point the state probably laughed.
I know there is nuance in playing golf vs going to a crowded park. And I know there’s little to no interaction between golfers and maintenance staff. But name another non-essential business that is allowed to have BOTH employees and customers right now.
I think golf is the best means fo social distancing. I tried to go hiking last weekend and you couldn’t get away from people! Also, people who don’t want to social distance are going to keep doing what they are doing. Let the people play! I just hope all is fine by mid may so I can go play The Loop!
Not sure if this was already posted, but it’s worth a shot…
This is excellent news, if true. As mentioned in that article, I really did not understand how the AGs office could actually enforce “walking” on private property.
Anybody here have experience with a fitting at Carl’s Golfland in Bloomfield Hills? I’ve been going to this store since I was but a child but haven’t had any experience with fittings or even lessons. How are the fitters there?
I did it last spring to get new clubs after deciding I wanted to get back into golf. I had a good experience but it was my first fitting experience. 2 sessions and lots of trackman data. I’ll do it again when the time is right.
No experience with the fitters at Carl’s, sorry.
I have had both an iron fitting and driver fitting at Miles of Golf in Ann Arbor, though. Very good experience each time if you need another alternative.
Ive been fit multiple times at both Carls and Miles. My default is Miles - I’m a lefty and I’ve always had great experience there. Carls has been good as well, beautiful facility, and they have some great fitters there as well, I’ve just had consistently better experiences at Miles, specifically with Sean fitting me.
