While this is my first stint as Marshall at this club this is its second season operating within COVID.
Business has always been booming at this club but it has hit maximum booming during COVID as venues for team sports have been mostly closed this outdoor individual sport is drawing out ex-golfers out of their confinement and boredom. The result is there are many less than proficient golfers on the links slowing the pace for more experienced golfers. In fact they are referred to as “COVID Golfers” with less than glowing acceptance by the slim cadre of good golfers. I suppose “good golfers” in a recreational sense are those that routinely break 90 over 18 holes.
In Ontario a government shutdown closed golf courses from April 17 to May 22 of 2021 despite the recommendation of the Ontario Heath Table medico-elite to keep courses opened. More Ontario Conservative government mishandling of COVID. Well they did reopen before staged re-opening of the economy due to public pressure. Golf is a passion of thousands of Ontarians and mess with passion you are in trouble in both love and politics. One must admit there was political pressure to open golf courses two weeks early on April 1st then closing them on April 17! People are in the open, tee offs are spaced further apart to create less jam-ups, only 4 people are allowed in the pro-shop at anytime , masking is mandatory in enclosed spaces, food concessions were closed to name a few COVID “safety measures”.
In short COVID has increased demand for golf and golfers are so happy to be back after the April 17th closure they seem more patient as so many are happy to be out in the fresh air and lest we forget the cart girl s out selling beer and food. A travelling restaurant not restricted to take out.
Now as the economy opened the miserable excuse for a restaurant opened at my club. Golfers became more impatient, carts continued to remain improperly sanitized, flags could not be lifted on the greens and ball washers remained covered up. The competition remained intense for the 84 foursomes with 500 people daily vying for them.
In short COVID brought the bedbugs out of the mattress. It could be the beginning the revitalization of golf in Canada. Could there be a very long hesitancy for the jam packed crowds of spectators at sporting events, movie theatres, restaurants and airplanes? Give it a year or two fear of the Contagion will be but a memory to rear its head for the next generation?
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 