Region sees golf clubs open after delayed start to season

ADVANCE FILE PHOTO

By Cole Parkinson
Vauxhall Advance
cparkinson@tabertimes.com

With the province’s announcement to allow golf courses to be reopened across Alberta, the golf clubs in the area are allowing golfers back on the links.

The Taber Golf Club started allowing golfers back on the course on May 4.

While now open, there are a number of regulations that golfers must follow when they do go golfing.

The Taber Golf Club released a new set of regulations which includes practicing social distancing everywhere on the course, one person per cart unless it’s with someone you live with, everyone must have a tee time as there are no walk-ons and they are suggesting to arrive only 10 to 15 minutes before your tee time.

All washrooms on the course will be closed but the washrooms at the clubhouse will be open and be sanitized regularly with only one in at a time.

All flagsticks will remain in and are not to be touched by golfers and all rakes and ball washers will be removed from the course for the time being. The driving range will also be closed for the time.

The restaurant at the club will be takeout only, the pro shop will be open but only one person will be permitted in after they sanitize and wear rubber gloves. The pro shop will also not have any merchandise shopping available for the time being.

Back on the course, sharing of clubs, balls or any other equipment will not be permitted and rental carts will be sanitized after each usage and the club is urging private cart owners to do the same.

Like everywhere else, the club is also discouraging anyone who has flu-like symptoms to stay home.

“We at the TGC are taking COVID-19 very seriously. Anyone not following these rules will be subject to a 30-day playing suspension…no refund. Absolutely no exceptions for anyone,” reads the release from the Taber Golf Club.

To book tee times at the Taber Golf Club, you can call the club at 403-223-2951 or visit tabergolf.ca.

Looking at Vauxhall Golf Club, the course is open to the public today for the first rounds of the season.

“The course is in excellent shape. We are planning to open for green fee players on May 14, members can play now. Rates are increasing slightly for 2020, we will post them soon. We are going to be missing out on some revenue this year including lack of tournaments and delayed casino funds, so we encourage everyone to golf as much as possible, buy memberships, and purchase plenty of food and drinks to support our local course. Restrictions will be in place according to Alberta laws and regulations, which are subject to change due to changing virus conditions/outbreaks. We will try to have some kind of league, but it won’t be a group gathering until that is allowed by the regulations. The restaurant will be open for liquor and takeout, and possibly for dine-in at reduced capacity according to the regulations,” reads a statement on the club’s website.

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