By Rob Kiser
Miami Valley Today
Golf is back.
After the Ohio Health Department reversed course over the weekend, both Miami Shores Golf Course in Troy and Echo Hills Golf Course in Piqua are back open.
Miami Shores opened Wednesday, while Echo Hills will open Thursday.
As reported last week, both golf course did a number of things to make it safer before the golf courses were shut down and those will remain in place.
They include social distancing (golfers remaining six feet apart), no rakes on the golf course for golfers to touch,
At Echo Hills, you will be limited to one per per cart, until they are out of carts.
There are no flagsticks or bunker rakes. Echo Hills also lifted the cup liner several inches about the hole, so that your ball does not go in the hole and you don’t have to reach into the hole to get your ball out.
You must have a tee time to play, and Echo Hills Golf Professional Chip Fox has spread that out to 15 minutes apart.
He has also set aside 9-10 a.m. for seniors only.
He is also limiting how many people can be in the clubhouse.
The only doors unlocked are the west door to the clubhouse and a door near it that leads to the bathroom.
The computer to record you scores in the GHIN system will no longer be in use.
“As long as everyone adheres to the rules we have put in place, we will be fine,” Fox said.
Miami Shores
Miami Shores Golf Professional Kyler Booher is happy to be back open.
“Obviously, we are very happy they have allowed us to be open,” Booher said. “No question, we have put a lot of practices in place (to make things safer) and they have been approved by the Miami County Health Department.”
At Miami Shores, there are no bunker rakes. There are flagsticks, but there is PVC pipe in each hole so the ball doesn’t drop to the bottom and you don’t have to touch the flagstick.
Booher is also limiting contact as much as possible. You can do an online check-in at miamishorestroy.com and the door to the clubhouse is locked, with only one person being allowed in at a time.
Booher has spread the Shores tee times to 10 minutes apart.
Golf.com listed 11 things you shouldn’t do during Corona Virus.
They include the following:
1.Don’t share carts.
2.Don’t remove the pin.
3.Don’t borrow clubs.
4.Don’t borrow accessories.
5.Don’t toss your partner their ball.
6.Don’t toss your partner their ball marker.
7.Don’t exchange cash.
8.Don’t shake hands.
9.Don’t reach into the golf hole.
10.Don’t rent clubs.
11.Don’t hang around the clubhouse.
“We will continue to adhere to all these practices (that have been put in place) for as long as possible,” Booher said.
Now, it is up to the golfers to do their part as well, when it comes to social distancing.
For now, that is the new normal when it comes to the game of golf.
Contact Rob Kiser at [email protected].
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