The Optimist’s Front Nine

A golf hole is raised to prevent the spread of COVID-19

What are the benefits of the pandemic?

By Edward Mate/Photographs by E.J. Carr

THE COLORADO GOLF Association opened CommonGround Golf Course in May of 2009. One month before the course opened, the native area west of the course went up in flames. In September of 2013, a 100-year flood destroyed five holes of the course. And now, a third “natural” disaster has emerged—a global pandemic. It certainly has been a challenging decade!

When this issue of CAG went to press, CommonGround had just reopened for play, as local and state health agencies reconciled their guidelines (at least temporarily) for “COVID-Safe” golf. Writing an article when things are changing so quickly is certainly a risk. So, rather than focusing on what is happening now, or speculating on what may happen in the future, this is a good time to reflect on what we have already learned about our game during this exceptional period of history.

1. GOLF IS BETTER WHEN YOU WALK.

With cart use eliminated or severely limited, golfers are becoming reacquainted with walking. The game is infinitely better on foot in terms of both physical exercise and social benefits. On foot you can converse with everyone in the group (six feet apart of course) and not just your cart partner.

PLAYING IT SAFE: Protective measures during the pandemic include raising the cup to prevent players from contacting the flagstick (top), requiring players to walk and encouraging them to wear protective masks. Enforcing six feet of social distancing presents challenges in a game that traditionally encourages camaraderie but also allows it to continue with new benefits.
PLAYING IT SAFE: Protective measures during the pandemic include raising the cup to prevent players from contacting the flagstick (top), requiring players to walk and encouraging them to wear protective masks. Enforcing six feet of social distancing presents challenges in a game that traditionally encourages camaraderie but also allows it to continue with new benefits.

2. YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO FIX YOUR BALL MARKS.

One of the best things about walking is that you “enter” the green from the front, where the majority of ball marks occur. When you ride in a cart, you are trained to park behind the green and enter it from the rear—you won’t find many ball marks back there and you are unlikely to walk to the front of the green to repair your pitch mark.

3. BUNKERS ARE HAZARDS AGAIN!

The sand bunker was invented to be a hazard—a place you didn’t want to hit your ball. With the elimination of bunker rakes on our “Contactless-COVID-Courses” we have reintroduced the challenge of the imperfect lie! Somewhere, Old Tom Morris is smiling!

4. NO MORE LIP OUTS!

The practice of raising hole liners above the green surface makes “holing” putts much easier. (Remember, you can post scores played with raised cup liners, but you should still use your best judgment to post the score you most likely would have made if a hole were actually there.)

5. “OLD SCHOOL” DIVOT REPAIR.

As a lifelong caddie, it was ingrained in me to replace divots. Then along came sand and seed mix, which has created thousands of “mini-bunkers” in the middle of fairways. Those canisters are now off-limits. For me, there is nothing like the satisfaction of a well-repaired divot.

6. MODERNIZED SCORING.

While I am a proud traditionalist, I have long believed that the best way to keep score is on an electronic device. The elimination of scorecards and pencils has opened the door for paperless scoring. This is particularly convenient with the new GHIN app that allows you to enter your scores hole-by-hole and even track fairways and greens.

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE: Enforced guidelines for workers and golfers at CommonGround and other courses have enabled rounds to continue, albeit in modified ways. Upsides include sanctioned gimmes, no lip-outs and an appreciation for the lost arts of divot and ball-mark repair, as well as for walking the course.
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE: Enforced guidelines for workers and golfers at CommonGround and other courses have enabled rounds to continue, albeit in modified ways. Upsides include sanctioned gimmes, no lip-outs and an appreciation for the lost arts of divot and ball-mark repair, as well as for walking the course.

7. NO SHOTGUN STARTS.

The shotgun start is one of the worst things that ever happened to the game. They require us all to ride in carts and half the field has to start on a 200-yard par 3!

8. LIMITED BEVERAGE CART SERVICE.

I don’t know about you, but I have been known to go without nourishment for up to two hours at a time! Not being asked “Are you doing okay?” every five minutes by a roving server isn’t a bad thing. And last, but certainly not least…

9. GAINING PERSPECTIVE.

The frustration inherent to a game that appears so simple but is infinitely challenging is enough to turn even the mild-tempered into a hothead. But somehow, when we are threatened with something as daunting as a life-threatening disease, the consequence of a less-than-perfect golf shot doesn’t seem so bad.

I hope that this issue of CAG finds us with a flattened curve and progress toward a vaccine. We will survive, but sometimes a reminder of what really matters is just what the doctor ordered.

Just remember to play it safe out there!


This article was also featured in the May 2020 issue of Colorado AvidGolfer.

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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