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Golfers hope to hit the links as rumours swirl around possible course openings

'If we are allowed, we would be open to members on Saturday, see how that goes and then open further to the public on Sunday,' says Tangle Creek GM

With Premier Doug Ford teeing up an announcement Thursday, local golfers are shining their clubs in anticipation.

Ford is expected to reopen Ontario’s golf courses, which had been closed due to COVID-19. 

While it is unknown if the courses will be open in time for the Victoria Day long weekend, the folks at Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club, located just west of the Barrie city limits, say they’re ready to go if that's the case.

Tangle Creek general manager Richard Edmonds told BarrieToday that should golf be cleared to play, it's a game where precautions would be easy to implement.

“There have been measurements in place for eons that make golf one of the most prepared things to do, long before this current situation,” Edmonds said. “Besides the obvious social distancing, the one feature that sticks out is the scattered tee times and schedules.”

Edmonds says there have been rumblings of a possible opening and should they be able to, Tangle Creek would be ready to open this weekend.

“If we are allowed, we would be open to members on Saturday, see how that goes and then open further to the public on Sunday," he said. "All of that is dependent on whatever the announcement from the government is."

Two weeks ago, the Ford government said golf courses could prepare to open.

Tangle Creek brought in some additional staff to help cut the grass and maintain the course in the meantime.

On Tuesday, Ford said he would release details on the next phase of reopening the province on Thursday.

Retail stores have already been allowed to reopen for curbside pickup and delivery, while hardware stores and garden centres were permitted to have in-store customers.

Barrie resident Geoff Chesson, who has been golfing since he was eight years old, says he wasn’t going to initially go out this weekend, even if the go-ahead was given, but got talked into it.

“I don’t usually golf on the weekends and I was thinking I’d go out next week if they opened,” Chesson said. “But I actually just got a call from a friend of mine who convinced me to go as soon as we could.”

Chesson agrees with Edmonds in that there's no more perfect game for physical distancing than golf. And it may even help many people keep in shape due to other possible restrictions.

“I’ve heard that one thing may be that carts aren’t used, which would mean a lot more walking the course,” he said. “I’m all for that. I think it's a great idea. It would help promote staying healthy and getting out for fresh air.”

Earlier this week, the province extended its COVID-19 state of emergency to June 2. The state of emergency is dealt with separately from the emergency orders, recently extended to May 19, which cover the closure of bars and restaurants, except for take-out and delivery, as well as theatres, child-care centres, and outdoor amenities, such as playgrounds.