The Nanaimo Golf Club is set to re-open to members only on Saturday, April 18 after nearly a month closure. It joins other courses who are also resuming business. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

TEE OFF

Nanaimo & area golf clubs re-open under strict COVID restrictions

Apr 18, 2020 | 6:44 AM

NANAIMO — Area golf clubs are seeing a window of opportunity as the world comes to grips with the new normal of social distancing.

Several courses have re-opened or plan to resume play under strict social distancing procedures, after closing in March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit British Columbia.

Nanaimo Golf Club plans to re-open the course to members only beginning Saturday, April 18 under “strict conditions and procedures to limit the spread of the virus,” according to the club’s website.

Players will be required to sign a waiver prior to teeing off and refrain from shaking hands or other direct contact on the course.

Ryan Woods, GM of Nanaimo Golf Club said in a video posted on the club’s website the course will also employ marshalls to aid play and ensure rules are followed.

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“They’ll be filling divots, raking bunkers, monitoring social distancing, cleaning washrooms and making sure everyone is enjoying their time on the course,” Woods said.

Woods told NanaimoNewsNOW the club laid off 30 people during the closure and have since bought nine back to aid in the limited re-opening.

“We will be handling the opening of the facility in phases and initially it will be members only,” Woods said. “Guests will be welcomed back in the near future but no timeline has been put into place yet.”

Eaglequest Golf Centre in Nanaimo opened a week prior on Sunday, April 12.

Ian McDonald, GM and Head Pro said they instituted proper social distancing measures and dealt with a strong flow of people during their grand re-opening.

“We’re keeping safe physical distancing of two metres inside the shop, we’re only allowing two people inside at one time,” McDonald said. “The golf course groupings are to a twosome. (If) you can prove to me you’re within the same family, I’ll allow a foursome to go out.”

Driving range mats at the course are already 10 feet apart, meeting distancing regulations by default.

“We’re taking the precautions we need to, to stay safe. We’re disinfecting the range balls after every pickup and cycling through the cleaning system…just another precaution,” McDonald said.

McDonald admitted the re-opening was testing the waters for operating a business in the COVID climate.

He said he hopes things will return to normal soon, however the course will do whatever it takes to remain operating while respecting and enforcing social distancing practices.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley