How U-M Golf Courses Resumed Operations Amid Global Pandemic
5/28/2020 10:00:00 AM | General, Men's Golf, Women's Golf, Features
By Brad Rudner
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Resuming sports in a COVID-19 world is understandably a complex issue. One of the sports that is finding its way back quicker than most is one that naturally has a lot of social distancing already caked in.
Back on May 1, the University of Michigan Golf Course and the course at Radrick Farms both opened for the season, one week after Governor Gretchen Whitmer allowed golf courses across the state to begin operations.
It was welcomed news, of course. People have been cooped up in their homes for two months as part of the stay-at-home order, and with the weather (finally) beginning to turn for the better, the idea of getting back out on the course gave avid golfers a chance to return to something normal when so much of everyday life remains anything but.
Even still, simply allowing players back was not that easy. After news of the governor's order came down, many neighboring courses opened back up the next day. U-M took its time -- because it had to.
'We wanted to do it right,' said Rob Rademacher, Executive Senior Associate AD and Chief Operating Officer for Michigan Athletics. 'The reason for our pause was to make sure that everybody involved was moving in the same direction, that we could do this and do it right. Nobody said no.
'I think there's a public good to it of us opening. You know what, if we can safely provide some recreational opportunities for the community and it's legal and safe, why wouldn't we partake in it?'
A modified hole
Many facets of the university had a say in the decision, from Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) to medical personnel to legal counsel. Once the decision to open was made, the next step was to determine what additional guidelines needed to be added to ensure safety for both players and employees.
Rademacher went to Corbin Todd, Director of the University of Michigan Golf Courses, to figure out what a golf round looks like for a customer in a social-distancing world. They fielded suggestions from their own staffs, bounced ideas off groundskeepers at other golf courses around the state and around the Big Ten Conference, and ran every single suggestion by EHS.
Darryl Conway, Senior Associate AD and Chief Health & Welfare Officer for Michigan Athletics, also provided input to Rademacher around the "'return to work" piece for employees. Todd has his employees wear masks if they are indoors in close proximity to others. If they are outside, they work staggered shifts and are assigned to specific areas to prevent multiple people from using the same piece of equipment or machinery.
During the lockdown, Todd and his staffs were doing basic, minimal operations to uphold the value of the courses so they would be ready to go when they were given the green light. Some bunkers that were earmarked for upgrades were not finished. Greens were cut only once or twice per week.
To begin the season, knowing full well that information changes daily, they came up with the following guidelines for all players:
• Tee times must be booked in advance over the phone, and payment is required at booking.
• Golf carts are available for single riders only unless there are two players from the same household.
• Carts are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each round.
• No clubhouse access.
• No rental clubs.
• Flagsticks are not to be touched or moved. Small foam noodles, like those seen in a swimming pool, have been fitted around each flagstick to prevent the ball from dropping all the way into the hole.
• There are no ball washers, benches, bunker rakes or water coolers on the course.
• Players are instructed to arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to their tee time. Gathering in groups before rounds is prohibited.
Every day brings changes and new questions with it. One of the big ones -- food service -- was resolved as of last Friday (May 22). The Petrovich Grill at the UMGC began serving a variety of grab-and-go items from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Petrovich Family grill is open daily from 11am to 5pm serving delicious grab-and-go food and drinks. Stop by and see them at the turn! @MichiganDining pic.twitter.com/nSI3LWvbgt
— University of Michigan Golf Course (@umichgolfcourse) May 22, 2020
So far, the reaction to all of it has been overwhelmingly positive.
"'People are eager to get out," said Todd. "'If the weather is nice, our tee sheets are full. Most people are thrilled. You have the outliers who wish everything was normal, but for the most part, people are glad to have an opportunity to do something and are glad we're doing it safely."
In a normal year, an estimated 50,000 rounds are played between the two courses. The weather this spring, combined with the restrictions implemented by the stay-at-home order, ensured that the season started later. They may not reach that mark this year, but so long as progress continues to be made and the demand remains, Todd figures they will not lose that many rounds.
In the meantime, Rademacher and Todd will continue to follow the guidelines put forth by state and local public health officials. If they continue to ease restrictions, expect the golf courses to follow safely behind.
To book a tee time at the University of Michigan Golf Course, call the golf shop at (734) 615-4653. For more information, go to umgolfcourse.umich.edu.
To learn about membership rates at Radrick Farms, go to radrick.umich.edu or call (734) 998-7040.
