Changes to the game from Covid-19

[BlackDiamondPar5]

9 hours ago, elwhippy said:

Weak handshake insincere. Strong handshake honest and professional. 

While that's certainly a popular opinion it's far from a good measure. Plenty of guys with firm handshakes that are shysters and would steal the watch off your arm. 

 

Also known plenty of people that give dead fish handshakes that are the kindess, most hard working, honorable people. 

 

Personally I'd prefer a genuine expression of words saying something akin to "a pleasure playing with you today" over a firm handshake and walk away. 

 

Heck some cultures don't shake hands at all. 

 

Also no reason to get some guys germs by touching his hand. 

[Need4spd]

I still shake hands with anyone and everyone who is willing, and there are still quite a few (at least 50%). I also judge a man based on his handshake. No, it’s not a total referendum on his character, but it’s a bit of a tell. Fortunately, I do not believe any of these stupid practices that we have adopted will last. 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

1 hour ago, Need4spd said:

I still shake hands with anyone and everyone who is willing, and there are still quite a few (at least 50%). I also judge a man based on his handshake. No, it’s not a total referendum on his character, but it’s a bit of a tell. Fortunately, I do not believe any of these stupid practices that we have adopted will last. 

Stupid practices? Sounds like Monday morning QB. Do tell. 

Edited January 25, 2021 by BlackDiamondPar5

[Need4spd]

14 hours ago, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

Stupid practices? Sounds like Monday morning QB. Do tell. 

I don’t think it’s necessary for me to list out all of the practices that have been adopted, on and off the golf course, in the last 10 months. It’s just my opinion that they are stupid, that’s all.

[scomac2002]

The courses I played at last year had dividers in the carts.  Those will stay as long as the pandemic is with us.

 

I suspect that it will basically be the same set of rules that we used last year to be carried forward for this year.  I anticipate that there will be people playing while wearing masks as this is the new recommendation -- wear masks outdoors when in close quarters.  It's shouldn't be an issue with golf, but some will want to be extra cautious.  The foam donut in the cup will definitely be staying.

 

In terms of post round ritual, we either elbow bumped or more frequently crossed sticks (putters) and then gave the usual salutation; nice playing with you.

 

In terms of permanent changes I believe that the numbers will bare out that pace of play is better with wider spaced tee times.  The club I work at went from 8 minute intervals to 10.  They had a record number of rounds played last season despite 20% fewer tee times throughout the day.  No one would have believed it!  That's something that needs to stay.

[RobotDoctor]

I am hopeful a return to the old social norms will happen.  Humans are naturally social beings and there seems to be a psychological benefit for social interactions.  At the end of the day I am still able to play Golf and enjoy other people's company.  I am thankful that Golf is still part of my life.

[Sean2]

Can't remember the last time I shook hands with anyone. As far as the flag stick goes, I didn't/don't mind it staying in. I walked all my rounds last season, and for the most part what I saw was 1 rider per cart, until the end of the season where some kind of divider was put between the two people in the cart. 

 

Not sure what this season will bring with regards to golf. Right now the wind chill is below zero and there is snow on the ground, so it isn't a priority, lol. 

[mantan]

I'm actually OK with the post round fist bump being the norm going forward.  I've played with too many guys who broke off to take a leak in the woods then stick their hand out to shake it at the end of the round.

 

Shaking hands isn't really hygienic, it's just a long standing custom that we have.  You can show the same appreciation and respect at the end of a round by taking off our hat and giving a fist bump.  (I'm still gonna wash my hands when I get in the clubhouse though...)

 

 

[The Mad Bomber]

To be honest, while the measures were largely still in place at the end of the season last year where I am, they were also largely ignored, save for the flag stick. I'm a walker, but people were back to 2 per cart, lots of people shaking hands after the round, the arrows showing the preferred direction of traffic in the clubhouse was basically forgotten and the some did in fact take the flag stick out to putt. People still sat down at the bench at the halfway house and are their hotdogs together while they waited for the 10th fairway to clear. I would imagine rakes will come back this year and the flag stick will be "allowed" to be removed. Granted, I live in a tiny community and people don't care too much about covid rules out here. I imagine it must be far different in the cities. My home track is a nice reprieve from the constant bombardment of covid related news in everywhere you look these days.

[zebra2955]

I will still leave the flag in,I got to like it.  I just hope rakes make acome back

[Cliffy2020]

At some point, common sense will prevail.

[BigTerf]

On 1/30/2021 at 7:16 PM, zebra2955 said:

I will still leave the flag in,I got to like it.  I just hope rakes make acome back

I really did start to like putting with the flag in too, but I had a round later in the year where my group did take the flag out and I had totally forgotten how amazing the sound is when the ball goes into the hole, all the way down, with no flag!  So satisfying!  For pace of play and nobody questioning the group on how do you take it (in or out), the timing of it really was uncanny.

 

For whatever does end up staying for Covid rules, I am just glad we got to play golf in 2020 amid all of the craziness.

Edited March 23, 2021 by BigTerf

[Stinger83]

Hopefully we will never have to deal with these "flag foam bumpers" around the holes ever again. The sound of the ball dropping in the cup is one of my favorite things so I hate the foam bumpers. 

 

Also

[bladehunter]

All of those changes have gone back to normal on our course here in SC except water coolers.  I suspect they’ll come back when the heat does. 
 

we got bunker rakes back a couple weeks ago , haven’t seen 1 person to a cart in 6 months , and we’ve shook hands now  for about 6 months.  Still a mix of pin out pin in people . 

[MtlJeff]

If i had to guess now as we get closer, i'd bet all of last year's changes stick around for 1 more year in Quebec. Haven't heard that for sure but i'd just bet on that

 

I'd rather put with the flag out but it's not a big deal

 

The no rakes in bunkers actually makes the game easier as you can pick and place as a local rule. 

 

We'll see. 

[Abh159]

1 hour ago, bladehunter said:

All of those changes have gone back to normal on our course here in SC except water coolers.  I suspect they’ll come back when the heat does. 
 

we got bunker rakes back a couple weeks ago , haven’t seen 1 person to a cart in 6 months , and we’ve shook hands now  for about 6 months.  Still a mix of pin out pin in people . 

 

For the most part it's the same at my club with the exception of our water coolers are back out on the course, but the bunker rakes are not. I can't tell you how ready I am for the rakes to be back out there. 

 

My club did 1 to a cart for about 3 months and then stopped. I'm sure part of it was just due to a lack of carts. It's not really realistic to expect a club to order dozens of new carts when he demand is a short term thing.

 

As far as the OP's changes go... I don't see any of them lasting past the rest of this year at most. 

[jimb6golf]

Still all the social distancing regulations in effect in my area outside Boston.  I don't mind the flagstick being kept in, but it does affect putts at times along with the nerf in the hole (balls will bounce out at times).  Miss having raked bunkers during the day.  Carts are still single person in some places and others have dividers and others still give you the flexibility to choose.  As I walk it hasn't been too much different overall.  No having lunch after a round though as most people just want to play and leave afterwards.  Hopefully with all the vaccines being given a more normal routine will return sometime later this summer.  Let's hope at least.

[Quasimoto]

As far as the end of round niceties went last year we used to tap putter shafts with each other and express whatever we would express.

I saw a number of people bump elbows which I thought was quite strange because the recommended protocol to cough or sneeze is to contain it in your elbow. Is it just me?

I found my putting suffered somewhat from the flags staying in the holes, it is my preference to take it out no matter how long the putt unless it is on an upper tier and I can’t see the hole. On shorter putts the flagstick came into play because I never felt I could hit the putt as fast as I’d like without risking the stick kicking it away.

We played 1 to a cart until September and then it was back to 2 as long as both were in a circle of friends and agreed.

 

Hopefully this season has more latitude to the protocols.

[Warrior42111]

Here in the wild west of Florida everything is pretty much back to normal golf wise. Only thing I have noticed is that a few courses do not plan to bring water coolers back. Seems like a money grab to me.

 

Majority of courses have rakes back and pull-able pins. You can opt to ride alone for an up-charge, since that do is more money I assume that will stay.

[Oufcfan]

In England, we will continue to have most of the Covid rules in place until the middle of June, at the earliest. No touching flags, little rings in the cups (we have a little plastic ring that sits on top of a small amount of foam, so when the ball drops in, the ring tilts. This seems the best solution). No rakes, no shaking hands, one to a buggy, although we don’t have many anyway. Booked tee times, when we usually don’t have tee times at my club. 
 

I can live with all of these though. I suspect more people will keep the flag in going forwards and shaking hands is probably gone for good. 
 

I bought one of the little rake heads that clips on to the grip of the club, so I’ve been raking all of my bunkers anyway.

 

5 more days, just 5 more days.....

[Hellstorm]

Those dividers to separate the cart riders was the worst.  I despise those things.

[nuthin but a hacker]

Early last year courses around here were doing the foam in the cup, 1 rider per cart, no rakes, no water coolers, and plexiglass at the counters. All of that lasted into the fall. But thankfully the only thing that remains in effect today are plexiglass dividers at the counter at a couple of courses. People got too used to having their own cart but as soon as they started having to pay extra for that convenience, it stopped. 
 

We played with strangers nearly every weekend last summer with no fear. If someone put their hand out to shake, I would shake their hand. Now if things would return to normal at work, I’d be great. 

[sheppy335]

We are back to 2 per cart, no foam rings, rakes are back also. We leave Flag in when putting, have done it for years. 

[MrJones]

Our course is back to normal other than water coolers. We've still been giving one cart per rider if they request it. Starting in May, you may still request to ride alone but you'll have to pay 1.5 times the normal cart rate to do so.

 

I'm actually OK with the no water on the course because all the courses I've played say absolutely nothing about you openly bringing your own drinks to the course right now.

[Quasimoto]

On 4/22/2021 at 1:43 PM, longjohnpeter said:

 

 

On 3/23/2021 at 8:08 AM, Warrior42111 said:

Here in the wild west of Florida everything is pretty much back to normal golf wise. Only thing I have noticed is that a few courses do not plan to bring water coolers back. Seems like a money grab to me.

 

Majority of courses have rakes back and pull-able pins. You can opt to ride alone for an up-charge, since that do is more money I assume that will stay.

 

The whole water cooler thing surprises me that they are still used on courses. It has been more than 10 years that I have seen a water cooler in Alberta or Ontario and it is due to the regulations for their use. The course must follow a cleaning protocol that includes bleach at the end of each day for all water coolers. So they they just stopped providing them.

[Cliffy2020]

23 hours ago, Quasimoto said:

 

 

The whole water cooler thing surprises me that they are still used on courses. It has been more than 10 years that I have seen a water cooler in Alberta or Ontario and it is due to the regulations for their use. The course must follow a cleaning protocol that includes bleach at the end of each day for all water coolers. So they they just stopped providing them.

Exact reason why I invested in a nice cart bag with a built in cooler years ago.   Technically beer is 90+% water right?  

[Quasimoto]

19 hours ago, Cliffy2020 said:

Exact reason why I invested in a nice cart bag with a built in cooler years ago.   Technically beer is 90+% water right?  

Exactly. And average whiskey is also 60% water so why would you put ice or other liquid in it?

[charli]

Nothing will become permanent. It’s just for the time being