Playing golf is an ‘essential’ activity. But only if you swing with social distancing
One of the top recreation activities for Floridians is golf.
Courses dot the Sunshine State all over and Manatee County is no different. The sport has a long history, from the amateur to the professional ranks, in the area.
March and April are still part of the tourist season that sees many courses jammed with players paying stiff rates.
With the novel coronavirus pandemic ongoing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home executive order last week to limit Floridians to essential services and activities beginning April 3 and lasting 30 days.
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners voted Friday to impose a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night with an allowance for residents on essential business.
Among the essential activities, golf is included as long as social distancing guidelines are practiced, Manatee County information outreach manager Nick Azzara said in a statement.
“That means limiting one person to a golf cart which has become the temporary policy at both Manatee and Buffalo Creek golf courses,” Azzara said.
Social distancing guidelines call for maintaining a six-foot distance from each player and only one person to a cart. Courses such as The River Club and Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbour have adhered to that policy, while the city of Bradenton’s course, River Run Golf Links, has closed amid the COVID-19 crisis.
That altered the course’s annual Clint Wright Memorial Two-Man Combo tournament, which was scheduled for April 18-19. Instead, it was postponed until June 13-14.
The county’s two courses are among 11 in Florida — and seven in Manatee or Sarasota County — under Pope Golf’s management.
Other public or private courses are “expected to put in place their own restrictions to limit gatherings,” Azzara said.
“It’s largely a self-policing action that’s meant to reinforce state and federal guidelines and to let the public know that these guidelines are not to be ignored,” Azzara said in a statement. “If Manatee County residents think they see a serious violation of the emergency resolution or the Governor’s Executive Orders currently in place, we’re asking them to call our local violation hotline at (941) 748-2071 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. On evenings and weekends, they can contact Manatee Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (941) 747-3011, ext. 2260.”
