Country Oaks General manager Trey Miller shows off the credit-card swiper at the driving range eliminating human contact and increasing for those who want to hit range balls. Staff photo by Todd Lancaster
Sometimes golf doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Not only is it one of the oldest and most popular recreational activities in America — the governor of Indiana has now deemed it necessary to health and recreation.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb mandated that golf courses can remain open as they promote safe and healthy recreation, and Country Oaks general manager Trey Miller has been doing his part to uphold the governor’s confidence.
Country Oaks, just outside of Montgomery, has had to undergo some changes in the way they do business during the COVID19 outbreak, but Miller believes that the changes will help keep everyone safe and still allow the public an opportunity to get out and play.
“Our play is down about 50% in March but that was expected,” said Miller. “About half of our regulars simply haven’t left home, while the others just couldn’t wait to come out and do something in a way that allows them to stay healthy. Some folks just want to find a reason get out of the house.”
The changes have come inside the pro shop and on the course.
“In the pro shop, we are asking people to call in and use their credit cards before they come out. We are also trying to be vigilant about wiping down common surfaces. It is really natural to come into a golf shop and pick up the clubs, so we are trying to wipe down anything that gets picked up,” said Miller. “We aren’t preparing any food either or putting communal water jugs out on the course.”
Miller added that they are trying to limit the amount of people in the pro shop to six at any one time. The course is also using technology to handle some human contact. The driving range now has a credit card swipe strip so people don’t even have to come into the course to get range balls.
“You just have to swipe your card at the ball machine. We still have some range ball baskets, but we are also going to nylon bags so they can be washed. It is just one more way we are trying to limit contact right now. Down the road it will be helpful for someone who wants to come out early or late and hit balls when the pro shop is closed.”
Although the course is a basically wide open and it is easy to maintain the six-foot minimum distance, Miller has made some changes there as well.
“We are asking people to leave the flagstick in (a new rule was passed by the USGA recently to make it legal in competition as well) and we are putting foam in the cup as well, so you don’t have to reach down into the cup as far. We also have removed racks from the traps.”
Another recommendation is that players take individual carts. Miller said it is not mandated yet, but it is a recommendation.
“We feel that we are very lucky to be able to keep our doors open right now, so we want to do everything possible to ensure that we can continue to,” added Miller. “There were a couple of courses north of Indianapolis last week who were not following rules and their mayor shut them down until they complied.”
Miller also serves as the Washington High School golf coach and is looking forward to the spring season returning.
“Right now, I can’t have any coaching contact with them, but we have had a lot of high school kids come out and work on their own,” said Miller. “These kids are really missing golf, but the nice thing is they can come out and get better on their own. They walk and that eliminates the cart issues, and I hope that we are back in action around May 1. The truth is I think once things ‘get back to normal’ I think we are going to have a really good second half of the golf season. We have people calling out here just wanting to talk to someone different. We have leagues that will be starting up in April and we are going to work with them on social distancing as well once that happens. Folks seem like they really have an itch to start playing again and we want to be able to help them in a safe and responsible way.”
© 2024 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.