Fifty-eight percent of golf courses in the U.S. were open for play in the week ended April 26 with 80 percent expected to be open by May 3, according to the National Golf Foundation’s most recent COVID-19 survey.
The survey was based on surveys of 1,252 golf facilities, primarily conducted from April 21 to 23. The survey showed 49 percent of golf courses were open as of April 19.
Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin opened during the week ended April 26. Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada and Pennsylvania were expected to open by May 3..
By May 10, 85 percent of golf courses are expected to be open with the state of Washington expected to open. By May 17, 90 percent of golf courses are expected to be open with New Hampshire by then expected to open.
NGF said in its report, “With Wisconsin and Michigan courses permitted to allow play as of April 24 (at the operators’ discretion with strict safety protocols), the East North Central region saw an immediate surge in its percentage of open courses last week. It’s a noticeable increase in golf-rich geography and will likely only continue to trend upward as more facilities in those states resume operations and more than 650 Illinois courses are allowed to reopen for business on May 1.
“The Mid Atlantic also saw a noteworthy rise in facility openings before Pennsylvania and New Jersey overturned government mandates prohibiting golf, as more and more New York courses allow play with limitations that include no carts and no open clubhouses. This region, too, stands to see a noticeable increase in the future as Pennsylvania has given the okay for golf courses to begin reopening starting May 1 and New Jersey the following day.
“The eased restrictions on golf in at least 10 California counties has additionally led to an increase in openings in the Pacific region.”
Photo courtesy TPC Piper Glen
