As we slowly get back to normal in our Golf Operations Department, a return to pre-COVID-19 golf cart rules and limited in-door clubhouse seating will begin on Saturday, May 1st, 2021.
Cart Rules
To protect our golf courses during the turf transition process, the following cart rules will be put into place. These rules will help limit the number of carts in each group thus reducing the wear and tear in both the fairway and rough areas.
The number of players determine the number of 4-wheeled carts permitted in each group:
- 1 cart equals 1 or 2 players
- 2 carts equals 3 to 4 players
- 3 carts equals 4 players – one player with a medical request (flag)
Motorized two-wheel carts may be added to each of the examples above which will increase the number of carts in each group. Example: A twosome may have 1 four-wheeled cart and 1 two-wheeled cart in the group and be in compliance.
Carts are to be kept at LEAST 30 feet from all tees and greens. Please stay on paths near greens and tee boxes when possible.
Carts are NOT to be driven between greens and bunkers as well as marked off areas regardless of a golfer’s medical condition or privileges.
Fleet carts MUST stay out of the desert areas. Personal carts may cut thru desert areas if they don’t damage the golf course or create a hazardous situation.
Medical flag authorizations may be renewed/updated at Golf Operations offices.
If golf course conditions warrant “CART PATH ONLY”, this rule will apply to ALL golfers. Medical flag privileges DO NOT allow the golfer to get off the path.
Golf carts are restricted to TWO occupants and their equipment. (All golfers must have their own set of clubs. Sharing clubs in NOT permitted).
Indoor Seating
Limited indoor seating will be allowed at our golf courses. Size of the pro-shop will determine the number of tables and chairs available for available seating. Existing patio chairs and tables will NOT be allowed to be moved indoors nor will additional tables and chairs be added until later this spring/summer.
You can not guarantee me that the other person has been fully vaccinated or where that person has been. If this is the case, I will stop playing golf.
Covid is not over by a long stretch!!! Even the CDC does not recommend sitting right by someone even outdoors such as sporting events etc without masks!!!
I believe that Debbie has the right to stop playing golf or go anywhere she feels uncomfortable. As for those of that feel that masks and 6 foot distancing is not necessary I’m sure she will allow us to be comfortable. We respect her rights so hopefully she will respect ours.
At the golf council meeting it was pointed out that the amount of play is greater this year than it has been in previous years. Revenue is up both from more play plus more cart rental income. That said it does not appear to me that the courses are in any worse shape than they have been in previous years and even if they were it is not necessarily from more cart use since there is more overall use. It would seem to me that the policy of requiring two riders per cart might not be the highest and best use of the golf courses. Play is faster with one person per cart. It would seem to me that allowing players to make their own decision about sharing a cart would be the better policy.
If someone that I do not know is added to our group, it might not be appropriate per HIPPA, or none of my business, to ask them if they were vaccinated.
If I don’t own a golf cart, which I presently don’t, how am I, as a single, going to join a threesome who already have 2 carts? If I owned a cart and was forced to have a stranger ride with me, I wouldn’t do it, therefore only letting 3 people play on that tee time. Makes NO sense to me. You’ve lost a cart rental and a golf fee. Not to mention the extra time it will take to play the round, going back and forth to each others golf ball. No need to respond or reply. I know the golf courses are really there for the snow birds who descend upon us year rounders. Thanks for this opportunity to vent.
In response to golf course restrictions being lifted at SCW golf courses, I feel it is too early to do so, especially regarding the “2 people to a 4-wheeled cart” rule. COVID-19 has not gone away. In fact, there are new variants of the virus that are appearing in many states. Additionally, it was reported on the news this morning that the number of people getting vaccinations is down. Also reported was that an AZ lawmaker who was vaccinated contracted COVID. Furthermore, there is no data, to my knowledge, that would guarantee a vaccinated person is immune from contracting a COVID variant.
I play golf with the Stardust Women’s Golf Club on Tuesdays. While I am comfortable with the 4-some I play with, if one or two of us is absent, the monitor will fill our 4-some with another player(s). This new player may not even be (or want to be) vaccinated, or this player may be asymptomatic without knowing it.
My family and I have strictly adhered to the CDC guidelines regarding COVID for the past year which was not easy. It was a year of “life interrupted” for sure. I firmly believe that the country should reach “herd immunity” against the virus before lifting restrictions at the SCW golf courses.
So let me see if I understand correctly. We closed RSCSW facilities for months in order to keep Members safe, which I applaud. Now we have turned this around and are saying that SCW officials are more concerned about the grass on the golf course than our Members? It seems to me that we should be allowed a choice regarding cart ridership, since this pandemic is far from over. I know people I play with who are reluctant or not planning to get a CV19 vaccination. Golf Ops is now going to force golfing Members to closely sit for 3-4 hours with potentially unvaccinated individuals? Somehow I feel as if we have lost focus on what is important in SCW.
In response to golf course restrictions being lifted at SCW golf courses, I feel it is to early to do so, especially regarding the “2 people to a 4-wheeled cart” rule. COVID-19 has not gone away. In fact, there are new variants of the virus appearing in many states. Additionally, it was reported on the news this a.m. that the number of people getting vaccinations is down. Also reported was that an AZ lawmaker who was vaccinated contracted COVID. Furthermore, there is no data, to my knowledge, that would guarantee a vaccinated person is immune from contracting a COVID variant. I play golf on Tuesdays with a women’s golf club. While I am comfortable with the 4-some I play with, if one or two of us is absent, the monitor will fill our 4-some with another player(s). This new player may not even be (or want to be) vaccinated, or this player may be asymptomatic without knowing it. My family and I have strictly adhered to the CDC COVID guidelines for the past year which was not easy. It was a year of “life interrupted” for sure. I firmly believe that the country should reach “herd immunity” against the virus before lifting restrictions at the SCW golf courses.
I fully believe that riding with others you do not know must be a choice. It is way too early to force this with golfers. I play four times a week on all different courses. The carts have not caused excess wear.
I believe I have a right to privacy in my own golf cart and I should be the only person who decides if someone is going to ride with me. Due to HIPPA laws we cannot ask others about their medical conditions or ask if they have been vaccinated and they have no obligation to tell us.
You have no scientific proof that single riders in carts ( four carts to each foursome) puts more stress on the courses than two carts. After all you still drive to each hit ball location thus you haven’t saved any wear and tear.
Please publish any scientific study that shows otherwise.