GOLF

Coronavirus in Polk: Fairways remain fair game around Polk

Bill Kemp
bill.kemp@theledger.com
Jack Daughtery, 82, dirves the ball down the range on Tuesday at the Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland. [BILL KEMP/THE LEDGER]

This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during thecoronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing totheledger.com athttps://www.theledger.com/subscribenow.

WINTER HAVEN – If you don't like your golf partner, telling them to stay six feet away is not offensive – it's encouraged these days.

A large percentage of public and private golf courses across Polk County remain open for business this week despite the closure of Lakeland's municipal course, Cleveland Heights, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But there are a few sanitary changes.

Players are asked to leave the pins in the hole – in fact, hitting the pin counts. Coolers have been removed from the courses, and rakes are off limits. Also, the restaurants and the customary 19th holes have been closed except for takeout food orders.

“We are continuously wiping down carts, keys, forward and reverse buttons and countertops. The flag sticks get wiped down,” said Ryan Roberts, general manager at The Club at Eaglebrooke, who added the pool was closed Monday.

“We placed PVC pipe in the bottom of the holes so they don't have to reach their hand down into the hole to retrieve the ball. It kind of sits up now where you can grab it. We are asking the golfers not touch the flag sticks.”

Eaglebooke, a semi-private club with 240 members, has also removed the self-serve coffee stations and is leaving the restroom doors on the course propped open so players don't have to touch the handles.

Jack Daughtery, 82, lives at Eaglebrooke, and despite the threats of COVID-19, he says that with the proper social distancing, golf courses are very safe territory.

“I am out here in the fresh air. I never smoked and I don't drink, but I am out here with the virus going on, and I am keeping myself away from people,” Daughtery said.

“Just wash your hands, wash your hands, like the president says. Golf is the perfect sport to keep your distance. Don't let anyone ride in your cart, but you can still play with anyone you want to play with, just keep that distance.”

Dave Jones from Eaglebrooke said he shot a 77 on Tuesday, maintaining his average, so following some the new guidelines suggested by the USGA hasn't affected his game.

“I wasn't within six feet of anybody all day. If you hit it farther than everybody else, you don't have a problem, you are always segregated,” Jones said.

James Perry, 33, from Auburndale has been sneaking away after work to hit balls for the past decade. He considers his golf time quality time, and he ventured out Tuesday to the Willbrook Golf Course, Winter Haven's municipal course.

“I've been playing for a long time, and I like to get out here and away from everything,” Perry said. “Especially now, it's the only thing you can do to get away from the world. I wanted to get away from the world and get out here before, but now with all the craziness, it's even more important. I am glad I picked a sport that even though we have craziness, I can still go out there.”

Many courses are not accepting cash, and the Dundee Driving Range as installed an outside ball dispenser if patrons don't wish to enter the pro shop.

Courses in Polk County still reporting as open are: Bartow, Willbrook, Country Club of Winter Haven (private), Highlands Reserve, Dundee Road Driving Range, Streamsong, Lily Lake, Grenelefe, Southern Dunes, Stonegate, Lake Wales Country Club, Oakwood Golf Club, Indian Lake Estates, Huntington Hills, Links of Sandpiper, The Club at Eaglebrooke, Grasslands (private), Lone Palm (private), Sanlan, Wedgewood, Big Cypress and ImperiaLakes.

Courses now reporting as closed include Cleveland Heights, The First Tee of Lakeland and Schalamar Creek through at least the end of March.

Bill Kemp can be reached at Bill.Kemp@theledger.com; follow him on Twitter @BillKempSports.