Most courses in the Southeast have reported average to above-average numbers of rounds during the COVID-19 era of golf. Golf has proven to be an excellent sport to enjoy while still adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Recently, I traveled to Florida to visit courses along the east coast. It was interesting to see the impact – positive and negative – that COVID-19 has had on golf course maintenance in various counties. Palm Beach County had golf closed for several weeks, which allowed various maintenance operations and projects to be performed that normally aren’t done during peak golf season. While the closure was an inconvenience for golfers, superintendents capitalized on this opportunity and terrific playing conditions are now being enjoyed by many.
For those that did not experience any course closure, typical to above-average numbers of rounds have been a welcome sight. However, superintendents are still dealing with the impact single-rider cart policies have on turf. While single-rider carts are a necessity when social distancing rules are in place, the additional traffic stress can cause turf decline. In Florida, decline was exacerbated during a six-week dry period where no rain fell during periods of peak play.
It can be challenging to communicate the impact increased cart use has on turf. Stating that more carts damages turf because of increased soil compaction and leaf abrasion during periods of unfavorable turf growth can make even the most interested golfer’s eyes glaze over. Simple charts can more clearly show that while the number of rounds may not be significantly higher than usual, the number of carts on the course was.
