Today’s opening of the Carstairs Carstairs Community Golf Club’s makes it one of the first in the region to begin operations under the province’s pandemic relaunch strategy.
The first stage announced last week featured the welcomed news that golf courses can open May 2, with restrictions that include ongoing closures of clubhouses and pro shops. However, on-site shops and restaurants can open in stage 1, which is consistent with other businesses and retailers.
Kirk Williscroft, general manager for the Carstairs Community Golf Club, said he was “overwhelmed” with the news.
“Everything at once here, but that’s alright. That’s a good problem to have,” said Williscroft.
Even though the government is allowing them to open on May 2 management plans to open up today (May 6), as they needed time to organize and prepare the facility.
The majority of the staff was scheduled to report to work on May 4 although a few began working over the weekend to get things ready.
“We want to make sure we have correct safety measures and protocols and that in place,” he said, adding the course won’t even have to open with temporary greens.
“Our greens wintered well, so we’ll be on full greens,” said Williscroft. “We’ll have a cup insert in the holes so that the ball doesn’t drop all the way to the bottom so it minimizes all the contact points.”
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