Golfers in Marion County enjoyed beautiful weather Thursday, the last day they can tee it up in Indianapolis for awhile.
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – Golfers enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous day at Southern Dunes Golf Course Thursday, the final day of the golf season in Indianapolis, at least for now. The mayor has ordered all golf courses closed starting Friday under the COVID-19 stay-at-home order.
"Getting out when it's 70 degrees I think is great for some stress release,” said Kurt Schier, general manager of Southern Dunes Golf Course. “I would prefer that we stay open. I don't see any reason that we shouldn't be. But we're going to follow the rules." Southern Dunes is already doing business from six feet away. Customers stood behind a roped off area on the clubhouse porch and read their credit card numbers to the general manager to pay for their rounds.
Only one person is allowed per golf cart. But all the Indy golfers may be driving south starting Friday. In Johnson County, government officials have extended the stay at home order to May 1, but golf courses can remain open.
The course was busy Thursday, but people kept their safe distance at Dye’s Walk Country Club in Greenwood.
They believe private members are adhering to stricter guidelines. Enhanced cleaning procedures should also prevent spread of the coronavirus on the course.
"Because we're outside on such an amount of acreage that everybody can stay far enough apart where we fall within those guidelines,” said Kyle Baumann, Dye's Walk Country Club director of golf and general manager. “Plus, with us being so active on the sanitation, I think it can be a relatively safe alternative to get out and to get exercise."
"I honestly think you can come out to a golf course and play safely,” said Jenny Stuart, an anesthesiologist playing Dye’s Walk. “I know that people are taking their own golf carts. But I don't see how pushing a cart, how you're really putting yourself at risk. So, I'll be sad if they close the courses."
Johnson County courses stay open for now. Marion County courses close Friday. Southern Dunes expects to lose $4,000 on nice day.
Some Indy golfers admit they’ll be playing in Johnson County as soon as this weekend.
“That's exactly what they're going to do,” said Kevin Richards, a small business owner playing Southern Dunes Thursday. “They're just losing out on money. You can see I've got four people standing around me. We're keeping social distancing. We're enjoying a beautiful day on the golf course." That was the last round in Indy for awhile.
