Covid Golf Experiences

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By Darius V

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  • 15 Replies
  1. Darius V

    Darius V
    Barrie, ON

    Well - here we are after a full week of golf under the new rules in Ontario. Perhaps a little longer in other Provinces. I am curious how everyone is managing... I have been out three times now, and I have to say that the biggest change is the fact that we don't have access to the locker room, restaurant, and club house. On the golf course we currently have the pool noodles in the hole which is not an issue but I hear they are thinking of putting in those tools where you can lift the ball out with your putter. I'm fine with that as long as it doesn't scratch my Scotty :) What I miss the most is not being able to give my friends a high five when they make that great putt or sash that drive down the middle of the fairway ! Over all, everyone has been very good with the physical distancing and it is great to be back on the links :)

  2. Todd J

    Todd J
    Calgary, Alberta 🇨🇦

    I've already played with 4 different types of holes, Upside down cup is horrible ball bounces off the metal cup, pool noodle is ok if it lets the ball go down 3/4 of the ball (but that all depends on the set up guy) Then the fake cup bottom raised up by a piece of PVC pipe (this was total set too high almost flush with the top of the hole) Last is the ball raiser it is like putting with the flagstick in only easier to retrieve your ball our course is thinking about keeping these even after covid.
  3. BMaddigan

    BMaddigan

    The courses I have played are all using PVC in the cup. It makes it very easy to retrieve your ball. Overall, the golf courses have done an excellent job with the modifications. We are definitely keeping social distance. The Ministry of Health should have no issues with us playing golf.
  4. Trevor D

    Trevor D
    Bragg Creek,

    BMaddigan said:

    The courses I have played are all using PVC in the cup. It makes it very easy to retrieve your ball. Overall, the golf courses have done an excellent job with the modifications. We are definitely keeping social distance. The Ministry of Health should have no issues with us playing golf.

    Especially since the CDC has changed its tune and said that the virus "does not easily transmit from surface contact" and changed its categorization thanks to the latest study it has.
  5. Scott D

    Scott D
    Lethbridge,

    Our club started with the pool noodle. It did not receive a very good response. After the first week our club changed to the ball lifter a much better option.
  6. JasonK

    JasonK
    Whitby, ON

    Mine has the ball riser, I don't like it too much as your ball skims over the hole and doesn't go in. You'll hear a high pitched png and we count that as in.

    I'd rather they put in the tool that raises the ball with your putter.
  7. Jason R

    Jason R
    Ottawa, ON

    We are using the pool noodles. At first they extended above the cup and one "holed-out" by hitting the noodle. There were many complaints and a tendency to slam the putt home with impunity …. go figure.

    Now they have cut the noodles down so that about 1/4 of a ball remains above the grass and we are directed to remove the ball using two finger approach. At least the issue of heavy putts is solved. Have not tried the lifters yet though if well made I hear they are great.
  8. Giovanni L

    Giovanni L
    Coquitlam, BC

    My “home” course just added these fancy contraptions to all the flagsticks as raisers this week. The greenskeeper is able to keep the cups as they are meant to be installed. I personally really like the look as it’s like on a putting green or at mini golf. Makes it feel the most normal without looking at an upside down cup, PVC, pool noodle, etc.
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  9. Jason R

    Jason R
    Ottawa, ON

    As long as they are in the hole far enough to let the bal drop. We have balls bouncing out of cups all the time with the pool noodles sitting 1/2" below the surface of the cup. I know this is to allow one to retrieve the ball without inserting one's hand too far into the hole but it does lead to a certain amount of "that would have dropped" discussions.....
  10. Darius V

    Darius V
    Barrie, ON

    Jason R said:

    As long as they are in the hole far enough to let the bal drop. We have balls bouncing out of cups all the time with the pool noodles sitting 1/2" below the surface of the cup. I know this is to allow one to retrieve the ball without inserting one's hand too far into the hole but it does lead to a certain amount of "that would have dropped" discussions.....

    Jason... I don't think there is a perfect answer for any of the options out there. We had some holes with the noodles and some holes with those lifters and of course we had players that liked one and not the other :)
    I can say I had my ball hit the lifter rod which by it's design is much like a spring and it certainly makes the ball flay much further from the hole than the flagstick ! At our course, it is posted that if you ball goes in the hole enough that it touches the noodle then it is in. No questions asked. It helps to have it posted by the club as then there are no arguments :)
  11. PAZTOR

    PAZTOR
    Tillsonburg, ON

    I think my course just turned the cups upside down to keep half the ball above ground. I haven’t been able to make it out to see first hand but want to as soon as I can.
  12. whyty

    whyty
    nestleton, ON

    The lowered cup is much better than the foam even when the foam is cut below the hole. We found the ball bounced back out and since there can be no grey areas they are not counted as holed. Even better,as I watch the pros this weekend, leave the pin in and be careful no to touch it when retrieving your ball.
  13. Stephen F

    Stephen F
    Belleville Ontario, ON

    I really miss putting with the pin out. For me, it's hard to get my head around putting a 3 footer with the pin in the cup. I really cannot wait until we can remove the pin again...but who knows when that will be! Have fun out there everybody!
  14. G

    G

    Initially we were using the pool noodles which extended above the hole. Hear the thud and we considered it in. Quickly switched to pool noodles cut slightly below the hole where half the ball was showing above the hole. Much better approach. Good timing on the change as a week or so later, on a par 3 125 yds, I hit one in. Oddest thing seeing the ball from the tee box, thinking it's close to the hole, and when nearer see it actually sitting on top of the noodle. Grateful just to be out and playing...
  15. Eric P

    Eric P

    We had 2 instances in our Club C's where the ball hit the ball retrieval system and bounced out from inside 3 feet. It's unbearable to watch but we agreed you cannot make a judgement call as to whether it is in or not to decide a club championship. The best units I have seen are called bottoms up and we use them exclusively on the GTAAM Tour events. It sits in the cup and you place the flag into it. The wires are completely contained inside the shaft which is the same size as the flagstick. I tried to get my course to buy them bit they balked at the price tag of $1700 for 18 units.
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  16. Stephen F

    Stephen F
    Belleville Ontario, ON

    We recently had our annual Haggarty Cup matches (similar format to the Ryder Cup) and we were all given hand sanitizer at the first tee, and yes, we were permitted to remove the pin. After finally getting my head around putting with the pin in all season, it seemed weird having it out of the hole at first but for me, not for long. Other guys were so used to seeing it in the hole when putting that they kept it in, even for the shortest putts... stay safe folks, it looks like Ontario is seeing a 2nd wave.....

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