Illinois Golf Operational Restrictions – UPDATED – June 26, 2020

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As Illinois prepares to enter “Phase 4” in the reopening of the state on June 26, 2020, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has published updated Phase 4 Golf Operational Restrictions.

Golf Clubs and Management

(Minimum guidelines)
1. Groups must be spaced in tee times intervals so as to limit congregation before, during and after the round.
2. Signage describing operational changes including: no congregating in groups larger than 50, increased frequency of cleaning, no handshakes, and maintain social distancing between players.
3. Driving ranges, practice ranges, chipping greens, and putting greens are permitted. Golfers should remain a minimum six feet apart when within each other in these areas.
4. Dual-rider Motorized golf carts and pull carts are permitted. If two people who do not live in the same household share a cart, they should both wear face coverings while in the cart. Golf courses shall sanitize each cart after each use.
5. Individual caddies are permitted. Caddies should wear face coverings when within six feet of a golfer or caddie. The golf club should have updated parental consent for all caddies under 18. Caddies should not congregate in groups larger than 50.
6. Pro shops may reopen so long as they comply with the Retail Guidelines.
7. Beverage carts are permissible.
8. Hand sanitizer and soap should be present in all restrooms, including those on the course. Restrooms should be sanitized regularly.
9. Locker rooms and showers should be configured with signage, tape, and other markings to ensure members can maintain 6-ft. of social distance.
10. Group activities (outings, league play, and other organized events) and shotgun starts are permitted. Golf courses should develop procedures to ensure that individuals do no congregate in groups excess of 50 before or after the activity.
11. Clubhouses can open and operate any permissible activity set forth in the Phase 4 guidelines
12. Restaurants and halfway houses can operate in accordance with the indoor and outdoor dining guidelines
13. Outdoor golf lessons are permissible for individuals and groups of 50 or less, including the golf instructor(s). Individuals should remain a minimum six feet apart during the lesson, or wear face coverings when within six feet of each other. Individuals should only handle their own golf clubs.
14. Golf club storage/bag rooms are permissible. Individuals should remain a minimum six feet apart or wear face-coverings when within six feet of each other.
15. Indoor golf facilities (simulators, learning centers, etc.) are permissible and should follow the indoor recreation guidelines

(Encouraged best practices)
16. Encourage online or telephone bookings.
17. If practical, non-household individuals should use their own carts
18. Provide hand sanitizer in golf carts and on tee boxes
19. Caddies should minimize touching club handles. Frequent hand sanitization is encouraged
20. Course operator should eliminate on-course and practice facility touchpoints (i.e. bag drop, benches, ball washes, bunker/sand trap rakes, and golf club rentals,)

Player Behaviors

(Minimum guidelines)
1. Any players with any symptoms of COVID-19, should not play.
2. In addition, any players from a household with someone with symptoms of COVID-19 should not play.
3. Players and employees should maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) on practice areas, tees, greens, and throughout the round.

(Encouraged best practices)
4. Players should handle their own balls.
5. Players should leave the flag in place while putting.
6. Players should bring hand sanitizer with them and use during your round and at the end.
7. Players should bring their own supply of balls, tees, ball markers, and any other equipment needed to play golf.
8. Players should bring their own source of water.
9. No handshakes at the beginning of the round or at the 18th hole.

Below are the Illinois Golf Operational Restrictions as provided by the State of Illinois for the time period beginning at 6 AM on Friday May 1, 2020.

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With the precautions and operational restrictions outlined below, golf shall be permitted as a recreational activity, effective 6:00 AM, May 1st, 2020. In addition to the general social distancing standards set forth in the Stay at Home Order, golf courses and golfers need to abide by the following controls.

Golf Clubs and Management restrictions:

  • Require online or telephone bookings
  • Players shall be grouped in twosomes.
  • 15 minutes between tee-times:
    • Average tee-times are roughly 12 minutes apart. Spreading out bookings would ensure people do not congregate at tee boxes.
    • Spacing out the tee times would also limit the number of people at the golf course.
  • Signage describing operational changes including: no congregating, increased frequency of cleaning, no handshakes, and maintain social distancing between players
  • No practice ranges, chipping greens, or putting greens to limit large gatherings of individuals.
  • No golf carts may be used on course (either owned by golf club or privately owned), except individuals with a physical disability or physical limitations that prevent them from walking the course may rent a cart from the golf club.
  • Only privately-owned pull carts may be utilized, rental of pull carts from the course will not be allowed
  • Elevate the “bottom” of the cup:
    • This can be done by placing the cup upside down so that the new bottom is roughly an inch below the lip of the hole. Golfers could retrieve their ball without having to put their hand in the bottom of the regular cup.
    • Alternatively, place Styrofoam in the bottom of the cup

    STYROFOAM-GOLF-CUP

  • Flags cannot be removed from the cup
  • Clubhouses,halfway houses, and pro shops shall remain closed.
  • Prohibit beverage and snack carts
  • Courses shall operate at a minimum basic operations level of staff to limit customer and staff contact; i.e. “starter”, “course manager”, “maintenance crew”, “kitchen staff to prepare to-go only food service.”
  • Remove drinking water jugs and prohibit use of water fountains that are permanently affixed with signage
  • Elimination of on-course and practice facility touch points(i.e. bag drop, benches, ball washes, bunker/sand trap rakes, rental equipment, and water coolers)
  • Hand sanitizer and soap in all restrooms, including those on the course
    • Restrooms shall be sanitized regularly
  • No indoor events or outside tournaments
  • Restaurants can remain open for takeout only; all tables and chairs removed or flipped upside down to prohibit use
  • Indoor facilities may be open for minimal operations for use by golf course workers to facilitate the outdoor recreation footprint and activity

Player Restrictions:

  • Any players with any symptoms of COVID-19, should not play
  • In addition, any players from a household with someone with symptoms of COVID-19 should not play
  • Golfers must walk and carry own clubs; no caddies.
  • Bring your own supply of balls, tees, ball markers, and any other equipment needed to play golf.
  • Insist on social distancing on tees, greens, and throughout the round
  • Players shall maintain adequate physical distancing between other twosomes.
  • Golfers should pick up their own ball
  • Handle your own scorecard
  • Bring your own water/sports drink, towel, and snack
  • Do not use the public drinking fountain or ball cleaner
  • Leave the flag in place while putting
  • Sort out the sand in the bunker with a club
  • Put on your golf shoes at your vehicle
  • Bring hand sanitizer with you and use during your round and at the end
  • No handshakes at the beginning of the round or at the 18th hole
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Walter Lis

Walter Lis is the managing editor of Chicago Golf Report. Launched in 2010, Chicago Golf Report is the most visited website on Chicago golf and is one of the top ten most popular local golf websites in the country. We are a digital-only news and information resource covering everything golf in Chicago and its suburbs, providing the latest news about local golf facilities, golf events, golf instruction and even golf business.

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