I love golf during the pandemic and I hope all the adjustments remain.

My only suggestion is that course do a deep raking of the bunkers every morning.

Love the changes, speeds the game up.

I think pulling the rakes and ball washers is stupid since you had to grab the handle of the clubhouse door when you started. Surface contact spread probability is next to nothing. If you can pump your gas immediately after 382 other people did it and be "fine", the surface contact measures at a golf course are absurd. Do agree with pulling the water coolers because we are now talking about the potential of direct contact with one's mouth after touching a public surface. The other things? Nothing but panicked over-reaction. I do like leaving in the pin but not for Covid reasons. I love the wider tee times. The 1-2 minute increase has made a big difference IMO.

Am in the middle of preparing our house for sale and had a hard time justifying the 6-7 hours a round of golf takes (get there, warm-up, play, go home) when I should be working on the house. No more. At regular munis, rounds are taking 2-3 hours less door to door.

I have not played with the "30 minute show-up" rule, or at least one that enforces it. Would seem hard to enforce as you can still get a bucket at any time so how would they know if you are there to play or just hit a bucket? Only accentuated by the pre-pay format which I use most times anyway but they now do it for league play which is great. Check in, get a cart key, gone. Regardless, people like me cannot just tee it up without warming up with live balls.

1 per cart is great and to me, that speeds up the game more than anything else. The barriers do not prevent spread of the virus, especially at tee boxes. If you are that concerned, just stay home. Have seen several courses rotate where carts are permitted to leave the cart path which places less stress on the fairways and is something I think should stay after this virus thing is over.

We are going to have to agree to disagree on walking contributing to speed of play. Not my experience...by a long shot.

Also about the traps. Have never in my life hit a rake but have had to play out of garbage trap conditions too many times to count.

Love leaving in the pin as that speeds up play too.

Push carts and walking are great, when the weather permits, but when it feels like over 90 degrees, the breeze using the cart is nice.
Our club has returned the rakes to the bunkers, but the flags are not removed. That seems contradictory, but that is what goes on.

You are so right. My partners and I are in disbelief at how fast we are playing. Like you said you just show up and play.

Hi, thanks for your comments. I too see golf-in-the-pandemic as positive. I take exception to your snide remark that more golfers should get off the carts: I'm 70 and walking a long 18 strains my lower back and results in much pain the next day. I'm not a couch-potato, I ride my bicycle every day and once per week do an hour of SUP. But walking strains my back. Please have mercy on some of us old guys.

Great article. I agree, let's not go back. Flagstick in, rakes out, walk if you can, remove ballwashers, trashcans, cleat cleaners...the simpler the better.

I agree with you. Pace of play have definitely improved with the pandemic. I played1 round of over 5 hours once this year. Probably due to golf course not setting tee times at 7 mins interval. I played more rounds this year compare to the last 4 years due to pace of play.

The sponge doughnut or upside down cup was a pain but the ingenuity that has led to devices that allow the ball to be lifted from the bottom of the cup using your putter and a simple sliding mechanism have really made the flag in a non problem.
I’m dreading the return to rakes and play as you find though, the 6” place rule means no plugged ball or iffy lies. Never had so many sand saves !
Our club has seen a surge in membership, especially couples, seeking a joint outdoor activity but UK we predominantly pay an annual subscription that allows unlimited golf for year so there has not been any price increase.

Im having a good timeitsjust hard to get mybuds ro understand u cant wait till last minute tobook