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While golf courses and country clubs across the state of Minnesota have been temporarily shut down by order of Gov. Tim Walz, Rice Lake Golf and Country Club in Lake Mills remains open to the public with measures in place to protect players from the spread of COVID-19.

As of March 27, Rice Lake officially opened its doors for the season with a number of safeguards in place for the safety of golfers and staff alike. Based on recommendations from government agencies, local health officials and the Iowa Golf Association, Rice Lake Golf and Country Club implemented the following procedures.

 

On the course and in the pro shop

• The clubhouse and restaurant will remain closed. However, the pro shop will be open to a limited number of people at a time. The pro shop will also have a limited selection of food and beverage options available.

• The course recommends golfers to book their tee times online at their website to limit traffic in the pro shop. There will be a limit of 10 people allowed in the pro shop at all times.

• Unless golfers are a guest or wish to purchase something from the pro shop, they do not need to check in and can proceed directly to the first tee at their designated time.

• All flagsticks on the course will have a protective styrofoam sleeve at the base of the cup. When a putt hits the styrofoam it is considered holed. Course workers ask that golfers do not touch or remove the flagsticks until further notice.

• The club will not provide air or water hoses outside the clubhouse for personal use until further notice.

• Tournaments and group outings are prohibited until further notice.

 

Cart usage

The course is currently operating under walking only procedures to allow the course to dry out. However, there are plans in place once carts are allowed on the course.

• Rental carts will be sanitized after each use to prevent the spread of germs.

• Golfers are encouraged to limit carts to one rider each.

• Walking is recommended for those who are able.

• Scorecards and pencils will be placed on rental carts in advance and members can pick up those items from the pro shop.

 

Practice facilities and equipment

• Practice facilities will remain closed until further notice. Golfers can bring their own balls and are welcome to use the facilities, however, the course will not provide range balls, flag sticks, cups or any other necessary equipment.

• Golfers using the practice green are asked to stick a tee in the ground and putt at it.

• There will be no ball washers, bunker rakes, water coolers, tee markers, restrooms or sand and seed mix on the course until deemed appropriate. Limited trash receptacles will also be available outside the pro shop.

“We are hopeful these measures will allow us to open the golf course and facilities and provide some much needed relief from the stress and inconvenience this has caused all of us,” stated a press release from the course.

Minnesota golf courses and country clubs were forced to close March 17 after Executive Order 20-04 was signed by Walz, which temporarily closed the doors of bars, restaurants, theaters, fitness centers and a number of other businesses, including “country clubs, golf clubs, boating and yacht clubs, sports or athletic clubs and dining clubs.”

In Executive Order 20-20, in which Minnesotans were directed to stay at home and only travel for essential purposes, outdoor activities were listed as an exemption. However, the exemption did not include activities that were included in the shut down of Executive Order 20-04.

Green Lea Golf Course has posted a link on its Facebook page directing users to an online petition asking Walz to reconsider the closure of courses and instead implement a number of safety guidelines, much like the ones put in place at Rice Lake. As of press time, the petition had just over 42,000 signatures.