Hendricks County’s golf courses are open but with some strict rules and course adjustments due to the COVID-19 virus and Indiana’s stay-at-home order.
By Lindsay Doty
Several of the courses, including West Chase Golf Club in Brownsburg, are offering a “park and play” option where golfers go directly to their cart staging area upon arrival.
West Chase encourages walking but offers carts with mandatory single-rider use (including family members residing in the same household). The clubhouse, restrooms, and putting green remain closed until the quarantine is lifted.
“The safety of our customers and staff is our number one priority. To comply with CDC, State, and Federal guidelines and to ensure the safety of those who visit West Chase, we have implemented a ‘Park and Play’ program,” stated an update to the West Chase Golf Club website.
Deer Creek Golf Club in Clayton is also open but has similar strict rules. Golfers must book online or pay by the phone and the clubhouse is closed. Golfers are also encouraged to walk but carts are available for single-rider use only (unless it’s immediate family).
“Each cart is then sanitized and washed down after use,” explains Derek Carlson, Deer Creek Golf Club’s head golf professional.
The course has added pool noodles to all 18 holes so no player has to touch the flagstick.
“We are limiting those touching points,” said Carlson.
“Golf is the perfect social distancing sport. We are doing pre-paid tee times and limiting person-to-person contact,” he says.
Deer Creek and other local courses are sending updates on their websites and social media pages to let players know the rules before they book.
Prestwick Country Club in Avon is booking tee times but is reminding members and public guests of the new protocols. One rider and bag per cart, the clubhouse is closed, payments over the phone or online, and the holes are adjusted to limit touching.
(Photo by Eric Pritchett)
“The holes are flag-in. The cups are raised up so the golf ball will hit the cup and bounce off, no need to reach in,” explains Dylan Holsclaw, associate golf professional at Prestwick.
In a letter to members, the club stated its strict sanitizing policy:
“After each use, golf carts will be sprayed with a professional-grade disinfectant followed by a professional-grade sanitizer. Employees will wear gloves when putting carts away as well as staging carts so that no contact is made with the disinfected cart.”
Oak Tree Golf Course in Plainfield is open and practicing similar social distancing with cart restrictions and limited clubhouse access.
The course, like others, is planning to remain open to golfers unless an order comes from the Governor
