The Pellucid Perspective - May 2020 - 9

in Charlotte, so the round ended up including an enjoyable con- gregating in the parking lot"; and asking a bunch of older people
versation about the golf industry. Surprisingly, I actually played to install the Venmo app might be problematic. I also missed
pretty well and my shoulder didn't hurt as much as I thought it hearing any new blonde jokes - apparently the salon lockdown is
would.
revealing that many of those humor -worthy events were actually
I wish I could say the same for my friends and all the rest of committed by imposters.
you that own and operate golf courses - this is going to hurt. I
The Packer fan in me takes pride in our tailgate expertise. If we
couldn't help but think of the impact of single rider carts and the can arrive at Lambeau, serve a great meal, have a couple beers and
loss of high margin beverage sales; it's going to take a lot of extra get to our seats in time for kickoff, we should be able to figure out
rounds to cover that shortfall. And the Illinois and Massachusetts "safe distance" tailgating in a golf course parking lot - with golf
Governors are banning carts altogether - apparently these newly course service making bringing grills and coolers unnecessary. We
minted medical experts have very little faith in the kids that have have already seen it happen at a popular local restaurant - just
been promoted to the new position of "golf cart hygienist" - a some food for thought and I hear they have experienced tailgaters
phrase coined by Harvey Silverman which was even quoted re- in Kansas City and a few other places. We need to be creative and
cently in the New York Times by our friend Art Walton at Crys- careful; but there are opportunities for enterprising owners and
tal Springs Resort.
operators.
I'll leave it to Jim to discuss the difficult decisions faced by
The Washington Post reporter asked whether I would play as
Municipal Golf in greater detail in this ismuch or even more golf. My answer doesn't
sue; but this pandemic simply exacerbates
matter - I'm far more concerned that some
the existing battle for survival for all golf
of these new "safe practices" will make it
courses. It's not just the added cost of disinmuch more difficult for many courses to
fecting golf carts - the same has to be done
survive. Some of the rules are nonsensical -
for every piece of maintenance equipment
the cart bans for starters, with 2somes and
and interior spaces once they are allowed to
expanded tee spacing for some more. Mainopen. I am intrigued with the potential of
taining 6 feet is going to be up to individuals
Far Vu UVC to provide safer, more efficient
anyway, and slower players will cause proband effective disinfection - it was featured
lems no matter what spacing you create - the
on FoxNews on May 5th and you can't find
congestion will simply occur a couple holes
a conventional UVC bulb in stock if you
later. Governments and Organizations settried. This indicates UVC's increasing use
ting guidelines that make viable operations
in disinfecting hospitals, ambulances, keyunsustainable is a concern for a lot wider
boards, phones and kitchen countertops. An
spectrum of our economy than just golf -
As I came face to face
inventor we know has talked to us about a
and we are witnessing first hand that nobody
with another reminder
device that can disinfect a cart in about two
really has any definitive answers and there
of my own mortality this are a host of unintended consequences. It is
minutes - faster and more effectively than
our new golf cart hygienists with bottles of
a Circus.
week; I don't want to
spray and a roll of paper towels. He also has
I might be wondering who put the palm
get sick. However, that
a prototype robot for interiors. One thing
over golf as I know it and "who took everysame mortality makes
is clear, people are going to pay more atthing from where it once was, and put it
tention to cleanliness; and golf courses that
me want to play as much where it last was seen" (Fountainbleu); but
indicate their dedication to providing adgolf as I can before my times are different and after all, the Founvanced hygiene will stand to attract more
tainbleu was ironically painted green. My sewarranty runs out.
golfers - especially the older ones who play
nior daughter has never been to a Circus and
a lot of golf.
you can't find a Ringmaster help wanted post
As I came face to face with another reminder of my own on GlassDoor, either. The ultimate irony will be if this pandemic
mortality this week; I don't want to get sick. However, that same turns out to be the catalyst for making more people aware of the
mortality makes me want to play as much golf as I can before my benefits of having a good walk spoiled, along with giving golf
warranty runs out. All this talk of high risk older people being courses that are able to survive a shot at a brighter financial future.
on extended lockdowns would be disastrous for golf - we heard
In the meantime, this renewed interest is attracting new playa rumor that the UK banned golf for people over 65 and a course ers, re-engaging lapsed golfers and making existing golfers willin the US was actually talking about that policy, too. I may not ing to play more often. If we can make them feel welcome and
want to tempt fate too much; but I'd probably ask my high school safe; we have an unusual opportunity to help them with game
senior where I can get a fake ID and buy some Just for Men - improvement and provide safe socialization that should help
since my normal "stylist" can't do it right now.
keep them involved. We may have been dealt Aces and Eights,
Our round ended and we had a good time, but the eerie differ- but even though Wild Bill Hickok forgot to watch the door, it
ences continued to mount. More air elbows and nowhere to have ended up being a winning hand. Make sure you sit with your
n
a drink and settle our usual bets - the new policies say "no con- back to the wall.
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