Golf Courses, Tennis Courts Open In RivCo Amid Coronavirus?

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Amid coronavirus, a round of golf is probably a safer bet than going to the grocery store or big box retailer. But in Riverside County, courses are supposed to shut down. Likewise, tennis clubs and courts are off limits unless the court is at your private residence and is only used by those who live at your home.

Some courses and courts had remained open in the county following California Gov. Gavin Newsom's March 19 "stay-at-home" order, but public pressure is shutting them down.

Patch received a reader email with photos about a golf course that was allegedly still open as of Monday in Banning. Public complaints were reportedly lodged. Although a person picked up the phone at the golf facility when Patch inquired, the message was not immediately returned. Since then, it appears the course is shuttering. A Murrieta course was also reportedly open over the weekend, but it too has since closed.

Although most golf courses around the nation have shut down, according to a recent New York Times article, some are remaining open in parts of the country with amended protocols: social distancing of at least 6 feet, dark clubhouses and snack bars, no more bunker rakes and ball washers, no caddies, no golf carts, online payment only and innovative inventions that prevent golfers from sticking their hands into golf holes to retrieve balls.

Under Newsom's "stay-at-home" order, there was no mention of golf courses or other recreational facilities. Instead, the state issued a list of “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers," which left off golf and tennis but may have created some ambiguity. Can I go to the local public course and practice putting by myself if I social distance?

The answer is no, according to the county. Following Newsom's order, the county put together a document containing frequently asked questions about recent COVID-19 orders. Last updated on March 30, the question of golf and tennis were clarified:

Can I leave home to exercise?

If you will be outdoors and not in close contact with other people, yes. Fitness centers, exercise gyms, recreational centers, tennis clubs, golf courses, and public/private shared pools are not allowed to operate.

Can golf courses remain open?

No. Both public and private golf courses must be closed under the Governor’s Order. However,
golf course maintenance and landscaping are considered “essential” public works and can
continue so that golf courses will be able to resume operations once the state and local orders
are lifted.

The question of tennis was also further clarified:

Can I participate in recreational sports like basketball games or tennis matches?

Recreational sports, like basketball or tennis, being played on a court attached to a single-family
home which is not shared by persons outside the residence may be used by the inhabitants of
the home only. Public Events and gatherings, like recreational sports occurring in a public park
or on a shared court as part of a hotel/apartment/housing community, are not permitted under
the Governor’s Order.

So, unfortunately for players, golf and tennis are out unless you're doing so on your own private property with people who live at your home.