Riverside County Forced To Spell It Out For Golfers: Stop!

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Golf courses that had remained open in Riverside County amid coronavirus — despite being deemed a non-essential service — have been further ordered to close by the county's top health official.

"There was some confusion over the closure of golf courses, and we believe this order makes it perfectly clear that golf courses are not an essential business and people must stop gathering on courses," the Riverside County Public Health Officer, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, said Thursday.

Kaiser's order runs through June 19 and applies to all public and private golf courses, driving ranges and putting greens. Facilities are only allowed to conduct landscaping and maintenance, and have security on site.

Read Kaiser's order here.

Following Gov. Gavin Newsom's March 19 "Stay-at-Home" order, the county put together a document containing frequently asked questions about recent state and local COVID-19 orders. The question on golf courses was clarified: shut down.

But some weren't paying attention. RELATED: Golf Courses, Tennis Courts Open In RivCo Amid Coronavirus?

"Clearly and disappointingly, golf courses remained opened and put many people at risk," Kaiser said. "That's why it has come to this."

A Southern California PGA survey released this week found that nearly 84 percent of the golf courses surveyed were closed, Golf Magazine reported.

Almost 92 percent of the courses were not providing instruction while 64 percent were selling food and beverages according to the survey. The survey received responses from representatives of 124 public and private courses in California.