With the COVID-19 pandemic closing several public areas, one recreational sport is continuing, but in a slightly different manner: golf.

The sport lends itself to social distancing for the most part and Jefferson Community Golf Course Manager Micah Destival says they have made some changes in response to the viral outbreak. He says they are limiting one person per golf cart on the course, all sand trap rakes have been removed, the clubhouse is closed for social gatherings and the restrooms are closed, but can be used if there is an emergency.

Destival describes the modifications they have done to the holes on the course to decrease potential exposure by human contact with the virus.

“We don’t want people touching the flags because you know, you walk up there, pick it up and take it out, and put it down, it’s kind of dangerous in these current times. So we have cut up like a pool noodle, it’s kind of like a styrofoam thing, and that is stuffed down in the holes. You just leave the flag in, you just putt your ball at the hole, and it’ll go in about half way. And then you can just walk right up to it and take it out (and) you don’t have to touch the pin.”

Destival adds, when people pay to use the golf carts, there is a table in the clubhouse between the customer and the cashier for social distancing purposes and Destival asks people not to touch the other items in the clubhouse, unless you are seriously going to buy the merchandise.