Yesterday (April 30) the Government of Alberta announced a phased-in relaunch to reopen closed businesses and services that have been shut-down for weeks as the economy has struggled under the pressures brought on by COVID-19.

There was good news for Alberta golfers in that announcement when the province said that golf courses could reopen on Monday, May 4th with restrictions including keeping clubhouses and pro shops closed.  

The news was welcomed by all golf courses in the province, including Airdrie's Apple Creek Golf Courses.  "I think it's great news for our industry to have the opportunity to get golfers back out on the golf course and start to enjoy the fresh air and to start to give themselves a mental break from everything that's going on and to give themselves some physical activity," says Apple Creek Head Pro and Director of Golf Tyrel Babkirk.

He says the course has been preparing for weeks now and is ready to go on Monday.  Right now, Babkirk says, they're just awaiting more direction from Alberta Health on what restrictions may be in place.  Babkirk says he believes that Apple Creek has some excellent best practices in place, as laid out by the PGA of Canada. 

"Some of those practices include raised cups so that nobody will have to touch the flag.  We do have a lot of signage around the property to keep people informed on social/athletic distancing of two clubs lengths apart (six feet)."

Babkirk explains that only one rider per power cart will be allowed, and while all of the safety measures are based on Alberta Health requirements, there may be more that need to be put in place over the next few days.

Babkirk also says that no walk-ons will be allowed onto the course. "All tee-times must be booked.  If people do arrive and try to play without a tee-time they'll be asked to leave the property," says Babkirk.  Apple Creek will also be enforcing a policy of no one showing up more than 20 minutes ahead of their scheduled tee-time.  Tee-times will also be booked farther apart, according to Babkirk, spaced 10 minutes apart rather than the traditional eight minutes.

Babkirk says he's expecting a busy weekend ahead of booking tee-times.  "We look forward to the phone ringing off the hook and emails coming in to get golfers out an enjoying the facility."

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