2020 Was One Strange Golf Year: Hopefully, Better Things Are Ahead (Part 2)
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- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2021-02-04
By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf
CALGARY, Alberta — Given what’s transpired in the world since the novel coronavirus pandemic first burst onto the scene in 2019 and essentially later shutting down life as it was known across the world, it’s amazing that one recreational activity — golf — actually blossomed during that period. Sure, there were struggles to get started and stay conscious of safety protocols, but when all was said and done, the CPGA club professionals across the whole of Alberta did an outstanding job of keeping the public safe while they enjoyed some exercise and stress relief by batting balls about on green grass.
In the first segment of this article, Robert Rousselle, the executive director of the PGA of Alberta, gave his association’s members a “5-star rating,” for their diligence in making the playing months enjoyable for those who teed it up, whether for one round or once a day.
“It was a safe environment to go play. A lot of work but a very safe environment to play in,” he noted.
While the daily newscasts focused on how the COVID-19 virus was spreading, wildly at times around Alberta and fingers were pointed at trigger spots, never did anyone accuse a golf facility of being a spread point. One concern, a legitimate one certainly, was that golf would never get off the ground in 2020 as the provincial government carefully weighed options on what would be allowed for recreational activities and tried to limit personal contact. An early stumbling block that had to be overcome was the fact golf was classed by the government as a non-essential business, and thus, there was no hurry to have it swing into action.
“I think in general a lot of people saw this at the worst with the golf industry before we got started. Understandably, when you looked (at the early days of Covid-19) it didn’t look good for anybody. We were scared of, if our industry doesn’t happen, what would happen to our industry?” Rousselle explained. “I looked at it and the committee (National Allied Golf Association) looked at it as a challenge. But at no point did we look at it and drop our heads. We just looked at it and said, ‘How do we solve this? How do we move forward?’ And every step forward was a victory. To open a golf course. To open a golf shop. To open a restaurant. We were constantly looking for solutions. I don’t think we ever said, ‘This will never happen.’”
Once the go-ahead finally came in early May that golf could be played, it was full steam ahead for the industry, Rousselle noted.
And in the early days, the industry made sure people knew they were open for business. “We kept pushing forward with the positive messaging coming out of the industry.”
Looking back, Rousselle again gave credit to the bodies that helped launch the golf season. It took a lot of work, a lot of time, and more than anything, a lot of belief that golf was indeed a safe activity, and a good one both physically and mentally, even though it never gained that “essential business” tag.
“They worked hard to make it happen,” he said of the PGA of Alberta club members, who of course bore the brunt of keeping everyone safe while at their facility. “They followed our direction, our lead and if I look globally over the summer, the golf industry reached a fairly high level of success. I think at the beginning everyone expected the worst and in the end, it turned out to be a very successful year.”
To back that statement up, the National Golf Course Owners Association pointed to the increase of play during 2020 in Alberta. There was a dramatic rise in rounds played, and although no exact numbers were available for the province the rise in play was pegged at a rise of 22.2 per cent over 2019 and 14.4 per cent on a five-year comparison.
“It was the Tiger Woods’ era resurfacing, looking at some of the numbers,” said Rousselle. “The numbers were stunning.”
So while last year was a pleasant surprise to many, both with rounds played and safety protocols adhered to, what lies ahead? With COVID-19 now producing more strains and cases still happening at alarming rates, what’s ahead for the golf industry. Well, that’s anyone’s guess but one thing is certain: Alberta golf courses and its professionals will do their best to make sure this coming summer is another one for the record books.
“At the moment I think we’ve got our fingers crossed we’ll have a very similar season like we did to last year,” said Rousselle. “When it comes to the discussion with the government later, a bit later because they have so much on their hands and are handling greater things, so their focus right now isn’t on the golf industry. We’ll be in more communication with them and we’re hoping for something at least similar to last year. The members and the association are all aware of what they need to do, what works, what doesn’t work. I think it’s going to be a shorter transition for everybody but we have to keep driving the same (safety) message.”
Asked if he ever sees things returning to what was, pre-pandemic days when you were free to wander about a pro shop, test swing new clubs, chat with the pros without a mask and a plexiglass barrier in the way, and shaking hands with playing partners at the end of a round, Rousselle stated, “I sure hope for it! It’s what people like. It’s part of the industry, part of the human connection. I definitely hope it comes back!”