Looking forward has definitely been more challenging during this time of uncertainty as we all live through the coronavirus pandemic. There have been numerous changes coming at us quickly as well as countless unknowns and it can be frustrating to have questions without readily available answers. While there are still many unknowns at this point, I believe we have a lot to look forward to in Rio Vista and that there is more fun coming for us all.
As the great Ben Hogan said, “The most important shot in golf is the next one.” Seems like a bit of a tough pill to swallow when the golf course is closed and no reopening date announced you might be thinking. BUT golf will return, albeit at first a slightly altered version of the game so many of us love. Social distancing golf might feel different at first but it’s still golf and I know I’m not alone when I say I miss golf!
As our local, state and national officials work hard making the best decisions they can to keep us all as safe as possible, we are working to be ready for the day that we can reopen The Golf Club at Rio Vista and again provide our guests safe, healthy and fun experiences.
When we get to that day we will need you to help us keep the golf club safe and to help continue to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Most of those asks will be what you are already doing – staying home if you aren’t feeling well, staying 6 feet away from others that don’t live in your household when in public and not congregating in groups. Specific to the golf course, tee time intervals will be spread out more than in the past and sharing of golf carts won’t be an option for golfers not from the same household.
The 2019 changes to the Rules of Golf already provided us with another easy adjustment for social distancing on the golf course because the flagsticks don’t have to be removed according to the rules and in social distancing golfers won’t touch or remove the flagsticks. Our maintenance team will set the cups up so that the ball cannot be holed. If short putts aren’t your most confident shot in golf, it may be good news for you to hear that gimmes are going to be encouraged so a foursome doesn’t gather too closely together at the hole. I know we have some sticklers for the rules of golf who always play it where it lies until holed and if that’s you, the thought of gimme putts might make you cringe normally. I have a huge respect for that view on golf but for a while just remember that safe, social distanced golf is better than no golf at all.
Maybe the hardest part of social distancing in golf will be that we won’t be able to fist bump those birdie putts when they fall or relive the round “19th Hole Style” in the Monarch Grill afterwards but those great parts of golf will return one day too. To-go service will continue at the Monarch Grill until we can safely reopen for dine-in meals and eventually when the timing is right our music nights and other events will be back.
All of you in Rio Vista: our employees, members and guests of the Golf Club and Monarch Grill, local business owners and community leaders, have been so kind and welcoming to me in my first year in California and I can’t thank you enough. This has been such an unprecedented time for all of us worldwide but I really am thankful to be here in Rio Vista with you as we move through to the other side of this together. This too shall pass and I look forward to seeing you all again.