MADISON, Wis. – Despite beginning the year with a Coronavirus shutdown, public golf courses in Madison say they’re adjusting well.
“Well, it was a different start to our year for sure,” said City of Madison Parks Golf Pro Ryan Brinza. “Having to work with the state agencies, the public health department, kind of working with them pretty heavily, really learning and understanding what this pandemic was about.”
Brinza says despite a 2019 that carried with it losses of more than $400,000 for city courses, 2020 has been a year of growth.
“It’s been really a good year for us,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of new players…being able to see a lot of new faces this year was certainly helpful. Over on the east side at Yahara, they’ve had a tremendous year.”
The city’s parks pro says the uptick in golfers during the spring, summer and fall, is tied to golf’s outdoor, social distanced style.
“People are able to get outside, get exercise, play a game that’s not only beneficial to their health physically but their mental health as well,” he said.
Brinza says he anticipates certain guidelines to be in place during the spring of 2021, also, but says the adaptations the city made this year will help welcome golfers in sooner.
“Being able to have these courses open has been a real benefit to our community in many different ways,” he said.
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