Oregon Golf Association Sees Uptick in Play During COVID-19

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Woodburn, OR. “We have definitely seen an uptick on rounds of golf played since the pandemic began,” says Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit Oregon Golf Association, Barb Trammell. “The OGA Golf Course here in Woodburn – which is home to our offices – has certainly experienced a surge in rounds. Our rounds this year are approximately 20% higher than the average of the past 3 years.” And some tournaments are still being played, like the Oregon Amateur Championship.

Bryce Wortman, Lara Tennant and Amanda Jacobs are crowned champions at the Oregon Amateur Championship on June 25th at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.

“Here in Oregon, we were fortunate that golf remained open when all non-essential businesses were shuttered. I think the fact that golf is an activity that can easily be played with social distancing and is outside attracted a lot of first-timers as well as turned those who maybe played only a handful of times into avid players,” Trammell explains.

Not all states were allowed to play-though during the pandemic According to the National Golf Foundation, as of the first part of June, play is down 8% year-over-year.rounds-played. In March nearly half of all courses nationwide were closed. By June 7th nearly all were open again.

Barb Trammell explained that she is watching the situation in Oregon closely. “We don’t have much data on this statewide as it’s not a function that the OGA has kept over the years. I can only speak to a lot of anecdotal information obtained by talking to individual course owners/operators who all indicate their businesses have thrived during this time period.

The National Golf Foundation is offering guidelines for safe golfing writing, “Given its outdoor and wide-open nature that’s conducive to social distancing practices, golf has shown it can offer valuable physical and mental respite during an unprecedented crisis to participants of all ages – provided that facility operators strictly adhere to prescribed safety guidelines.”

In Oregon, safety precautions were put in place including stopping people from reaching into the cup under the flag on each hole. Courses were advised to cut and insert pool noodles or PVC pipe, incorporate a “lift device” in the cup, raise golf cups two to three inches above the ground, or insert cups upside down to eliminate the need for golfers to retrieve their golf balls.

From Oregon Golf Association:

The Oregon Golf Association (OGA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit membership association. Founded in 1924, the OGA was originally established with the sole purpose of conducting the Oregon Amateur Championship. Since its founding more than 90 years ago, the OGA works tirelessly to promote, foster, and grow the game of golf providing a multitude of benefits and services to approximately 41,000 individual men, women, senior, and junior members at more than 400 member golf clubs throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.