Looking forward to golfing? Centre County golf courses will reopen with some changes in place
Golf is finally returning to Centre County — and local courses are anticipating a big turnout this weekend.
After a six-week shutdown due to the global pandemic surrounding COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, golf courses around the state will reopen Friday. And every 18-hole public course in the area confirmed to the Centre Daily Times they’re planning to open then.
The final holdout was Penn State, which announced Wednesday morning it would open its two courses Friday. But just about every other course had decided on Monday, the day of Gov. Tom Wolf’s golf announcement, that they’d tee off from Day 1.
“The demand for golf is going to be huge,” said Dustin Moser, Toftrees’ Director of Golf. “With people being cooped up in their houses with limited outdoor activities to conduct, golf is going to be a good escape for people, mentally and physically.”
Different courses are approaching the pandemic in different ways, but most are trying to follow as many of the guidelines as possible as outlined by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Golf, a group that partners with golf associations across the state.
A complete implementation of all the guidelines is virtually impossible, however, in part because of the timing. When it comes to tee times, for instance, the association recommended spacing them at least 15 minutes apart — but that advice came Tuesday night, hours after some courses were already fully booked for their morning hours after deciding on 10 minutes apart.
“It’s been a challenge,” said Mark Ritchey, the general manager at Skytop Mountain Golf Club. “First we had a meeting about the items we needed just to open up the course, and then we had to have a second meeting on these additional regulations and how we’re going to control sanitation. It’s been an extra layer of work, that’s for sure.”
Here’s a closer look at each area course open to the public, including their rates, what’s changed, what’s open, and more:
Mountain View Country Club
Open Friday?: Yes
Location: 310 Elks Club Road, Boalsburg, PA 16827
Course yardage/difficulty: White tees — Par 71 (6,015 yards); 69.0 rating/126 slope; Red tees — Par 71 (4,625 yards); 66.5 rating/112 slope
18-hole rates: Friday-Sunday is $65 (includes cart) before 1 p.m. and $39 after 1 p.m; Monday and Thursday is $39 all day; Tuesday is $32 all day; Wednesday is $55 before 1 p.m. and $39 after 1 p.m. (Note: All rates listed are for non-members; holiday specials and other promotions run throughout the year.)
Tee-time spacing: 10-15 minutes
Driving range: Open
Practice putting green: Open
Carts?: Yes, one person per cart (exceptions for members of the same household)
Pro shop open?: Open; four customers allowed in shop at once to promote social-distancing
Bar open for takeout?: Yes, takeout only
To book a tee time: Call the pro shop at 466-7231, or book online at TeeOff.com
Notes: No ball-washers or water coolers on course. ... Flagsticks must be left in hole, and no-touch inserts will be in the cups. ... No rakes on course; golfers asked to use shoes or clubs on sand traps. ... All high-touch areas on golf carts will be disinfected after every round.
Penn State Golf Courses
Open Friday?: Yes, but tee times must be made in advance
Location: 1523 W. College Ave., State College, PA 16801
Course yardage/difficulty: Blue Course: White tees — Par 72 (6,329 yards); 71.1 rating/131 slope; Gold tees — Par 72 (5,750 yards) 68.4 rating/128 slope. White Course: White tees — Par 72 (6,130 yards); 70.0 rating/131 slope; Gold tees — Par 72 (5,672 yards); 67.9 rating/126 slope.
18-hole rates: Blue Course — $31 (plus an additional $18 for the cart or $7 for a push cart); White Course — $26 (plus an additional $18 for the cart of $7 for a push cart)
Tee-time spacing: 20 minutes
Driving range: Closed
Practice putting green: Closed
Carts?: Yes, one person per cart (exceptions for members of the same household)
Pro shop open?: Closed. Food and beverage will be limited, but golfers can bring their own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
Bar open for takeout?: No
To book a tee time: Call the pro shop at 863-0257, or book online at pennstategolfcourses.com
Notes: Golfers are asked to arrive no earlier than 20 minutes before their scheduled tee times. ... Portable restrooms are available on both courses and in the parking lot; hand sanitizer will be available. ... Club rentals will be temporarily disallowed. ... Scorecards and pencils will not be available. ... Flagsticks must be kept in the holes, and inserts will be inside the cup to avoid touching it. ... “Gimmies” are in effect; anything within a putter’s length will be officially considered good. ... No bunker rakes (play preferred lies). ... No trash cans on the courses; put trash in garbage/recycling contains around parking lot.
Philipsburg Elks Country Club (semi-private)
Open Friday?: Yes (Members-only, or members with guests, Friday-Sunday. Public welcome Monday-Thursday)
Location: 1 Country Club Lane, Philipsburg, PA 16866
Course yardage/difficulty: White tees — Par 70 (5,580 yards); 67.7 rating/129 slope; Red tees — Par 72 (4,982 yards); 69.4 rating/123 slope. (Note: This is a 9-hole course with different tees for the “front” and “back” for those playing 18)
18-hole rates: Friday-Sunday is $45 with cart; Monday-Thursday ranges from $25-$35 based on demand
Tee-time spacing: 15 minutes
Driving range: Closed
Practice putting green: Open with social-distancing in effect
Carts?: Yes, one person per cart
Pro shop open?: Open only to collect carts/greens fees. Items can still be purchased but will be delivered curbside or on first tee
Bar open for takeout?: TBD
To book a tee time: Call the pro shop at 342-1114
Notes: Golfers are asked to come no earlier than 10 minutes before tee time, to avoid large groups. ... Working on touchless pay options. ... Planning to follow all of guidelines implemented by Pennsylvania Alliance for Golf. ... Members-only (plus guests) from Friday-Sunday will be only temporary due to demand/increased spacing in tee times. Public will be allowed to golf Friday-Sunday in the future but can now golf Monday-Thursday anytime.
Skytop Mountain Golf Club
Open Friday?: Yes
Location: 350 Skytop, E Mountain Road, Port Matilda, PA 16870
Course yardage/difficulty: White tees — Par 72 (5,809 yards); 69.0 rating/137 slope; Red tees — Par 72 (4,593 yards); 63.5 rating/119 slope
18-hole rates: Friday-Sunday is $29 (plus an additional $18 for the cart) until 2 p.m. and is $24 (plus $18 for the cart) afterward. Monday-Thursday until 2 p.m. is $24 (plus $18 for the cart) and, after 2 p.m., is $19 (plus $18 for the cart).
Tee-time spacing: 20 minutes
Driving range: Open, with signage about social distancing
Practice putting green: Open, with signage about social distancing
Carts?: Yes, one person per cart
Pro shop open?: Yes, limited to one customer at a time. (Due to tee-time spacing, Skytop doesn’t anticipate a backup here.)
Bar open for takeout?: N/A
To book a tee time: Call the clubhouse at 692-4249, or book online at skytopgolf.com
Notes: Flagsticks will remain in holes. ... No rakes or ball-washers. ... There will be a cup insert to prevent balls from going into the hole. ... Several “hand-sanitizer stations” available near the pro shop and restrooms.
Toftrees Golf Club
Open Friday?: Yes
Location: 1 Country Club Lane, State College, PA 16803
Course yardage/difficulty: White tees — Par 72 (6,378 yards); 71.7 rating/137 slope; Red tees — Par 72 (5,555 yards); 72.5 rating/125 slope
18-hole rates: Friday-Sunday is $60 all day (includes cart); Monday-Thursday is $60 before 3 p.m. and $40 after 3 p.m. (Note: Those online rates are special only until May 10; after that, the summer rates go into effect, with $85 on the weekends and $65 during the week.)
Tee-time spacing: 10 minutes
Driving range: Open, with additional spacing between each station and with the golf balls sanitized/washed after each use
Practice putting green: Open, with social distancing in effect
Carts?: Yes, one person per cart (exceptions made for family members)
Pro shop open?: Limited to one person at a time, or by appointment only. An area will be set up outside the pro shop, where golfers can pay their greens fees and can purchase balls, Gatorades, etc.
Bar open for takeout?: No. The Field will be open May 15.
To book a tee time: Call the clubhouse at 238-7600, or book online at toftrees.com.
Notes: Golfers are encouraged to walk; carts will be prioritized to ADA, then members and then based on availability. ... Member bag room will be temporarily closed. ... Flagsticks are to remain in the cup and remain untouched (the cups have been adjusted for player safety). ... Bunker rakes have been removed, and bunkers are to be played as preferred lies with foot-raking encouraged. ... Course amenities, such as ball washers and water stations, have been temporarily removed.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 3:43 PM.
