Michigan Golf Journal June 2020

Michigan Golf Journal Guest Column Perhaps more than any other sport, golf lends itself to the unexpected, unprecedented, and ridiculous. Whether it’s the lucky bounces your friends always get or the time your shank somehow came back to hit you squarely in the forehead – or somewhere more tender. As we wrestle with the various burdens and challenges created by Covid-19, the golf industry has been rocked to its core by questions, restrictions, confusion, and the ever-present passion to get out and play. Having covered the game for over 30 years, here are 5 Pandemic observations from a diehard golf nut: 1) The “ Lord of the Flies”  story portrays communication excellence in comparison to the golf scene in our state throughout April and much of May. Can courses be open? What restrictions are in place? How is that course using carts when we were told they are prohibited? These, and dozens of additional questions and rants flooded my inbox from frustrated PGA Professionals, General Managers, and Course Owners – all thanks to brutally poor communication from those making decisions in Lansing. Golf is a $4.2 Billion per year industry in this state and deserves to be treated with more respect than to fall prey to the political whims of those who mistakenly believe the game is the exclusive property of one party or group. We spent several weeks watching a shameful display of division and class warfare from Lansing leadership at the expense of those who feed their families by working in the golf, travel, and hospitality industry. 2) A Good Walk Enjoyed – during the brief time when carts were prohibited (depending on where you lived, what day it 5 Pandemic Observations From A Diehard Golf Nut Guest column: Bill Hobson, Michigan Golf Live and FORE Golfers Network