Local golf courses taking precaution

“We don’t have any intentions of closing anything,” Delk said. “It’s an outdoor sport, so that shouldn’t be a problem for anyone. We’ll institute some special cleaning on the carts, and we’ve already started extra cleaning in the clubhouse.”

As long as the pandemic doesn’t keep customers away, Delk is anticipating a strong spring — both at his course and throughout the area.

“There’s been so much rain that we couldn’t really tell if we’ve got any increases, but it looks like it’s gonna be a good season,” he said. “If this scares everybody off, it could change things, but we expect a really good season.”

The Pearl Club is currently renovating bunkers on the front end of the course, and it will serve as host of the high school golf 3rd Region Tournament — “if it gets played,” Delk noted.

“We’ll get through it,” Delk said. “It’s just how long it’ll take and what’ll happen until then.”

If the level of activity Sunday at Panther Creek is any indication, Ferguson expects a positive few months ahead.

“Sunday was an extraordinary day; sunny and 70 degrees,” he said. “We had more golfers than we could keep up with. Since then, the weather hasn’t been conducive to golf. I’m anxious to see, on a pretty day, what golf would look like in this environment.”

For the foreseeable future, however, Owensboro-area courses are hoping to carry on business as usual.

“Unless we get direction from local or state officials, we’re gonna keep doing what we’re doing, with an abundance of precaution,” Ferguson said.