Golf courses to open in Illinois May 1

Dust off those clubs and wash those balls, everybody.

Because golf will be open for business in Illinois, beginning May 1.

Details are still being worked out, but according to a release sent out by Governor J.B. Pritzker on Thursday afternoon, courses will be able to operate “under strict safety guidelines provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).”

“The Allied Golf Associations of Illinois are thrilled that the governor's office has seen fit to reintroduce golf in a safe manner,” Carrie Williams, the Executive Director of the Illinois PGA, told the Daily Herald in a phone interview. “As a group of associations that administer and support the game, we trust the governor's office and the stable of experts they have on hand to determine how golf could be reallowed with minimum touch points and minimum concern about the spread of (corona)virus.”

Williams said the Allied Golf Associations of Illinois provided the governor's office with information of how neighboring states were allowing their residents to golf.

Restrictions on golf are likely to include a mix of the following at first:

• Walking only

• Standard tee time intervals of approximately 10 minutes.

• All payments will be made online

• No access to clubhouses

In addition to golf courses, state parks will begin a phased reopening under guidance from the Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and boating will be permitted, as long as there are not more than two people in a group.