​Evaluating Golf Courses as Essential Services During Covid-19

Depending on what you do for a living, your state government has deemed your position essential or non-essential, keeping you on the clock… or not. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, determining who or what counted as an essential service presented some gray areas. This gray area was further clouded as states made their own judgements, not necessarily in agreement with each other. A prime example: golf courses.

During this stressful time, many people are eager to get outside and exercise. Otherwise confined to our homes, due to social distancing, people want an outlet for the anxiety caused by the uncertainty around this pandemic. For many, teeing up is the ideal way to maintain some level of normalcy and take a break from the endless news cycle. But, are golf courses essential?

The answer, it turns out, is determined by where you live.

Golf is Essential, Depending on Geography

The question, Are Golf Courses Essential During The COVID-19 Crisis?, comes down to state jurisdiction. According to Forbes, “As of now, 32 states currently allow golf courses to open during the COVID-19 pandemic, while roughly a third of states have decided that golf is non-essential.”

These decisions have motivated some golf enthusiasts to cross state lines in order to get on the green. Unfortunately, in some cases they’ve been turned away as more states issue interstate travel restrictions in an effort to strengthen social distancing and stem the tide of coronaviruses cases.

At IonLoop, we’re fortunate to have headquarters in a state that deems golf courses an essential service; even so, the decision for golf courses to remain open can vary between counties.

An important distinction noted in the Forbes article: “In Florida, which has the largest concentrations of seniors in the United States, Governor Ron DeSantis has decided that it’s A-okay for golf courses to stay open, but some individual counties, including Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, are preventing play.”

Access this updated list of which states evaluated golf courses as essential and which did not, but make sure you call the course to confirm before you venture out.

If you are able to book a tee time, make sure you shop the IonLoop inventory of negative ion bracelets and magnetic bracelets for an accessory designed to support your overall health and wellness. Check out our golf series in particular, along with our USA series, featuring the America Strong theme.

No matter which services are designated essential, at IonLoop we’re confident that this crisis will be behind us sooner than later and America will be back in business on the world stage. In the meantime, know that all of our IonLoop products are available to support you during this difficult time. From our family to yours, stay strong, stay safe, and keep the faith.