South Florida officials have confirmed that recreational facilities, golf courses, boat ramps, marinas, and pools in multi-family developments will all be allowed to open effective Wednesday, April 29th, meaning Shane Lowry should be able to have his first hit of golf in over five weeks.
The Open Champion has been making the best of lockdown in Palm Beach with his wife Wendy and daughter Iris, keeping fit with internet classes conducted by long-time S&C coach, Robbie Cannon.
With the PGA Tour putting forward a June 11th restart date at the Charles Schwab Challenge, any opportunity to play would be welcomed by Lowry, though he admits he’d be confident of playing well even if it was fresh off an extended break.
“I actually think it would suit,” Lowry said in a live Q&A with PaddyPower.
“I think I’ll be fine if a tournament started tomorrow and nobody had any practice. Some lads would have had practice, but I think I would be fine.
“The golf courses are still closed here. There are rumours they are going to open next week, on May 1. So hopefully that happens and I can get back playing. I haven’t hit a ball in about four and a half weeks now, so it will be interesting when we get back.”
“We are just trying to pass the time as much as we can. We could get home (to Ireland) but the PGA Tour are talking about starting in June, but I think if we came home we might not be able to get back. So that’s why we are staying here for the foreseeable future.”
That May 1st date has been brought forward to April 29th after Mayor Dave Kerner announced that, “At 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday of this week, the county will have an order executed opening up different facets of our recreational activities here in Palm Beach County.”
The golf courses reopening is subject to restrictions being met, however:
- Public and private golf courses will be allowed to reopen on Wednesday. Play will be set up for walking, single-rider golf carts, or shared carts for families living in the same household.
- Practice facilities, clubhouses, locker rooms, and pro shops will remain closed.
- All league, clinic, camp, youth, and other organized activities will remain suspended
OK, so it’s not all systems go for golf in Florida but such limitations won’t be a problem for the 33-year old Clara swinger who admitted prior to the announcement that, “I can’t wait until I’m playing nine holes on my own. So whether it be the Masters or any regular event, I don’t really care, I just want to go out and play golf.”
Don’t we all, Shane. Don’t we all!
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