New Yorkers have been playing golf again since Gov. Andrew Cuomo relaxed the restrictions last Friday and made it possible for courses to reopen.
Many Connecticut golf courses have been open during the entire coronavirus crisis.
New Jersey golf courses, which have been closed down for the past couple of weeks since Gov. Phil Murphy specifically identified golf courses as non-essential businesses, want to know, “What about us?’’
In the wake of the New York courses being allowed to open, The Post has learned that the governing bodies of New Jersey golf on Tuesday sent a letter to Gov. Murphy’s office making a plea for him to follow suit with what Cuomo has allowed in New York.
Chris Bauer, the executive director of the New Jersey PGA, told The Post that the allied force of governing bodies included the NJ PGA, the Philadelphia PGA, the New Jersey Golf Association, the New Jersey Club Managers Association, the New Jersey Golf Course Owners Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey combined on the letter sent to Murphy’s office.
This is the summary of what was in the letter, according to Bauer:
“We are encouraged by the possibility that golf could be reopened when the local government and health officials deem it safe to do so. Our allied associations have banded together to help industry professions make their facilities a safer place for their staff, membership and customers.’’
Bauer noted that Gov. Murphy told reporters on Monday that he plans to make an announcement on how he plans to reopen New Jersey sometime this week, with hopes that golf courses will be part of that reopening.
“We assured the governor that we’re not just looking to reopen, but that we will be making it safer and consistent from facility to facility,’’ Bauer said.
Both New York and New Jersey remain in a shelter-at-home mode until May 15. But Bauer said he hopes and believes that doesn’t mean courses will remain closed until May 15.
“I hope opening of the courses is getting closer and closer,’’ Bauer said.