Guerrilla Golfers Sneak Onto Greens Closed by Pandemic

[no_hypocrisy]

Half of all golf courses are shut down. But across America — and especially in Florida — renegades are still getting their fix.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/business/coronavirus-golfers.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage


Westchester, a public course, appeared to lack any kind of “Get Lost” signs or locked gates. But course managers across the country have put up yellow caution tape, posted “No Trespassing” warnings and removed pins, rakes and tee markers.

It doesn’t matter. A group of golfers in York, Pa., ignored the tape and played until police arrived and shooed them away. Officers have also been dispatched to greens in Brockton, Mass. In New York City, police have escorted more than 300 golfers off public courses in Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. Five players have been issued $50 summonses for trespassing.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. We're Doing It

Members only. (Not a country club). No carts as course is closed.
Police departments have already said they won't stop it, unless people are not following distancing guidelines. They stated it's not trespassing if one has already paid. The course Facebook page even says members can walk, no more than 4 people per hole.
And, I've been playing alone, so I seldom get within a hundred yards of anyone else.
I'm no renegade. I'm getting exercise and I'm very careful & safe.
Now, I understand the fair concern over daily fee players trespassing. The course still has liability concerns and people playing for free aren't putting into that insurance premium pot.
But, if people are being smart, this is no different than cutting one's lawn while the guy 4 doors down is also doing it.
Hanging out, drinking beer in the parking lot, high fiving... That's all stupid.
But, this seems like a pretty trivial issue for the NYT to publish it.

[Blues Heron]

3. It just encourages other people to want to "cheat" the quarantine.

Bad example to set. We all have to give a little. You cheat on this, other people cheat on that, pretty soon everybody's doing stuff they shouldn't be. Don't be a spreader, don't look like a spreader, don't encourage spreading. Everybody's so special the rules never apply to them.

No golf- how is that possibly hard to understand? Why break the rules durring a global pandmemic?

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Because I Think That's Absolutism?

Going to the grocery store is far greater risk. I know people have to eat, and don't have to play golf.
But, the point of all this is safety.
Being 100 yards to 2 miles from other people does not compromise safety.
People just going out for a walk is not being discouraged. Unlikely most of these people never come within 100 yards of anybody else.
It's unproductive absolutism to suggest that something obviously within the guidelines of distancing is a problem. It simply doesn't square with the whole point of keeping one's distance.
And, I'm not responsible for other's bad decisions if they choose to ignore safety because they see a guy Aline in the middle of a field with nobody within a quarter mile.
Don't want to go out there? Fine, don't. But, I'm not going to restrict activities that are clearly & obviously safe.

[Blues Heron]

6. It's not about you, it's not up to you to decide.

It's not your decision. It's about giving up golf for the duration so as to discourage spreading behavior. The act itself might seem benign, but others see you being a spreading scofflaw and it encourages them to want to break the rules too. Next thing you know you have people flocking to the courses which we don't want. The idea is simple: stay at home. Golf is very non-essential.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Silly

There's no law at which to scoff.
I'm done here!

[Blues Heron]

8. How is this any different from the "I need a haircut" protesters?

Don't be a spreader, don't look like a spreader, don't encourage spreaders. Please don't play golf during this.

[Ferrets are Cool]

10. As long as you all stay 15 ft from each other at all times

and don't touch the flag, I see no problem. Others may point out something I am missing.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Inevitably

Punishments will rise to include execution by police when the first golfer of color is encountered on a course. $50 fine? That's reserved for privileged classes.

[Celerity]

5. +100000

[Kingofalldems]

9. As a golf fanatic I understand what's going on here.