By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — Although you may see people playing golf at Whitetail and other golf courses in Dunn County, the businesses are still technically closed.
Governor Tony Evers and Angela Palm, secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, issued a “Safer at Home” order to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus that went into effect March 25 and which also closed additional non-essential businesses, including golf courses.
So how is it that people are playing golf in Dunn County?
Golf courses are private property, and as long as social distancing requirements are followed by people from different households, the sheriff’s department has no authority to remove them from the golf course, said Dunn County Sheriff Kevin Bygd in an e-mail message to the Colfax Messenger.
“The courses are not ‘open.’ They are allowing members, who have paid their annual membership, to come out and golf. Non-members are considered trespassing if they go out onto the course,” he said.
A letter dated March 31 and signed by Menomonie Police Chief Eric Atkinson, Sheriff Bygd, and KT Gallagher, director/health officer, Dunn County Public Health, was sent out to golf course proprietors.
The letter lists what is and is not permitted on golf courses, and the entire text of the letter is published below.
In general, people may walk or play golf on the course as long as they maintain social distancing requirements of six feet. People who live in the same household do not have to maintain social distancing.
The golf course clubhouses must be closed to walk-in business, and the power golf carts owned by the golf courses cannot be rented or used by those out playing golf.
Sheriff Bygd said he had spoken with the owner of Whitetail and had been told members who have their own golf carts have been using them.
“Personally-owned carts can be used and shared with family members from the same household,” Sheriff Bygd said.
When asked if it would be possible for fitness centers, which also are private property with paid memberships, to “open” for their paid members, Sheriff Bygd said “no.”
“The problem for a fitness center is that they would have to allow people into their building, and they can’t do that,” he said.
“A golf course may be able to get away with having their doors unlocked because they are also a licensed restaurant and can do take-out food. It cannot be eaten on the course property, but someone could take food home. No drinks can be sold from the clubhouse to be consumed on the property, either,” Sheriff Bygd said.
Green space
During her weekly update on COVID-19 on April 3 that is broadcast and archived on Facebook, Gallagher also addressed a question that had been posed about the golf courses being “open.”
People who are using the golf courses are being asked to keep their close contact on the course to people from their household, she said.
If they cannot voluntarily follow the rule of limiting close contact to their household and maintaining social distancing of six feet from other people, then the public health department will work with law enforcement, Gallagher said.
Violations of the governor’s Emergency Order #12 and the Essential Business Declaration are subject to penalties included in Wisconsin statute 252.25 of up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500.
Gallagher said that during the “Safer at Home” order, it is especially important for people to follow the three “goods” — good sleep, good food and good exercise.
The green space in Dunn County is what attracts people to the area, and the golf courses in Dunn County allow local people to enjoy local green space, she said.
More questions
During Gallagher’s April 9 weekly update, she again addressed the question of golf courses, noting that she had received many contacts and questions about people being out on golf courses in Dunn County.
Gallagher said she is currently working with the state for more clarification on golf courses.
If state officials say there should be no one out on the golf course except for employees, then that changes what is currently be allowed, she said.
The golf courses in Dunn County should be used by local people, Gallagher said.
“We don’t want people coming from out of town to play golf,” she said.
People who are closer to each other on the golf courses than six feet, and people riding together in their own personal golf cart, should be members of the same household, Gallagher said.
“If you see something, say something. Call in real time,” she said, acknowledging that people may not be entirely comfortable with calling law enforcement about what they have seen on a golf course.
Anyone wishing to report something they have seen on a golf course is encouraged to call the non-emergency number for their local law enforcement agency, Gallagher said.
Letter
March 31, 2020
Re: Golf Courses
Dear Golf Course Proprietors,
Since the declaration of Emergency Order #12 Safer at Home Order, and the Essential Business Declaration, the Menomonie Police Department, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dunn County Health Department have conferred about the use of local golf courses. Golf courses existing in the City of Menomonie and throughout Dunn County may do the following without violating the aforementioned Order and Subsequent Declaration:
• May conduct sales for memberships and discount cards online.
• May take phone calls for coordinated tee times to prevent crowding on the grounds.
• Employees are allowed to perform minimum basic operations as defined in the order.
• The clubhouse or social club on the course grounds must remain closed for business.
• Licensed restaurants on the golf course property may be open for to-go orders in accordance with guidelines for restaurants outlined in Emergency Order #12 Safer at Home Order. Food may only be consumed off the property of the golf course.
• Picnicking on the golf course and its grounds is not permitted.
• The renting or permitting the use of course owned/leased golf carts is not permitted.
• Golf course proprietors may allow people to walk and/or play golf on the course so long as they maintain social distancing requirements of six feet, do not open their business for transactions and follow other directives given in Emergency Order #12 Safer at Home Order.
• People may use their personally owned golf carts on the course provided no one else rides in the cart except for a member of the family or resident that lives with them in the same single living unit.
• Cups and pins in greens must be removed to prevent potential touch transmission of COVID-19.
• Gatherings of more than ten people on the course is prohibited.
• Markers/posts commonly found on practice greens are permitted on the greens to replace the traditional cup.
Please be advised local law enforcement officials are responsible for investigating complaints that are in violation of Emergency Order #12 and the Essential Business Declaration. If it is determined a violation occurred you may be subject to the following according to Wis. Stats. 52.25: “Any person who willfully violates or obstructs the execution of any state statute or rule, county, city or village ordinance or department order under chapter 252 and relating to the public health, for which no other penalty is prescribed, shall be imprisoned for not more than 30 days or fined not more than $500 or both.”
We understand that times are difficult for golf course proprietors, and the rules imposed by the state may be confusing. It is our goal to assist you and other members of the community in understanding what all of our responsibilities are to help prevent the community spread of COVID-19, while trying to preserve the freedoms we often take for granted. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and understanding.
Sincerely,
Eric M. Atkinson, police chief, Menomonie Police Department; Kevin Bygd, sheriff, Dunn County Sheriff’s office; KT Gallagher, director/health officer, Dunn County Public Health.
