Golf courses in the city and county are set to be reopened on Mondaym but the courses will be required to follow a litany of strict safety protocols outlined by the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment.

Walking Stick, Elmwood, Desert Hawk, the Country Club, and Hollydot golf courses were closed on March 26 when Gov. Jared Polis’ stay-at-home order for the state went into effect.

But with adequate safety standards established to ensure the maintaining of social distancing, the health department is allowing their reopening.

There is a long list of requirements the golf courses must adhere to in order to open and stay open, Mayor Nick Gradisar said on Friday.

The courses in Pueblo County will be open for use only by residents of Pueblo County, and tee times and payments will be made online or by phone with no face-to-face interaction.

Pro shops will remain closed, as will driving ranges and practice greens, and no club rental or storage will be allowed.

Tee times will be a minimum of 15 minutes apart, with group sizes no larger than four players.

Only one person will be allowed per golf cart unless riders are members of the same household, and carts must be disinfected following each use.

A distance of 10 feet must be maintained at all times between players who are not members of the same household; rakes will not be allowed in bunkers; and the cups will be inverted so players are not required to touch the cup to retrieve their ball.

As for food and beverage, golf course concessions will be take-out only, and food and drink will be allowed to be consumed on the course during play but not allowed in club houses or patio areas. No drinking water will be provided on the course.

Finally, other requirements stipulate that no group or private lessons will be allowed at courses, nor tournaments. And upon players finishing a round, they must leave the course right away.

rseverance@chieftain.com

Twitter: RyanSevvy