Golf courses around Saskatchewan have been under a standstill due to a ban on many large public businesses, but the sport of golf might be one of the first to come back.

Places in British Columbia that can nearly golf year round are starting to come back under some new protocols.  

Mark Patterson, PGA Canada president and head pro at the Harbour Golf Course and Resort in Elbow, is one of those people eagerly awaiting the beginning of the golf season when it’s safe. Premier Scott Moe said the province will release a strategy next week of how they plan to re-open the economy and many public activities.

The game is being played at some courses in B.C. with raised cups – if your ball hits it, it counts as completing the hole – and here’s no need to touch the flagstick.

“When he (Moe) does say that golf can be played, we are going to be totally ready,” Patterson said. “The whole industry, golf professionals to players are going to be ready. And I’m going to say that they’re going to be very respectful, and it’s shown out in B.C. of keeping distant, like the flag in the hole, the raised cup et cetera.”

In B.C., they’ve asked golfers to arrive no earlier than 20 minutes before their tee time to limit the amount of public interaction and also closed golf course restaurants, closing putting greens and hitting nets, and are asking people to leave immediately after their game is over.

The 2020 RBC Canadian Open  has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The four-day competition would have taken place starting June 11 but the event has been wiped off the PGA’s calendar.

Patterson is also dealing with the likely cancellation of their own big event, PGA Canada’s annual general meeting at Elbow.

“Right now, we’ve got about a week to go before we really have to make the call on if we do have it here, how do we get people here?” Patterson said. “People are coming from all over the world. If that’s the case, I can’t see it happening with all the travel restrictions.”