Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz reversed course on Thursday and announced that the city’s three municipal golf courses will open for public play after all, but don’t expect to be let in if you’re a Michigan resident.
City officials two weeks ago said the three municipal courses — Ottawa Park, Collins Park, and Detwiler — would be closed indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the mayor said courses will institute social distancing precautions and open for business Friday.
“The bottom line is, we’re in this situation because of the unusual dynamic of being a city on the border of two states that are handling this issue differently. That's the core of the challenge we face," the mayor said. "With this and all decisions related to the coronavirus, we are in a position of having to follow the lead of our state governments.”
Other courses across Ohio have been allowed to remain open during the pandemic, for the most part, but Michigan officials ordered golf courses there to close.
Following the mayor’s Thursday news conference, he sent a statement that acknowledged the different regulations in neighboring Michigan puts a border community such as Toledo “in the unusual position of having to allow golf courses to remain open while preventing Michigan residents, who cannot golf in their home state, from coming to Ohio.”
Following conversations with Ohio’s governor, lieutenant governor, and local health officials, Mr. Kapszukiewicz said provisions will be put in place requiring that only Ohio residents be allowed to use the state’s golf courses.
”[Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted] continue to believe that golf courses should remain open as an important mechanism of mental health, exercise, fresh air, etc.,” Mr. Kapszukiewicz said. “Both of them said that we could require that only Ohio residents golf at Ohio golf courses. I'm sure it's not a perfect policy, but nothing about the situation we are in, right now, is perfect.”
It is up to each county’s local health department to enforce the policy, which asks that golfers provide a state-issued ID to play. Lucas County Health Commissioner Eric Zgodzinski adopted the position that citizens from Michigan pose a health threat to Ohioans and, as such, golf courses that allow Michiganders to golf will face the threat of closure.
Several Toledo City Council members said they don’t believe opening the golf courses is a good move. Councilman Rob Ludeman said he enjoys golf, but he isn’t using any courses now because he doesn’t believe people will maintain the 6-foot distancing recommended by health experts to curb the coronavirus’ spread.
“I think we should rethink the whole thing. I don't know why, all of a sudden, it's imperative to open up the golf courses. I thought it was a good idea to have them closed down,” he said. “This is not business as usual. I don’t think it’s a necessity in this crisis, right now.”
He sent an email to the mayor and other city council members outlining his concerns. Councilman Chris Delaney replied to his colleague’s email to say he agreed.
“We have kept our guard up and the curve down as a result. I too believe this is premature and does send mixed messages to our citizens,” he wrote.
Council President Matt Cherry weighed in and said he believes the courses can operate safely during the pandemic and provide the opportunity for Toledoans to get some exercise.
Mr. Kapszukiewicz said opening courses is not a response to state health officials’ predictions that Ohio’s coronavirus surge won’t be as large as previously predicted. He urged everyone to still take social distancing seriously and limit contact with others to avoid spreading the infectious illness.
But he said fresh air and exercise also is important, especially when people are, otherwise, confined to their homes.
He added that golfers are encouraged to pay in advance over the phone with a credit card. Only walking will be permitted though someone with a clear physical handicap will be allowed use of a motorized cart.
“I understand both sides of the argument, and this is one of those situations, I'm sure, where no matter what we decide to do, there will be some people who think it’s the wrong decision,” Mr. Kapszukiewicz said. “The fact of the matter is, golf courses have been open in Toledo all along. Golfing in Toledo has never stopped happening. We decided it makes the most sense to follow the lead of the governor and Dr. [Amy] Acton, which is what we've been doing on every decision.”
City officials have taken other precautions at city-owned parks to prevent the spread of coronavirus, including taping off playground equipment and removing hoops and rims from basketball courts. Tennis nets still are up, for now.
“Golf, like tennis, is one of those activities that can be done responsibly with social distancing,” the mayor said.
Mr. Ludeman said he doesn’t like the message it sends that some sports are allowed, while others are not.
“It appears to be discriminatory in that you’re closing down the basketball courts but you’re opening up the golf courses,” he said. “How do you justify that?”
First Published April 9, 2020, 4:10 p.m.
