Sporting A Cause

Monthly Archives: March 2020

Breaking News !!

 

A patch of good news in a fear-soddened world. Yesterday the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development sent a statement to the Canaan Country Club that Connecticut golf courses can open/reopen as long as they follow CDC guidelines. That means restaurants associated with the golf courses will remain closed and golfers must abide by the new rules of conduct in a coronavirus world.

Just this morning New York State informed the New York State Golf Association that New York State golf courses can reopen, again, subject to CDC guidelines.

As of this morning(March 26th) Massachusetts courses are still closed.

This is wonderful news! The governments, both state and federal hamstrung themselves with their own wording. Using the word “nonessential” to define businesses that must shut down, they included enterprises like golf courses which can of course conduct business in a safe manner.

As soon as I learn of any changes for Massachusetts I will let you know.

Fore!!!

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It’s Our Turn Now

 

You see their names all the time, the same ones over and over. You see their names on T shirts at 5K road races and Tee signs at golf tournaments and on lists in “Thank You For Your Support”  letters to the editor.

They are the small town businesses who give constantly and repeatedly to the fundraising events making money for our treasured charities. They donate gift certificates and raffle, door and auction prizes and just plain cash because it’s their way of “giving back” to their communities.

There are over 450 events on sportingAcause.com all of which have business sponsors. And that’s just sports-related fundraisers. The total fundraisers must be in the many thousands in the Tri-State area – all business-supported.

And as we know, their support underwrites the events’ expenses. Without those sponsors, there are no fundraisers.

Now, in the time of the coronavirus, many of those businesses are hurting – especially those who have been ordered by law to close. Some like restaurants and breweries are open for takeout or delivery only. It won’t be enough to sustain them indefinitely, but it may keep them afloat for the short term – maybe.

So here is where we can help. Please, please make it a point- no- make it your mission to patronize the restaurants and breweries in your town by stopping by for takeout or ordering delivered meals or getting a six pack to go. These businesses need our support more than you know.

It’s our turn now, and “giving back” is a two-way road.

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Golf – The last Sports Refuge ?

The golf course may be the last sports refuge in these crazy times.

At its essence, golf is a solitary sport, and even when enjoyed with others there is a natural distance between players. But even on the links some changes have emerged to help keep everyone safe.

The most obvious change of course is there can be no post-round beers at the bar or lunch either  since all restaurants are closed. But course eateries are still offering snacks, lunch-type foods like sandwiches and beverages to take onto the course.

Here is what some of the public courses in the sportingAcause.com Tri-State area are doing to accommodate golfers in coronavirus world.

Egremont Country Club, South Egremont, MA- not open yet, hope to be open soon.

Hotchkiss School Golf Course, Lakeville, CT – may open as soon as April 1st.

Fairview Farm Golf Course, Harwinton, CT – open for the season, burgers, dogs,  sandwiches and beverages available to take on the course.

Green Woods Country Club, Winsted, CT – not open yet.

Quarry View Golf Course, Canaan, CT – course and driving range open, no food options.

Undermountain Golf Course, Copake, NY – open, beverages and snacks available to take on the course , no lunch menu yet.

Winding Brook Country Club, Valatie, NY – tentative opening date  March 29th.

Canaan Country Club, Canaan, CT – open but without carts, limited luncheon items and beverages available for takeout.

Links at Union Vale, Lagrangeville, NY – beverages and sandwich menu to go. Also only allowing one golfer per cart and only a couple people in the pro shop at a time.

Other measures that some clubs are taking to avoid the virus spread are no rakes in the sand traps, no ball washers, leaving the pin in while putting and using raised cups (when your putt hits the raised cup lip it is considered “in”).

Many courses are also sanitizing carts after each use.

Before you tee off, check with the pro shop at your favorite course to see what changes they’ve made to help ensure our safety.

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The New Normal

Just a few weeks ago, the first time I saw an image of the coronavirus it reminded me of a Nerf ball- something a child would play with, not the fearful, hateful thing it has so quickly come to symbolize.

The scroll at the bottom of the TV screen during the evening news last night seemed like the Storm of the Century was upon us –  schools closed, senior centers, town libraries, day care centers, all closed. But then, unprecedented in my experience, the scroll continued past the news through the rest of last night’s programming as event closings grew in number.

“Unprecedented” is a word we’re seeing a lot  lately. All major sports programs are shut down- the NBA, NHL, MLB have ended their seasons or at least “postponed” them. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is history. March Madness has a new meaning now.

And the speed of change is breathtaking. We don’t like change usually, but if it must, let it be in a measured, considered manner, extended over time. Two days ago, Connecticut high school athletes were protesting the “unfair” abrupt cancellation of all state sports tournaments . No one is protesting now.

Most of the weekend sports-related fundraisers in our area have been postponed. Here is a list of those events that appear on sportingAcause.com.

Retro Dodge Ball Tournament, Litchfield- postponed, hope to play at a later date.

VFW Couch-Pipa Bunco Tournament, North Canaan-  postponed until a later date.

Hoops For Hope, Poughkeepsie – postponed until a later date.

Shamrock Run, Kingston – postponed until a later date.

NW CT Rod and Gun Club Ham Shoot – still on for now.

Stay safe my friends, and welcome to the new normal.

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FORE !

 

The crocuses are up with the daffodils close behind, frogs have been playing dodge- the- cars on rainy nights, and yes, the golf season has begun- at least for now.

Here is a listing of some local public courses that are up and running or close to it:

Canaan Country Club in North Canaan, CT is open but walking-only, no carts yet.

Fairview Farm Golf Course in Harwinton, CT  is open for business with carts.

Undermountain Golf Course in Copake, NY  is open with carts in the rough-only.

Green Woods Country Club in Winsted, CT promises to be open in “a week or so” – they are rolling greens and raking up winter debris.

Stonybrook Golf Course in Milton, CT should be open by this weekend.

Quarry View Golf Course in Canaan, CT is open with carts. The driving range is open too.

The Links at Union Vale are open with carts (cart paths only).

The Hotchkiss School Golf Course typically opens by April 15th, but can open as early as April 1st under favorable conditions, according to their website. I’d say this might be that kind of year.

Neither the Egremont Country Club in South Egremont, MA  nor Winding Brook Country Club in Valatie, NY are open yet, but stay tuned –  they’ll be opening “soon”.

So there you have it Golfers. Plenty of open options to dispel all of that pent up demand.

Just stretch first, OK?

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I was wrong

I was wrong.

I’ve said it many times – for non-profits,  volunteers are second in importance only to donations- money first, volunteers second.

Saturday, Development Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association- CT Chapter Tina Hogan set me straight.

” I couldn’t accomplish anything without volunteers,” she said, ” They are more important than anything”. She made her point by listing a dozen tasks that volunteers perform- office volunteers, community representatives, graphic/web design, community educators, special events, and more. “The Walk to End Alzheimer’s takes 50 to 100 volunteers alone” Tina told me.

And that was why Tina and her crew were at the Falls Village Inn this past Saturday- for the Alzheimer’s Association Leap into Action Volunteer Kickoff to recruit help for a busy upcoming season of activities and beyond. And they were successful – 25 folks came and signed up to help!

Some of them no doubt will be lending a hand for The Longest Day (June 21st) and The Walk to End Alzheimer’s which will be held for the first time at Lime Rock Park in October. LRP has chosen the Alzheimer’s Association as its signature charity this year.

You will be able to find the details of both events on sportingAcause.com.

Evidence shows that people want to help out charities, both through donations and volunteerism, but often don’t know where to start. Here’s how: email alz.org/ct and offer your services. They can use all skill sets. Or contact another local charity whose mission is dear to your heart. They can all use the help.

 

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