TAMPA, Fla. — With beaches, parks and pools closed there aren't very many outdoor activities to do with Safer at Home orders in place.

  • Many golf courses remain open in Bay area
  • With social distancing in effect, golf remains an activity you can do
  • Check with local courses for new coronavirus-related rules 
  • CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES: In the Tampa Bay area

But there are still some options where you can maintain social distance.

Most Bay area golf courses have elected to stay open, and that's good news for people like Don Aiken.

"It's a means of getting some exercise on a daily basis," Aikens said.  "Can't be more than 400 yards apart from the next group so that's good social distancing."

Rich Unger is head PGA Pro and Manager at Heritage Isles Golf and Country Club in New Tampa.  

He says the course has implemented changes for COVID-19 to keep players safe while at the course.

"This gives you the opportunity to get out in the fresh air, have some exercise and play a game that you love," Unger said.

The pro shop is closed, but you can still check-in and pay to play under a tent outside. This keeps customers away from gathering inside and also separates customers from employees.

Every golfer now gets their own cart that is sanitized after each use.  

Ball washers on the course are sealed shut with shrink wrap. 

And an extra PVC pipe installed on the bottom of each flag stick lets the ball lean into the hole, but not fall in so you don't have to touch anything to pick it up. 

"We've basically eliminated any contact that you'd have that other people would be touching to things to make it safe," Unger said.

Although the new rules probably won't help you shoot a lower score, they are keeping courses open. 

That keeps people on the course, grounds crews working everyday and employees with a paycheck.