Through our management company, Columbia Hospitality, we’ve also partnered with Ecolab, a global leader in infection prevention, to take our already stringent safety and sanitation protocols to the next level through the Columbia Clean program.
COLUMBIA CLEAN PROTOCOLS INCLUDE:
- Increasing the number of customer-accessible hand sanitizing stations at primary entrances.
- Using commercial-grade MERV-13 rated air filters and opening doors and windows to improve ventilation whenever possible.
- Utilizing highly effective and sustainable Ecolab cleaning products to clean and disinfect throughout the properties.
- Utilizing training and procedures as recommended by Ecolab and the CDC.
- Increasing the frequency and intensity of cleaning and disinfecting high-touch, high-traffic areas, such as countertops, door knobs, push carts, golf carts, and more.
- Enhancing cleaning and sanitation standards throughout the clubhouse.
- De-cluttering paper and other amenities, such as pen, scorecards, menus, and supplementing with digital options.
- Activating Columbia Clean Teams; team members thoroughly trained on health, hygiene, safety, and sanitization standards and responsible for upholding these standards.
In addition to the Columbia Clean protocols, our facility has implemented the below to comply with the COVID-19 worksite-specific safety practices, as outlined in Gov. Jay Inslee’s guidance documents.
- Utilize on-line or phone tee time reservation systems to pre-pay and limit interactions, and restrict payments to credit cards only to eliminate the handling of cash.
- Maintain a log of all customers, including contact information.
- Normal golf groups are permitted, although strict social distancing from members in other households is still required.
- Two riders per cart are now permitted from different households.
- Regularly sanitize counter tops, door knobs, other common surfaces, range buckets, golf carts, push carts, cash registers, score posting kiosks, and other frequently touched surfaces including employee used equipment.
- Ensure that the flagstick remains in at all times. Players will be educated to avoid touching the flagstick for any reason.
- Be creative with cup liners to avoid having players reaching into the hole to retrieve golf balls, such as installing cups upside down or partly above ground.
- Eliminate cups and holes on practice greens.
- Discontinue club and equipment rentals.
- Outdoor golf course driving ranges and practice areas, as well as standalone driving ranges, are functionally equivalent to golf courses and will be utilized with the health and safety standards that apply to golf courses.
- Remove bunker rakes and other on-course furniture like benches, ball washers, water coolers, etc.
- On-course garbage cans – lids are removed to avoid any physical contact with the receptacle.
- Modify driving range hitting areas to ensure a minimum 10-foot separation between players.
- Install signage to discourage group congregation, or to limit numbers of people in a certain area of the club or pro shop. Golfers will be reminded to be especially mindful of social distancing in the parking lot, and around tees and greens.
- Place appropriate signage outside the pro shop and clubhouse plus at the first tee entries briefly outlining the social distancing guidelines in place.
- Keep up to date on all changes that are happening daily.
- Marshall the course to ensure physical distancing by reminding golfers, and where necessary, warning repeat offenders.
- Ask golfers to leave the golf course immediately after playing to eliminate congestion/gathering on the property or in the parking lot.
- Increase the number of hand sanitizing stations throughout the clubhouse area and check-in areas.
- Restrict access where unauthorized visitors may enter, most specifically “back of the house” doors and entry points.
- Increase frequency of HVAC system filter changing.
- Ensure restrooms are frequently cleaned and appropriately sanitized throughout the day.
Our golf course will stay updated on advice from the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) “Park and Play” program.
For questions or concerns, please contact our General Manager, Mark Knowles at 360.683.6800 or via email.