Updated July 10, 2020

We hope that you, your family, and friends are remaining safe and healthy during these unprecedented times.  We have had many discussions regarding how we will be holding our outings this year and want you all to know that this has taken a lot of thought.  We have outlined how we will be handling the outings below.  Please know that we appreciate your continued support through these times and we especially appreciate your understanding on how outings will be run this year at our course.

Unfortunately, the Phase 3 restrictions are far stricter than anticipated.  We want everyone to have the fun time they have come to expect at Southers Marsh and we don’t feel we can provide that experience under the current rules.  We understand that many golf courses will not be following the rules – we will be following them.

Phase 3 Guidelines from the State – While shotguns are technically allowed, we can only allow groups of 25 inside or a maximum of 25% of our listed capacity in the entire facility.  For us this is 45 people, including staff.  Bars must remain closed, so drinks can only be served at your table.  This makes it impossible to conduct a golf tournament as people are accustomed to.  Bars will remain closed until Phase 4 (vaccine) which we expect will not be in 2020.

2020 Golf Outing Policies at Southers Marsh

We expect most of our tournaments to cancel their 2020 events under these guidelines.  We are deeply sorry about this, but we hope to put the pandemic behind us as soon as possible and come back better than ever for 2021.

• Shotguns will occur only for a maximum of 24 players and will tee off at 8 AM.
• The bar will be closed, but you may get served at your table.
• If an outing consists of more than 24 golfers, you must assign your golfers tee times. Food service will be box lunches only, and the expectation is that golfers leave the course when they are finished to allow golfers coming off the course access to the deck or dining room.  At no time can we have more than 40 people from the outing in and around the clubhouse, including volunteers.
• We only have 50 golf carts so there may not be enough carts for everyone. We are encouraging organizers to pair golfers who can ride together or have people walk if they are able.  Cart rentals for single rider carts are cost prohibitive unfortunately.

We know this was not the news you hoping to hear.  We are trying to do the best we can, and we wish you all the best.

Thank you,
Big Will, Willie, Tanya, JD, and the rest of the Southers Marsh Team

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

We will miss not seeing everyone on the parade route tomorrow, but we’ll try to make the best of it!

Fourth of July Shortened Hours

On the Fourth of July we will be closing at 6 PM.  The last tee time will be at 3:00.  As always in 2020, please do not come to the course without a tee time.  There will be beverage service on the course, but no food served in the clubhouse on July 4.  The range will close at 6 PM.

Driving Range Closed Completely
on Wednesday and Thursday

July 8 and 9, the driving range will be completely closed.   We need to finish construction and landscaping around The Barn.

Phase 3 Update

We will send another update on Monday when the next set of guidelines is announced and we have figured out how to best implement everything.  We anticipate offering league dinners again on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays starting the week of July 13 but everything is subject to change based on regulations.

As always thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,
Big Will, Willie, and the rest of the Southers Marsh Team

Updated June 7 – everything is subject to change, we’re learning as we go

Starting on Monday, June 8 we will be entering phase 2 of reopening.  Here are the key changes and how they will be implemented at Southers Marsh.

• Bathrooms in the clubhouse will be reopened.  We will not have porta-potties on the course.
• Please don’t come to the course without a tee time, and please don’t ask if you can go out early.  With every tee time filled, we can’t sneak people in or let people go out early, it backs everything up later.
• Tee times will go from 15 minutes apart to 12 minutes.  We will start implementing that on Thursday June 11 since the tee sheets were already mostly filled Monday-Wednesday.
• The outdoor driving range and practice green will be open.  We will be monitoring our driving range situation since we have very limited capacity due to our new range building.  Golfers must wear masks on the driving range.
• We will still be checking in via the office window nearest the practice green to minimize unnecessary traffic inside the clubhouse.  If you would like to purchase apparel or use the bathroom please let us know and you can come into the building.
• We will have limited seating on the deck and lawn for food and beverage service 11 AM-3 PM.  We will be following the state mandated guidelines for restaurants in phase 2.

Like I said, we are feeling our way along and trying to implement best practices so everything is subject to change.  We appreciate everyone’s cooperation as we try to gradually reopen safely and smoothly.

We truly appreciate your support,
Big Will, Willie, and the rest of the Southers Marsh Team

Updated Friday May 22

Thank you so much to everyone who has come out to play golf, and how cool everyone has been about the new rules.  We really appreciate your cooperation!

Updates and Observations

• No more raised cups – we have the new “Covid Cups” that let you pull your ball from the cup by gently snagging a hook with your putter
• We’re in a different time now – Please do not come to the course without a tee time, we are selling out daily
• Still no golf carts unless you have a medical reason, and the driving range, practice green and clubhouse (including bathrooms) are still closed by order of the state.  We have no guidance on when we will be able to open these amenities
• Golf Leagues are underway – for Memorial Day there won’t be a Monday league but our regular league players can still get the discount if you have a tee time, Tuesday will be starting the overall standings this week, we’re keeping the games simple on Wednesdays, and Thursdays are in full swing

Golf Outing Update

As of May 22, we are only allowed carts for medical reasons and tee times remain at 15 minutes.  There can be no gatherings before or after golf.  We understand this is completely different from the golf outing experience you are used to and totally understand if you would prefer to postpone or cancel your tournament.

We have no guidance as to when these restrictions will be relaxed, so for now, if you would still like to have your golf tournament, you will have to assign tee times for your players.  We can provide box lunches for your golfers as they check in to tee off.  We can put out hole sponsor signs, but it may be awkward asking businesses for financial support in the current climate.

Here are some ideas to replace the traditional raffle/silent auction:

• Sell raffle tickets on the first tee.  If everyone has teed off by the time the first group finishes (3.5 hours?) you can pull the raffle tickets and golfers can collect their prizes as they come off the course.
• Wheel of Fortune – we have the wheel.  Spin the wheel, win a prize on the spot!
• Silent Auction Website – we are recommending One Cause because we’ve already had a group successfully use it, but I’m sure their are other options.  People can place their bids on their phones

For the time being, we are holding our 2021 calendar of outings as close to the 2020 calendar as we can.

We are not going to speculate on when regulations will be relaxed or when we’ll be able to return to normal, because frankly we have no idea, nor does anyone else.  When we have hard facts on changes in regulations we will adjust at that time.

As always, we appreciate your support!

Thank you,
Big Will, Willie, and the rest of the Southers Marsh Team

The regulations have been updated to allow use of golf carts for those who need an accommodation.  Please see below for the exact rules, but it is our understanding that if you want to take a golf cart please bring a letter to “certify in writing” that you have “a disability that requires use of a cart.”