Manteca plans to reopen the municipal golf course as well as city parks for limited use on Wednesday morning.

City Manager Miranda Lutzow said parks will be opened for low-key use such as picnics while group gatherings will still be prohibited. Use of exercise equipment will still be barred. Basketball hoops are not being restored at this time while drinking fountains will remain covered.

 Lutzow said the city has added one other requirement to the 51 that San Joaquin County Health Director Dr. Maggie Park said must be met before the 10 public and private golf courses within the county that were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic could reopen.

The city is requiring all golfers to bring a mask with them to the course. They will need to be ready to place the mask on their face at any point when they are unable to maintain six-foot social distancing as required by the state.

Lutzow said after city leaders concurred that they favored the golf course could reopen that staff started immediately taking steps to make sure the mandatory requirements issued by the county are met.

They include:

*All clubhouse and indoor facilities will remain closed, including but not limited to, the pro shop, bar, and dine-in restaurants. Dining areas may only remain open for grab and-go service or delivery.

*Removing seating from dining and picnic areas, or rope off the areas.

* Locker rooms and showers will remain closed. If items need to be retrieved from a locker, the area will be sanitized upon completion of retrieval.

*Driving ranges may be used provided that range balls are properly sanitized before distribution to customers. A 10-foot spacing between stalls is recommended.

* Practice putting greens will remain closed.

*Trash cans should be touchless. Remove lids if present and not operable by foot.

*Course restrooms can remain open provided they are cleaned hourly. The entrance door must be propped open.

*Remove any water dispensers that require contact. Instruct golfers to bring their own water or provide bottled water.

*Each golfer must have their own golf clubs, shoes, and equipment. Discontinue club rentals.

* Except for persons of the same household, players should not touch another player’s ball, equipment, scorecard, or pencils.

*Only one person per golf cart, except for persons of the same household.

*Affix a scorecard and new pencil to the steering wheel of each sanitized cart before use.

*Employees who engage with guests must wear a face covering that covers the nose and mouth. Provide such face coverings to employees if needed.

*All employees have been instructed to maintain at least a six-foot distance from golfers and from each other, except employees who may momentarily come closer when necessary to accept payment, deliver goods or services, or as otherwise necessary.

* Vending machines, coffee pots, and other similar communal employee amenities, except refrigerators and microwaves, should be decommissioned at this time. Handles and control pads for refrigerators and microwaves must be frequently disinfected. Personal drink bottle and ice chests are encouraged.

 *Any player with a fever or recent contact with anyone known to have COVID-19 is not allowed at the facility.

*Golfers are strongly encouraged to wear facial coverings.

*Those who are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 are discouraged from golfing (individuals over age 65, individuals with compromised immune systems, and individuals who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease).

*Require tee times to be made in advance, electronically or be telephone, and eliminate walk-up tee times.

*Require payment in advance using a method that does not require exchange of physical currency (e.g., credit card).

Golfers must wait in their cars until their designated tee times. No social gathering while waiting for the round to begin.

*Allow golfers to proceed to their first tee without any physical contact or entry into the pro shop.

*All players must begin at the first tee.

*Instruct golfers to not touch flagsticks or remove flagsticks.

*Encourage gimmes to reduce crowding near the hole.

*Require golfers to leave the property immediately after playing to eliminate congestion.

*No congregating in the parking lot.

*Increase tee time intervals to a minimum of 10 minutes.

*Maximum of four (4) people per group and each group must be stable for the duration of the round. No splitting off, substituting, or adding golfers.

*Social distancing must be maintained around the green. Keep appropriate distances on tee boxes, fairways, and greens.

*A golf marshal shall be deployed to ensure that golfers are following social distancing protocols and to prevent golfers from congregating on the golf course.

*Cover cups, invert cups, or create a barrier, so the ball cannot be holed.

*Remove rakes from bunkers.

*Disable golf ball washers.

*Pin flags can stay on the course, as long as it is articulated that golfers shall not touch pin flags for any reason.