Business was booming for golf businesses as new golfers were on the course in 2021

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With the lockdowns and restrictions in 2021, there was very little for people to do to get out of the house for some exercise. The only thing available was golf. Although there were increased protocols for courses to follow, business really ramped up as new people picked up the sport.

“Golf was one of those inherently safe or appropriate activities,” says Alon Shatil, the owner and general manager of East Park golf course. “It spurred a real surge of golf interest. Avid golfers were out there and then a lot of people who have thought of golf or maybe didn’t think of golf suddenly were interested.”

Some of the protocols they had to follow were one person per golf cart in the beginning, which eventually changed to two people per cart with a divider. They also had to space out tee times and limit washrooms in the clubhouse to one person.

“There was definitely a surge. With the reduced capacity and the increase in interest, the utilization certainly went up substantially. In 2018-19, golf was sort of at a low point. If you look back 10 to 15 years ago, with the pandemic, we’re starting to make headway towards those peak numbers back in that time.”

Laura Mulder is a new golfer and she picked it up after all of her sports and her kids’ sports were put to a halt.

“I think the appeal more or less for me was just spending time with my partner,” says Mulder. “We had another couple in our bubble, so spending time with them and just being about to get out of the house and do something besides walking.”

Golf really helped with her mental health as well.

“I’m not the type of person that can just sit there and do nothing. As I said, I have three kids, all of them very active in sports. When all of that stopped, it was hard. I needed an outlet, something else to do. Golf was that thing. It got you outside and being able to travel around to other golf courses was nice too.”

Mulder says she definitely sees herself keeping up with golf in the years to come, even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.