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City Golf Courses to Reopen Saturday for Play Only

Courses will open for play with restrictions; no dine-in or retail services will be available; tee times required

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller will reopen City of Albuquerque golf courses with limited operations on Saturday, May 2 following new guidelines issued by the New Mexico Department of Health on Thursday. The new public health order allows golf courses to reopen for golf only. No dine-in food service or retail will be available.

“In an effort to reopen businesses and facilities in phases, we are ready to welcome our golfers back to the City’s four golf courses starting this weekend,” stated Mayor Keller. “As we enter this new phase, it’s critical that people continue to follow physical distancing rules and all other necessary restrictions at these facilities to combat the spread of the coronavirus. If we continue to work together in One Albuquerque fashion to keep each other healthy and safe, we’ll be able to continue this phased reopening in the weeks and months to come.”

The City owns four municipal golf courses that will reopen on Saturday, May 2, including Arroyo del Oso, Ladera, Los Altos, and Puerto del Sol. Please note that the golf facilities at Balloon Fiesta Park will remain closed as that facility is being used as a COVID-19 testing site.

City courses, including course concessionaires, will be following best practices for golf course operations under the current COVID-19 conditions. These best practices have been developed by municipal governments and golf course operations experts from across the country. Golfers should expect some delays and understand that not all services may be available.

Golf courses, their employees, and golfers, must continue to adhere to certain restrictions reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure:

At the Clubhouse and Parking Lot:

  • All rounds will require a tee time until further notice.
  • Tee times for twosomes will be in 8-minute intervals and foursomes in 12-minute intervals.
  • All transactions will be completed at the door or via a walk-up window. Pro Shops will remain closed to the public until further notice.
  • Golfers must remain six feet apart while waiting to check in for their tee time.
  • Players are urged to not arrive at the golf course more than 15 minutes prior to their tee time and to leave the course immediately when their round is complete.
  • Snack bars or grills will be open for take-out and carry away only. No congregating in areas surrounding snack bars, grills, or patios. Beverage carts will be available on the golf course; however, only one person per group may approach the beverage cart.
  • Physical distancing will be enforced at all times.

On the Course:

  • All practice facilities will be monitored by a course marshal to enforce physical distancing; driving ranges will be set up to use every-other tee.
  • Walking is encouraged; One rider per golf cart unless golfers reside in the same household.
  • No sand bottles will be allowed in golf carts.
  • No pencils will be allowed in golf carts.
  • All golf carts will be sanitized between rounds.
  • All ball washers have been removed.
  • All bunker rakes will be removed.
  • Flag sticks must stay in the hole at all times.
  • All water fountains will remain off until further notice.
  • Field restrooms will be sanitized every two (2) hours.
  • Physical distancing will be monitored and enforced by course marshals.

Face Coverings

  • Golfers maintaining the required six feet of physical distancing are not required to wear a face covering during play.
  • Golfers are required to use face coverings while inside any building or interacting face to face with any staff during any transaction, whether inside or outside.