By Jed Buelow
Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor, Sports and Nature Editor
Under the Safer at Home guidelines that were extended through May on April 16, golf courses around the state were allowed to open with some restrictions to the public including Edgewater Golf Course and Inshalla Country Club in Tomahawk.
Tee times were filling up quickly at both courses as the ban was lifted Friday, April 24 at 8 a.m. The lifting of the ban that had prevented golfers from hitting the links coincided nicely with a warming trend making golf courses a popular place to be allowing golfers the opportunity to let out some pent-up stress caused by the shutdown.
The reopening of golf courses did come with some restrictions. Clubhouses and pro shops remain closed to patrons and golfers were restricted from using golf carts. Beverage carts have also been stopped for the time being.
Bradd Bucks from Edgewater said despite the restrictions, he and his fellow golfers were just happy to get a crumb handed to them under the new guidelines so they were able to get back out on the course.
“People were really antsy to get back out there,” Bucks said. “I think we are all just happy to take any crumbs we could get and really look forward to it.”
Jason Kahle said Inshalla likely would have had its earliest opener this year since taking ownership of the course back in 2017 had it not been for the shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It will be nice to see it open back up,” Kahle said in adding around 50 tee times had already been booked when the course was set to open last Friday. “Unfortunately for the leagues they will remain on hold for now.”
Both Kahle and Bucks said their golf courses made it through the winter in good shape. Edgewater opened with all nine holes ready for the season while Inshalla opened with the back nine Friday and had plans to open the front nine sometime this week.
Both courses are hoping the state will lift the restriction on golf carts so more people can get out and enjoy the nice weather. They are also encouraging golfers to practice social distancing so courses around the state aren’t shutdown like they were in Illinois after being allowed to open early.
Both Edgewater and Inshalla are reserving tee times and payment by phone. Inshalla also takes reservations online at inshallacc.com. Inshalla can be reached at 715-453-3130 and reservations can be made at Edgewater by calling 715-453-3320.