'Opportunity to get out:' Golf courses across Wisconsin open as extended 'Safer at Home' order goes into effect

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GLENDALE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Golf courses around Wisconsin opened on Friday, April 24 as Governor Tony Evers' extended 'Safer at Home' order went into effect.

"It's spring time in Wisconsin," Golfer John Tate said. "We got to get golfing, so we thought we would take advantage of the courses opening today."

For Tate and others, the courses opening are a nice break.

"I've been working from home for probably a month and a half now," Golfer John Colby said. "So, the opportunity to get out and walk and just kind of be out in nature is a blessing at this point."

Colby was the first golfer at Brown Deer Park Golf Course when it opened at 8 a.m. on Friday.

"Everybody is practicing social distancing right, but when you're out on the golf course, it's really easy to not be within six feet, even when you're playing with somebody," he said. "I'm thrilled."

Although courses are open, there are restrictions. All tee-times must be scheduled online or by phone and clubhouses and pro-shops need to stay closed.

"We just want everyone to have a good time and social distance," Brown Deer Park head golf professional Andrew Barrett said.

At Milwaukee County Parks courses tee-times have been extended from every eight minutes to every 15 minutes to help with social distancing. Barrett said Friday and Saturday weren't completely booked, but he expects Sunday to be busy.

"This is kind of nice having a thin tee-sheet so we can kind of learn what to do, what we can do better, what we don't need to do," Barrett said. 

At Brown Deer Park Golf Course, only the golf course is open, the driving range and putting green are closed. 

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