In a conference call with ASGCA members, several golf course builders discussed how projects are able to continue amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Representatives of ASGCA-supporters Landscapes Unlimited, Duininck Golf, Heritage Links and Wadsworth Construction spoke with ASGCA on April 6.
A few of their comments:
Kurt Huseman, Landscapes Unlimited: “Everyone at our company is taking safety so seriously. Clients are impressed by what we’re doing and how we’re keeping projects going. We’re collaborating closely with architects to serve the interests of golf courses.”
“The amount of monitoring we are doing on a nationwide basis because of municipal restrictions has created a whole new layer within the organization to make sure workers and clients are protected.”
“We have seen clients want to take advantage of course closures to move up the timetable on projects, which is good.”
Judd Duininck, Duininck Golf: “An opportune time for projects that are on hold for architects & builders to work with the owner to figure out ways the project can be better. We’re definitely better together than apart.”
“We are doing more daily washing of our carts, holding meetings outside and spread out, which can be a challenge with 20 people. Our housing at project locations has not changed since we do not have a lot of people at one site at one time.”
Jon O’Donnell, Heritage Links: “Projects scheduled to start in August/September have contacted us to start earlier. Some planned for fall are putting brakes on due to uncertainty and discussions with their boards.”
“We are seeing some savings on fuel that are balancing out some added costs for things like hand-washing stations.”
Pat Karnick, Wadsworth Construction: “We have projects in nine different states. You have executive orders in each by governors and counties. We need to continue to do things legally in each area. No job started has shut down; those not started are suspended. We take safety extremely seriously and are concentrating on COVID-19 in spreading out physically, adding more trucks on site, more wash stations, etc.”
“We are fortunate to be working in multiple states, with a few projects even looking to speed up to take advantage of courses that do not currently have golfers on them.”