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PAGE A12, KEIZERTIMES, APRIL 3, 2020 KEIZERTIMES.COM Keizer golf facilities remain open and safe KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald McNary Golf Club has taken numerous safety precautions, but can still stay open in spite of Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order. BY MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes Though public parks and the majority of gathering places have been shut down due to spread of COVID-19, golf is still an activity Keize- rites can enjoy during the pandemic. Despite Gov. Kate Brown releasing an executive order on Monday, March 23 that shut down many non-essen- tial businesses, golf facilities like McNary Golf Club and Willow Lake Golf Center are allowed to stay open for the time being, so long as they adhere to a strict set of regulations that enforce so- cial distancing. “It means a lot that we’re able to stay open because people are experiencing a lot of stress in their daily lives. Golf brings people calm and allows people to get out- doors,” said Chip Sullivan, the PGA director of club operations at McNary Golf Club. “Even through we are all going through tough times, anyone can come out and enjoy the scenery and fresh air. I hope it will be a good safe haven for people.” Rich Howard, the owner of Willow Lake Golf Center, March 24. “Golf is allowed as long added similar sentiments. “It means that we can stay as the social distancing mea- solvent fi nancially by staying sures are in place, country open, but more importantly, club activities for a gather- we can still provide an out- ing would not be allowed. let for people,” Howard said. We categorized golf similar “Cabin fever is a real thing to a hike or outdoor activity, so we love that people can rather than through “essen- come here, be outside and tial travel” which is meant to stop va- have conver- cations,” said sations with Leah Horner, people, as “ I hope it will on behalf of long as they be a good the Gover- are practicing nor’s offi ce. social distanc- safe haven for H owe ve r, ing. It gives people.” McNary Golf us a sense of will pride that we — Chip Sullivan, Club be enforcing are able to Director of Operations strict guide- provide this McNary Golf Club lines in order service to the for everyone community After Brown’s executive at the facility to remain safe. Patrons will have to re- order, Sullivan admitted that he wasn’t clear on whether main six feet from each oth- or not he had to close Mc- er at all times and there can only be one customer in the Nary Golf Club. “She seemed to men- pro shop at a time. Unless it’s a family mem- tion everything except golf ber, more than one person courses,” Sullivan said. Sullivan actually closed riding in a golf cart at a time the course March 21-23, is prohibited. “We are doing every- but after getting clarifi ca- tion from the Oregon Golf thing we can do to protect Association, he was able to Please see GOLF, Page A9 re-open the club on Tuesday, McNary seniors may never see the diamond again forward to bringing that By MATT RAWLINGS power to the Celtics this sea- Of the Keizertimes For many prep athletes, son. “This has all been pretty senior year is the highlight of their high school sports shocking. I have been play- ing the game my whole life, career. Typically, senior athletes and then it was just taken have the opportunity to be away instantly,” Patterson celebrated with their friends said. “I was really looking and family on senior night forward to being a leader on and get the chance to play this team.” Okada has been involved their favorite sport for one with the Mc- last year. Nary mu- Sadly, the sic program spread of the “ Senior night since he was C OV I D - 1 9 is what every a freshman virus is bring- and commits ing senior sea- senior athlete a lot of hours sons all over looks foward to to playing the country to with the Celt- an abrupt end. for their entire While the career, and right ic band, but he described OSAA hasn’t how much he canceled the now, it looks would miss spring season like we won’t not having a just yet, all senior baseball practices and be able to have season. games have one.” “I was re- been suspend- ally looking ed until at — Alex Tavera, forward to least April 28. McnNary senior infi elder having a big- If the sea- ger role with son does in- deed get canceled, all fi ve the varsity team. But I was seniors on the McNary base- also really excited for things ball team — Jamison Mar- like senior night and just tin, Ethan Patterson, Danny being with my teammates,” Okada, Alex Tavera and Alex Okada said. “Baseball has al- Simpson — would see their ways been a stable thing in prep careers come to a con- my life. It’s really weird to clusion without a fi nal send- have all this free time right now.” off. On April 15, it is expected “I feel extremely bad for our senior class. There has the OSAA Executive Board been so much that is un- will have a decision as to known through this whole whether or not there will be process. I was hoping that a spring sports season. Even we would have some kind if the season is shortened, it of season, but those hopes would mean the world to are slowly diminishing,” players like Patterson and McNary head coach Larry Okada to have any kind of Keeker said. “I’m sure dis- season at all. “It would be amazing if appointed, but it’s out of our we just had some kind of control.” For Okada and Patter- season. Even if it was really son, the 2020 season was short or if it went into June supposed to be about prov- or July, I would just love to ing themselves at the varsity see a glimpse so that I could level. Both players split time savor it and appreciate it,” between JV and varsity last Okada said. Patterson added: “It would spring and were coming off of successful summer league be a great thing to remember seasons. Patterson even hit if we were to have a senior a pair of homers during the season. Parents would be summer and was looking there. We would have a se- nior night. I can’t even put into words what baseball means to me and I want to end my time as a high school baseball player in the right way.” Simpson and Tavera both played varsity baseball last season and were expected to be key contributors on the 2020 team. However, the connection that these two share goes beyond just being teammates. Simpson lost his father as a 10-year old. Days after his dad’s funeral, Simpson hit his fi rst ever home run for his McNary JBO team, a mo- ment that he considers as his top baseball memory. “It was a rough time, but I had my mom, my team- mates and my coaches to help get me through it. And I had baseball. Baseball has been the sport I always stuck with,” Simpson said. For Tavera, baseball took on a whole new meaning when his father Pancho, who was a long-time youth baseball coach in the Sa- lem-Keizer area, passed away in 2015. “Baseball was one of the bonds that I had with my dad. I kept on playing for him. I want to make him proud,” Tavera said. “Base- ball has always helped me through it all, that’s why I want to prove that I can play in college.” Even though his baseball career might continue into next season, Tavera doesn’t want his fi nal year of high school baseball to end like this. “It really sucks right now. It seemed like it was going to be a really fun year with all the young players and some of the new guys on our coaching staff,” Tavera said. “Senior night is what every senior athlete looks forward to for their entire career, and right now, it looks like we won’t be able to have one.” Simpson, on the oth- er hand, plans to enter the Please see CELTS, Page A9 File TOP: Alex Tavera clebrates a walkoff single last season against Sprague. BOTTOM: Alex Simpson hustles down the line.
