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.