I was pleased to see that both the Asociación de Profesionales de Golf (PGA of Argentina) and the Asociación Argentina de Golf (AAG) have sent letters to Argentina’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Matías Lammens, requesting the prompt reopening of driving ranges and golf clubs.

Our sport, since it is non-contact and played outdoors, does not pose major risks regarding the spread of COVID-19. On the contrary, it is beneficial because it allows people to breathe fresh air in open spaces, exercise, and enjoy recreation for better physical and mental health, while also supporting, from an economic standpoint, the finances of clubs, employees, instructors and everyone directly or indirectly related to golf.

Hopefully these requests will succeed, although personally I am skeptical that this will be the case, mainly for two reasons. On one hand, there is the difficulty involved in managing travel permits for those who need to move in order to play. Another factor, I believe, is political: if practicing this sport is justified, it could also be argued in favor of allowing others with similar characteristics.

These two factors are basically what fuel my skepticism.

However, whether it is in May or November, one day we will return to playing golf. And so it is worth asking ourselves how we should prepare to do so in the best and most enjoyable way possible.

I would say that first of all, since we have not played for several weeks, we should not expect to perform at the same level we were used to. This mindset will bring acceptance and peace of mind, allowing us to play more calmly and enjoy it more.

On the other hand, there is everything related to our physical condition and technique.

I suggest we take advantage of this time to spend a few minutes every day on the following activities:

- Take a golf club in your hands and make slow swings, trying to correct at low speed the aspects each of us knows we need to focus on: 

• better weight transfer
• keeping the head more stable on its axis
• maintaining better balance in the finish

- Stretching the muscles slowly will help us become more aware of what the club and our body are doing during the swing, and will allow us to feel more flexible when we return to play.

- Practice putting. If you can do it with a ball and a mat, even better. But if you don’t have those elements, simply holding the putter and practicing, for example, a symmetrical backswing and follow-through is already a step forward.

With 10 to 15 minutes of all these exercises inside an apartment — and even more so if you have a garden or the privilege of hitting balls into an improvised net — you will undoubtedly enjoy it much more on the day we finally step back onto the first tee.

*Pablo Sola was recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top 50 instructors in the world outside the United States between 2011 and 2014. He was also the founder of the Argentine Golf Association School in 1995 and its Director until 2002.

*Wegolf is not responsible for the author’s opinions.