Hi, it's Steve Lovell. I hope wherever you in the world, this finds you safe and well with those you hold dear. As we all know, minigolf has the incredible power to unite us all and during the time of Covid-19, this is heighetened. I've spoken to a few friends around the world to ask them the same three questions about the situation we face.
How badly has Covid-19 affected your country?
When do you think you could be playing minigolf again?
Have you managed to do any minigolf activities at home, like Puttathome or made any obstacles?
In the second of the series, I caught up with Vanette Block from the United States, to speak of her experiences.
I'm Vanette Block and have represented the United States at the World Adventure Golf Masters, winning gold in the Czech Republic and silver in Sweden. I have also been US Ladies Putt-Putt champion.
Covid-19 has been devasting for us. We have had extremely high levels of unemployment, as many businesses were forced to close. Most of the population has been, or still is, under voluntary shelter in place mandates. There are very sharp divides in the populous, as to whether the shut downs and everything else have been too lenient or too excessive.
Parts of our country have begun playing as of last week, although it is on state by state basis. My state (North Carolina) will be relaxing some restrictions from tomorrow (Friday just gone). A few courses are opening up this weekend, I am not sure of the status of my local course yet. Hopefully will be back to putting before too long. I’m feeling cautiously optimistic, but at the same time, feeling a bit apprehensive about being back in public.
I have a new 16 foot putting green in the hallway and I used a smaller one for putt at home videos. I’ve enjoyed hitting the Euro golf balls in the house. We use regular golf balls, such as Titleist, Callaway and Chromax in US tournaments. I’ve also got some new obstacles too. Croquet gates.