Outdoor enthusiasts find space as recreation reopens at Lake Sylvia, Highland Golf Course

As two state parks and golf courses opened in the county Tuesday morning, those taking advantage of the warm temperatures and blue skies didn’t show up in great numbers, and the vast majority who did practiced social distancing as they enjoyed the outdoors at Lake Sylvia State Park in Montesano and Highland Golf Course in Cosmopolis.

Highland golf pro Ronnie Espedal said golfers didn’t descend on the course in the numbers he expected.

“I was kind of hoping for a little bit more,” he said, but, “Everybody is very happy to be here.”

A sign on the pro shop door limits visitors inside to two at a time. Outside, a few people worked the chipping and putting greens. At the driving range, two young men hit buckets of balls — each on the opposite far end from the other golfer.

The rules that need to be followed in order for golf courses are pretty simple and rely on cooperation from the golfers themselves. The list can be found online at several locations, including https://wagolf.org/ — Washington Golf is an amateur golf association with membership consisting of more than 69,000 golfers, 650 member clubs and 260 golf facilities throughout the state.

First, you need to contact your course to establish a tee time. Some take online reservations. Either way, you can find contact information for your local courses online at their websites or Facebook pages.

Groups are limited to two golfers teeing off at a time, although according to the rules up to four people from the same household are allowed to tee off at the same time, at the discretion of the course. Again, call ahead to make sure what your course will allow. And golfers should continue to maintain social distancing as they would anywhere outside their own homes.

Espedal said there are copies of the rules posted throughout the course.

Anglers hit Lake Sylvia

Late-morning anglers lined the bridge, the fishing platform near the dam and spots of the shoreline at Lake Sylvia on Tuesday and enjoyed some pretty steady fishing for rainbow trout. Some groups were from the same household and were able to stand closer together, while solo anglers were able to find adequate elbow room in most cases.

The state stocks Lake Sylvia with rainbow trout, including some larger fish, weighing several pounds. One angler on the west end of the lake had a green five-gallon bucket with some of those larger fish. Nearby, David Reinkens of Westport hauled in a big rainbow. His pal Anthony Blevins of Montesano said he had caught two of a similar size earlier in the day.

The park is open for day use only — the campgrounds remain closed. Aside from Lake Sylvia, the only other state park open is Schafer State Park on the Satsop River in Elma.

As with fishing, some parks are open, and some fishing areas are open, but not all. According to the State Parks website, “Some parks may not open immediately due to impacts on rural communities and the potential for crowding. State Parks is working with local communities and its partners to determine the best approach and timing to reopen these areas.”

As for fishing, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has reopened Puget Sound marine areas for fishing, but the coast — Marine Areas 1-4 — remains closed to fishing and shellfishing.

A statement from Fish and Wildlife dated Monday reads, “While freshwater fisheries and Puget Sound saltwater fisheries (with the exception of shrimp and halibut) reopen beginning May 5 under permanent rules, the harvest of clams, oysters and mussels remains closed statewide, and all saltwater fisheries off Washington’s Pacific coast also remain closed in consultation with local health authorities. This includes all fishing and shellfishing in marine areas 1-4.”

Fish and Wildlife also reminds anglers that emergency regulations put in place before the outbreak are still in effect. Locally, that incudes “All fishing in the Chehalis Basin closed until the Saturday before Memorial Day. (Includes Chehalis, Elk, Johns, Hoquiam, Newaukum, Satsop, Skookumchuck, Wishkah, and Wynoochee rivers and their tributaries, and Cloquallum and Elk creeks and their tributaries.)”

Many public water access sites might still be closed, including local, federal or tribal facilities, said Kelly Cunningham, Fish and Wildlife Fish program director. People should be prepared to make alternate plans if their intended destination remains closed or appears too congested. All camping on wildlife areas and access areas remains closed and anglers should come prepared to provide their own toilet paper and soap and water or hand sanitizer.

Anglers are also urged to recreate within their own communities and to follow physical distancing guidelines, keeping 6 feet between themselves and others and not traveling by car or boat with anyone outside of their immediate household.

“It’s on all of us to follow these guidelines and hep reduce the spread of COVID-19 without future closures,” said Cunningham.

A twosome heads out to play a round of golf at Highland Golf Course in Cosmopolis Tuesday morning.

DAN HAMMOCK | GRAYS HARBOR NEWS GROUP Two golfers, one in a cart and one on foot, play a round of golf at Highland Golf Course in Cosmopolis Tuesday. Golf courses, with restrictions, were allowed to reopen Tuesday with provisions put in place to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

photos by DAN HAMMOCK | GRAYS HARBOR NEWS GROUP Anthony Blevins, of Montesano, left, and David Reinkens, of Westport, show off the big rainbow trout Reinkens caught out of Lake Sylvia Tuesday morning.