Mark Goldsberry has been trying to prepare his Cherry Creek High School golf team for a possible upcoming season while waiting for answers.

Golf courses have been open most of the summer, so Creek golfers have been able to play, but because of COVID-19 restrictions have not been able to work much around Goldsberry.

“By far the most difficult part has been not knowing the answers as to what is going to happen and having to sit around,” said Goldsberry. “Really, a lot of us coaches are used to being busy and we’ve really been idle. It’s not like there is a date you can look forward to to get back or if you can get back. That’s frustrating.

“I would be surprised if the CHSAA (Colorado High School Activities Association) lets some sports play and some don’t. Either everybody is playing or nobody is playing. I don’t think there will be anything in between.”

CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green tried to clear up some questions on Twitter about the fall season.

“Once our plans receive approval by state and health officials, we will communicate the next steps,” she wrote. “We are extremely optimistic about the collaborative direction of discussions. I reiterate the word `patience.’ We have some challenges but we are moving.

“A COVID-19 resurgence and a stall with state reopening phases could disrupt our planned start dates for the fall but we are moving towards resuming all sports and activities with potential contingencies for 2020-21.”

Meanwhile Cherry Creek golfers have been able to get out on courses and tune their games.

“Our kids have been playing quite a bit because the junior golf association has had a lot of tournaments,” said Goldsberry. “So in my sport, the kids have been out playing most of the summer. Yeah they can get out and compete as much as they want where other sports really haven’t been allowed to do that.

“The social distancing in golf is one of the more apt sports to be able to do that because you are not really competing against anybody or hitting anybody or standing next to somebody.”

Golf is also different in many players rely on private mentors as much as high school coaches.

“Most of the players all have their own swing coach,” admitted Goldsberry. “That’s why we’ve been real hesitant to start summer practices or camps. We have these phases that we’re going through. We’re trying to get to phase three. I tell my kids to go practice with your coaches and practice on your own because you can do more with them than I can do with you right now.

“I’ve been coaching high school sports for 30 years and this is by far the strangest time period I’ve ever gone through. I just feel so bad for the kids not being able to be with their friends, socialize and compete in all different sports.”

Goldsberry, however, is optimistic if there is a high school golf season.

“We’re excited,” he said. “We qualified all four kids last year for state and three of them were freshmen. So we will return three sophomores and a senior this year. And we think we have some good young kids behind them to push for those top four spots.”