Golfers On The Front Lines

Six essential workers from the New York City area share personal accounts of the pandemic and how golf is helping them cope

- Alan P. Pittman

Through the years we’ve written extensively about the healing power of golf, from the ash-covered firefighters of September 11 who found a sense of peace and community in the game to the transformative stories of our Golf Saved My Life series. In moments of personal crisis, golf and fresh air can be profoundly cathartic. This seems to be as true as ever during the coronavirus pandemic. With the U.S. Open coming to New York City, the original epicentre of the virus in the United States, we invited six essential workers from the region who are golfers to share what it was like during “the surge” in March and April when the virus ravaged this city, killing more than 20,000 and overwhelming hospitals. What has it meant for these professionals to risk their lives to help others? How has golf helped them subsist? The virus has been in retreat here, but it continues to devastate large swathes of the country. More than 160,000 have died. These stories are a vivid reminder of the human cost, but also of our resolve and shared humanity.

HALEY CAMPBELL

25

REGISTERED NURSE

MORRISTOWN (N.J.) MEDICAL CENTRE

PLAYS AT WEEK APAUG GOLF CLUB, WESTERLY, R .I .