Golf Range Owners Teed Off [PHIL-OSOPHY]

We're lucky around here to have some nice driving ranges. There's Caddy Shack at in North Dartmouth across from where the old Lincoln Park used to be, and it's open daily. Over in Acushnet, there's Meadowbrook Golfing Range, also open daily.

But up in West Andover, at the Sarkisian Farms Driving Range and Ice Cream Stand, the 33 driving range bays are empty and the owners are very upset at local government leaders who told the business that Gov. Baker's decision to open golf courses did not include driving ranges.

Jeff Sarkisian called the town hall just to make sure and he was told that golf ranges are not golf courses, so he couldn't open up.

I'm at a loss for words.

Right now is a driving range's prime time as golfers practice for the quickly-approaching season. For the Sarkisians to be prohibited from opening doesn't make any sense to me.

The Whirlaway Running and Golf Center in Methuen, in business since 1931, is in the same predicament. I wonder what's in the water up there?

Thank goodness we have level-headed government leaders on the SouthCoast. When I read about stories like in West Andover, it reminds me of the old cliché: common sense is like deodorant, the people who need it most never use it.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.