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Sen. John Jasinski is opposing Gov. Tim Walz' stay-at-home order by suggesting that golf courses should remain open despite the threat of COVID-19.

“Our obesity rate in Minnesota is high,” Jasinski said in a March 27 video posted on Facebook. “This is one thing that will help people get out.”

Jasinski added that he’d sent a letter to Walz’ office asking him to change the order, which closed places of public accommodation, such as golf clubs, hair salons and country clubs.

The governor's office did not immediately respond to calls for comment from the Minnesota Record.

Executive Order  20-18, signed by Walz on March 25, states: “In addition to widespread voluntary social distancing, closure of public accommodations remains an effective and necessary measure to slow the spread of COVID-19. Based upon observations of the community spread, allowing the closure of public accommodations to expire on March 27, 2020 would be premature and undermine our successful collective efforts to slow the spread of this pandemic. An extension is necessary to protect the public health and safety of Minnesotans."

Jasinski conceded that he is not a golfer but that golf is an activity people should embrace during such a crisis, according to a post on his Facebook page.

“It is good exercise,” Jasinski said. “You can be outdoors, you can connect with your friends, and you can maintain safe social distancing practices. We should be encouraging people to play golf, not closing courses down.”

He said a lot of small businesses are in serious jeopardy and need help. Constituents chimed in with positive and negative feedback.

“All businesses should be open. No one should be closed,” Jan Jochum said in a post. 

Mark Wangy Wangerin said to stay home and that it is not a holiday. 

“This poor senator has friends who want to go golfing and tell him I’m not gonna support you anymore if you don’t get this opened up, but the rest of us can’t go on enjoy anything we used to do,” Jeremy Bauer said.