NEWS
Minimum Maintenance for golf courses during Covid-19 outbreak
By GCSAA
01 April 2020
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
SOLUTIONS
NEWS
USGA: Rules and Handicapping Guidance During COVID-19 Era
By USGA
20 March 2020
The USGA stands with our entire golf community during this time. We all love the game for the escape it provides, and it is our great hope that we will all be able to play it, watch it and enjoy it together soon. We continue to urge everyone to follow the guidelines from health and governmental officials to keep you and those around you safe, and to minimize any possible exposure to coronavirus. This is especially true on a golf course, where golfers, workers and owners should heighten their level of awareness on exposure to surfaces like flagsticks, golf balls, bunker rakes, tees, carts and scorecards. We all need to do our part to respect expert advice and make the right decisions to protect each other.
It is not the intended purpose of the below guidance to either encourage or discourage anyone from playing the game, but rather, in our governance role, to help golf course operators, committees and golfers better understand how the Rules of Golf and Rules of Handicapping apply to the various questions we have received.
The 2019 Rules of Golf were drafted to offer each Committee the flexibility to make decisions as to how golf is played at their course or in competition and the Committee Procedures section of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf (available online here) offers a significant amount of guidance and recommendations on how to address circumstances unique to each course or competition.
This flexibility will prove to be very helpful as Committees look to address many of the challenges they are facing within the current environment. While the Committee Procedures section is a tremendous resource and has much to offer, many of the current questions were not originally contemplated under the Rules of Golf and therefore there is no history or guidance provided. To better address the questions that have come about because of these unique circumstances and the related challenges, additional guidance can be accessed by clicking here. This will continue to be updated as additional questions are received.
From the perspective of the Rules of Handicapping, the most frequent questions received are primarily related to the acceptability of scores for posting to a player’s scoring record. In particular, relating to modifying the hole and not requiring the player to “hole out” as required under the Rules of Golf. These are founded in a desire to minimize the possibility of exposing golfers to coronavirus and have included leaving the hole liner raised above the putting surface or placing various objects into the hole so the ball can be more easily removed. In these specific cases, provided guidance from health and governmental officials is being followed, a temporary measure is in place within the United States to accept scores played under these conditions for handicap purposes using the most likely score guidelines, even though the player has not holed out.
This temporary measure is now in effect within the United States until advised otherwise by the USGA.
For more information and detailed guidance, please click here or contact your area and state golf association.
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
SOLUTIONS
NEWS
Colorado golfers flock to courses during COVID-19 pandemic
By Jake Gadon, KOAA NEWS5
06 April 2020
COLORADO SPRINGS — With COVID-19 shutting down all nonessential business in Colorado, there is one essential place everyone has flocked to.
On Sunday, Patty Jewett Golf Course was one of many golf course in Colorado packed with golfers, giving them an excuse to get outside. For some, even work on their game like Terrance McCommins
“Look at this beautiful weather, we get to walk, we do not have to stand to close to one another because of the situation,” explained McCommins, who says he and his friends golf every Sunday (weather permitting).
“Golf is a great social distancing sport in its own right,” added City of Colorado Springs Director Parks, Recreation and Cultural Service department Karen Palus.
When Governor Jared Polis issued his stay at home order, it did have some exceptions for outside recreation, which included golfing.
As for the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Service department, they have taken the proper modifications to provide safe social distancing while enjoying a round of 18.
“If you are not feeling well, stay home,” said Palus. “Make sure you’re at least a minimum of 6-feet apart from one another. The governor has asked everyone to wear masks, so make sure you have your mask with you especially when you are at the minimum of 6-feet. We encourage people to separate, do not get too close to one another. And we have set it up so there is some lag time between the tee times, so folks have time to play.”
And the process to get on the green is very easy and safe.
Go to www.ColoradoSprings.gov and click ‘Explore & Play” and then click either Patty Jewett or Valley Hi. From there you can register and see how to get tee times at the two courses.
As for McCommins and his friends, getting out and teeing it up is ultimate hole in one.
” Our governor is doing a good job, the public is doing a good job. And if I get it, I get it,”joked McCommins. “Of course I am 70 so, I am supposed to die, but I am not planning on it.”
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
SOLUTIONS
NEWS
Golf courses open with restrictions, and minus the 19th hole
By Will Springstead, The Post Star
06 April 2020
The coronavirus pandemic could not find a more adaptable bunch than golfers and golf course operators.
From the moment New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on March 26 that golf courses could open so long as they followed certain rules, both operators and players have had a collective “tell me what I should do” attitude.
Courses must implement all CDC- and state-mandated guidelines and promote safe social distancing. There is no access to pro shops, locker rooms, indoor facilities and restaurants/bars (except takeout).
Other guidelines include staying at least 6 feet away from others, leaving the flagstick in the hole, not using rakes, ball washers and coolers on the course (most operators have removed them), only riding one person per cart, not sharing clubs or equipment and not shaking hands.
“It’s been very difficult, but we’re happy to do it,” said Joan Heber, the co-owner of Airway Meadows Golf Club in Gansevoort. “The people, they’re so happy and so helpful.”
Dal Daily, a veteran golf professional in his first year as pro of Battenkill Country Club in Greenwich, said he has had no pushback from anyone about the new rules.
“Everyone is just excited to be out,” Daily said.
Course operators are encouraging such things as becoming a member or paying by phone from the parking lot so there is less interaction outside the buildings. But if it must be done, via cash or charge card, they have set up tables and trays and will make the transactions themselves.
The inability to go inside has made it hard for golfers to buy balls, tees and such, but operators will tell golfers what they have and get them. And clothing sales are non-existent.
Once on the course, operators have either bought other cups to put on top of the existing cups or filled them with shortened pool noodles so that golf balls don’t drop into the cups.
“I play with a couple of other guys, and our mindset has been anything that gets you out of the house is good,” said Justin Nassivera, who has golfed at Hiland Park Country Club and Kingsbury National Golf Club. “And especially when you’re walking, you’re always going to be 6 to 7 feet away from your partners, that’s not hard.”
“Social distancing was no problem,” Gordon Woodworth said of his Wednesday round at Hiland. “But it felt so good being out there — a needed slice of normal in an abnormal world.”
Kevin Milza said that he has golfed several times at Hiland and been to the Glens Falls Country Club driving range. He said since the United States Golf Association changed the rule about leaving the flagstick in on putts last year, he and his usual partner don’t touch flagsticks much anymore, so that wasn’t hard. Not having rakes for the sand traps, though, was different.
“You would notice in certain bunkers that are used a lot the sand was messed up by the end of the day,” Milza said.
Once the motorized and pull carts are brought back, they get an extensive cleaning and disinfecting from top to bottom.
“Anything they possibly touched,” Heber said. “You have to wash them twice, essentially.”
The courses likely will take the biggest financial hit from the loss of indoor food and beverage sales. For now, operators will sell cans and plastic bottles of non-alcoholic drinks and, in some cases, beer. But the 19th hole is no more for the time being.
Ron Walker, the owner of Green Mansions Golf Club in Chestertown, had his club’s second-earliest opening ever on Friday, so he’ll get greens fees he doesn’t normally gets, but they can’t make up for what was sold inside.
“It’s pretty easy for me; I’m a one-man show, at least for the month of April,” Walker said. “I don’t do a ton of food early on, so I’m not going to do any food. I’m going to lose a lot of business on beverage sales inside because people liked to hang out with their friends for a bit. I’ll lose several thousand on that just in April.”
The next thing owners and operators have to worry about are leagues and tournaments, the latter of which would be very hard to run while maintaining social distancing. In the Capital District, some early season tournaments have already been postponed in the hopes that they might be rescheduled.
“I’m 60 years old and I’ve been working since I was 23. I’ve learned over the years that it is what it is,” Walker said.
For now, however, golfers are taking what they can get. Daily said that Battenkill, a private club that also allows public play, has had some busy days. Heber said Airway Meadows had 136 starts on March 28 and over 100 on Wednesday.
And, as Nassivera pointed out, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott closed his state’s golf courses until at least April 15.
“I give the courses here credit for doing what they can,” Nassivera said.
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
SOLUTIONS
NEWS
Golfing During A Pandemic? New York, Florida Courses Stay Open Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
By Carli Porterfield, Forbes
04 April 2020
Topline: As states increasingly crack down on “nonessential” business operations during the coronavirus pandemic, golf courses have fallen into a grey area between permitted recreational activities and potentially dangerous places for people to gather.
- According to a tracker from Golf News Net, most states have not ordered golf courses to shut down as part of coronavirus crackdowns on movement and public activities, with notable exceptions including Washington and New Jersey, two of the worst-hit states.
- Even New York, home to the nation’s most confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths, allows courses to remain open if social distancing measures are enforced, along with Florida courses.
- Golf course proponents argue the sport is like hiking, running and bicycling in that it can largely be performed as a solo recreational activity and therefore safe.
- In states that have ordered golf facilities closed, some course owners are turning to the courts to keep them open, often invoking the Fifth Amendment, and hoping for fair compensation for property seized by the government.
- In New Hampshire, golfers have started a petition to ask the governor to amend the state’s stay-at-home order to let them out to the course as the season begins.
- About 37% of golf courses nationwide have been reportedly closed since the beginning of the pandemic, whether it’s because of orders to close nonessential businesses or at the owner’s own discretion.
Key background: American golf is big business, with one study finding that golf drove more than $84 billion in economic activity across the United States and supported nearly 2 million jobs in 2016.
Interesting fact: This week, speculation that President Donald Trump was planning a golf trip was fueled by reports that the Secret Service had signed a contract to rent a fleet of golf carts in Sterling, Virginia, for $45,000. Sterling is home to one of Trump’s golf clubs. The Washington Post reported that the contract resembles past documents that enabled agents to follow Trump on golfing trips to Florida and New Jersey.
Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
SOLUTIONS
NEWS
Webinar: Adapting golf operations for success during Covid-19 and beyond
In case you missed it, the Tagmarshal Expert Session webinar is now available on-demand. Register now to watch the free video.
A panel discussion between our expert guests and Bodo Sieber, CEO and Co-founder of Tagmarshal.
- Matt Barksdale, PGA Head Professional, Pinehurst
- Drew Dunn, Director of Golf, East Lake
- Dennis Rye, Director of Golf, Mizner Country Club
ABOUT TAGMARSHAL
Tagmarshal, the market leader in on-course optimization technology, provides courses with full, real-time operational oversight and reporting, giving golf operators the tools to manage pace and flow of play effectively, resulting in enhanced player experiences, increased efficiency through automation, and additional revenue generation.
Tagmarshal’s technology has collected over 1 billion data points from more than 50 million rounds of golf and has relationships with in excess of 500 partners, including Hazeltine, Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Fieldstone, Bandon Dunes, Serenoa and Erin Hills.
Tagmarshal partners with several golf management groups, private, daily fee, public and resort courses, including 35 of the Top 100 US courses, as well as many $30-$50 green fee courses, which are seeing excellent results using the system.
WATCH DEMO