PRGA COVID-19 Tournament Protocols

 

 

 

The PRGA has created these policies to keep golf safe, following the guidelines set by the USGA and local government agencies.

 

Basic ways to protect yourself 

  • Wash Your Hands Often 
  • Avoid Close Contact 
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a facial mask/cloth when around others 
  • Cover coughs and sneezes 
  • Remain 6-feet away from individuals 
     

Tournament Documents 

  • Rules sheets, Terms of Competition, Tee Times, Hole locations, Hole by Hole info
  • Will be posted on prga.org and USGA Tournament Manager App 

 

Scoring keeping

  • USGA Tournament Manager App 
  • Click here for App instructions
     

Social Distancing 

  • The PRGA requires that regardless of their position on the golf course, that players maintain six (6) feet of distance between themselves and other players, spectators, and caddies.  This includes when they are preparing for a shot, walking down the fairway/rough, on the teeing area, on the putting green, and all other locations.   
  • All players must refrain from touching their fellow competitors in any way, including shaking hands prior to and following the round. A simple nod, tip of the cap or simple wave is recommended as a form or greeting or sign of sportsmanship.
  • Players must not touch, handle, or share each other’s equipment.  

 

Arrival Time 

  • PRGA Golfers and spectators are not allowed to access the golf course more than 1 hour prior to their starting time.  If you arrive at the facility prior to this time, you must stay in your vehicle/parking lot.

 

Practice Areas Driving Range, Putting Green & Sand Bunkers

  • Practice areas restricted to players only. Spectators are not permitted in the practice areas.
  • Player practice is limited to 1 hour prior to starting tee time. 
  • Putting & Chipping Greens: number of players limited to amount holes cut in the green, with the maximum number allowed being nine (9).  Players will be restricted to five (5) minutes in the areas when other players are waiting for access. 
  • Practice areas will not be open after Tournament rounds.

 

Spectators

  • All players will be restricted to one (1) adult spectator.  
  • If the player is utilizing a caddy for the event, the caddy will count as their spectator.
  • The spectator must walk at all times and remain 30 yds away from other players and practice social distancing.

 

Carts

  • Will only be permitted in junior tournaments for those who have a valid handicap permit. 
  • Only the authorized person may ride in the cart. 
  • Carrying other player’s miscellaneous equipment/supplies/handbags will not be allowed.  
  • Violations will result in immediate revocation of cart usage.
  • Medical certificates cannot be used in lieu of a valid Government permit.

 

Starters Boxes 

  • Starters boxes will not be available on all starting tees.
  • The PRGA will provide a small bag containing tees, optional scorecard and pencil, please ensure that you bring additional writing utensil and tees with you, as desired.
  • Players are responsible for their own water/hydration.

 

On-Course Snacks & Drinks 

  • The PRGA is asking all host facilities to remove all of their on-course coolers.  However, should a facility elect not to remove these, the PRGA accepts no liability for them and encourages players to use extreme discretion regarding their use. 
  • Golfers should bring an adequate supply of water for the round with them from home.

 

Caddies

  • Caddies will only be allowed for Male & Female Championship Divisions. 
  • Caddies, when allowed, must be an immediate family member within the same household (16 years of age or older).

 

Scorecards

  • USGA TM App will be used for scoring. 
  • Should the competitor not have access to a mobile phone, accommodations will be provided by the PRGA. Competitor must notify PRGA Tournament Director or the Starter prior to scheduled tee time. 
  • Download Free Android app
  • Download Free Apple app

 

Shuttles / Transportation

  • Until further notice, shuttles will not be provided.

 

Playoffs 

  • Sudden death playoff will be conducted to determine first place in all categories for the PRGA Amateur Island and Junior Island Championships. All other ties will be determined by the USGA recommended method of scorecard playoff. 

 

Weather Delays 

  • Any round that is halted by weather might be canceled at the discretion of the Tournament and Rules Committees. 
  • In the event of a weather delay horn blast, all players and spectators are to immediately vacate the golf course and return to their vehicles or seek shelter on the golf course, if available

 

 

Rules Modifications:

 

Flagstick 

  • Players and caddies must not touch the flagstick under any circumstances.  
  • Tending of the flag as outlined in the Rules of Golf is suspended until further notice. 

 

Bunkers

  • Players will NOT be permitted to use bunker rakes, regardless of whether rakes are provided by the golf course or not.  
  • Players are required to smooth the disturbed area with foot or club after playing ball from a bunker.
  • Any disturbed area in a bunker will be deemed Ground Under Repair, and players may take full relief under GUR procedures (USGA Rule 16.1c) but must stay inside the bunker. 
    • Disturbed areas include (but are not limited to) footprints, divots, ball marks and other disturbances that may have been caused by players/caddies/spectators. 
    • Reminder – under Rule 16.1c, the player must drop the ball from knee height, and is not permitted to place the ball. The player also has the option to play the ball as it lies. 
    • Relief is only applicable for the lie of the ball only, not for the stance or area of intended swing.

Holing Out 

  • The PRGA has NOT modified the holing out requirement AND RULE #3.3 (5)c is in effect. 
  • Failure to hole out will convey a DQ penalty if player tees off from the next tee.
  • Individual safety precautions may be taken for ball removal such as use of gloves, towel etc. 
  • Washing hands or use of sanitizer after retrieving ball is recommended.

 

Scoring

  • Once the round is completed, players must walk straight from the final green to scoring area with all their equipment. 
  • Players are not allowed to stop to converse with spectators and may not to go to their car or the parking lot for any reason.  
  • Only one (1) group will be allowed into the scoring area at a time.  All players will maintain six (6) feet of distance between them and confirm their scores verbally with their group and the scoring official. 
  • Scoreboard will be available at www/prga.org. No physical scoreboard will be available.
  • Two signatures will not be required to make a scorecard official. Verbal confirmation of both players will suffice.
  • A scorecard will be considered “returned” once both players has verbally confirmed their scores with the scoring official, submitted via the USGA TM App and left the scoring area. 

 

Awards

  • The PRGA will not be conducting awards ceremonies.  
  • Awards will be distributed individually on-site.

 

 

 

 

 

PRGA Rules of Golf Committee

June 1, 2020