PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLF ASSOCIATION
COVID-19 CHAMPIONSHIP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES – EFFECTIVE 5/20/2021
 

WHAT TO EXPECT AT A PNGA CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2021

The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) cares deeply about the health, safety and well-being of our players, spectators, staff, volunteers, as well as everyone at our host facilities. The intent of the following policies and guidelines is to minimize potential exposure to COVID-19 by utilizing publicly available guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but WA Golf cannot guarantee a risk-free environment. Everyone is responsible to do their part by following these guidelines to make our championships as safe as possible. The following policies and procedures may be updated and/or modified at any time.
 

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Before arriving on-site, please be certain that you have signed and returned the PNGA’s COVID-19 Participant Release and Waiver that will be sent to you electronically after the close of entry. If you have not signed the waiver in advance, you will not be permitted to participate in the championship.

• We will communicate with host facilities prior to and throughout each championship to ensure that recommended sanitization practices for common touchpoints are met.

• Before arriving on-site for a practice round or championship, if you feel sick or show any symptoms of COVID-19, or if within the last *ten days you have felt sick, have shown any symptoms of COVID-19, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, we request that you stay home and notify us before your starting time. If you are unable to start the championship due to any of these, a refund will be granted.
*When diagnostic testing resources are sufficient and available, then quarantine can end after day 7 if a diagnostic specimen tests negative and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring.

• A mask or facial covering should be worn in accordance with state/provincial government guidelines when a 6-foot distance cannot be met.

• Wash your hands frequently. If you are unable to wash your hands, use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer will be provided to each player at registration and will be available on the starting tee and at the scoring area.

• There are no restrictions on caddies.

• There are no restrictions on spectators attending championships.
 

BEFORE YOUR STARTING TIME

• Players are asked to register prior to starting the first round of competition (either during practice round day or prior to round one starting time) to receive their tee prizes. Championship programs and other pre-championship paperwork will be sent to players digitally after the close of entries.

• Tee prizes will be safely handled using PPE.
 

STARTING AREA

• Players are asked to report to the starting tee 7 minutes prior to their starting time.

• Players are responsible for providing their own pencil, golf tees, ball markers, divot tool, marking pens, etc. Starter boxes with supplies will NOT be available. A pre-packaged bag with a pencil, golf tees, ball markers and a divot tool will be provided to each player at registration.

• Championship paperwork (Local Rules and Terms of the Competition, Notice to Competitors, hole locations and pace of play policy) will be provided on the starting tee.

• Scorecards will be provided and picked up by the player from the starting table.

• Volunteer Starter will wear a face covering.
 

GOLF CARTS

• Motorized carts will be restricted to one player unless a member of the same household or the player’s caddie.

• Motorized carts may be limited and based on availability. Carts will only be guaranteed if pre-paid during registration.

• Pull carts may be available at the discretion of the host facility.
 

CADDIES

• Caddies are permitted and should follow the same player guidelines.

• Caddies are required to wear a caddie bib provided on the starting tee. Bibs will be sanitized after each round.
 

DURING YOUR ROUND

• Players and caddies may remove the flagstick from the hole, but are encouraged to use hand sanitizer before and after handling flagsticks.

• Rakes have been placed back in the bunkers. Players and caddies are encouraged to use hand sanitizer before and after handling rakes.

• In certain championships where motorized carts are not permitted, player shuttles may be provided. Volunteer shuttle drivers will wear a face covering and touchpoints will be sanitized after each use.

• Cart transportation by a Rules Official in a lost ball scenario will be permitted at the player’s discretion. Officials will wear a face covering and sanitize touchpoints before assisting.

• Bottled water will be available at limited locations on the golf course for players only (a notification will be sent out prior to each championship with a hydration plan).

• WA Golf staff and volunteers will wear face coverings when engaging with players and unable to maintain social distancing.

• Players should call, text or email the WA Golf Official in Charge (contact info will be provided) with any questions. This number may also be used to call for Rules assistance if needed during the round.
 

AFTER YOUR ROUND

• Proceed to the scoring area immediately after the round is complete.

• Scorecards in stroke play to be signed and verified and returned to the Committee.

• Scorecards in match play to be returned to the scoring area (no signatures required) by the winner of the match to report the result and for online score posting purposes.

• Traditional paper scoreboards have been eliminated to reduce areas of player and spectator congestion. TV leaderboards will be utilized at certain championships. Players and spectators can use the USGA Tournament Management app to follow live scoring using the event GGID.

• Additional sanitization measures will be taken to make sure the perpetual trophy is clean and safe for the champion to hold.

• Pictures and video with the champion will be done using proper social distancing.