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Tri-State Area Golfers, Boaters Get Reopening Wish, But Strict Social Distancing Rules Apply

By CBS New York

21 April 2020

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered that marinas and many golf courses can reopen with safety restrictions after initially being closed to contain the COVID-19 virus.

Following appeals from frustrated golfers, and lobbying from boaters, the decision to reopen also came from the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut, CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reported Monday.

When asked if he’s pleased by the news, fly fishing shop owner Paul McCain said, “Oh, absolutely. I actually own a fly shop, a fly fishing store, so I actually just came down to see if the ramp was open.”

Marinas and boatyards may now open for personal use under strict social distancing protocols that include new sanitizing and mooring rules.

“You’re not taking it out to the bay and tying it together to have a party out there. We have to do this smart,” Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald Clavin said.

In addition, private and municipally owned golf courses can once again allow players to walk the fairways, but they must carry their own bags.

“The governor has said that municipalities can start putting plans in place to reopen golf and that is exactly what we’re doing,” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said.

No employee may work on any course unless involved in essential services. Clubhouses and locker rooms remain closed.

“Have to be very, very careful. This virus is very contagious,” one person said.

“Precaution and everybody is safe and I think it would be a good idea to gradually get everything back working,” another person said.

Golfers and boaters must adhere to strict social distancing rules by keeping at least six feet apart at all times. Public safety officers will join police and bay constables to enforce the law.

“Respectfully as we can, we are going to ask them not to gather in those social groups. People have got to start using common sense. This is the new norm,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said.

The changes come amid an effort to rein in the coronavirus. Golfers and boaters were leaving to find open courses and marinas in other states and returning home, McLogan reported.

There is pressure from the industries. Boating and golf on Long Island combine to produce 100,000 jobs and generate $5 billion a year in the local economy.

Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.

View CBS New York article

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.

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Central New York golf courses opening again after COVID-19 restrictions change

By Auburnpub.com

19 April 2020

After more than a week of complete shutdowns, some golf courses are partially re-opening in central New York this weekend after the state modified its rules for the kinds of business operations that are allowed under the state’s coronavirus-related emergency restrictions.

Golf, with a set of social distancing restrictions, had been allowed in most of the state until April 9, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo expanded the definition of “non-essential” businesses to include golf with a complete shutdown. But this weekend, with data indicating that COVID-19 infections may be slowing in New York state, new guidance came out allowing golfers back on courses.

But the golf clubs still can’t operate as they normally would. Only employees providing essential services, such as groundskeeping and security, are allowed to work. Restaurants must continue to offer only take-out or delivery service. Indoor facilities remain closed to the public.

In central New York, the lifting of the statewide restrictions was causing some confusion because some counties, including Onondaga and Cayuga, had also instituted their own closure orders for golf courses.

On Friday, Onondaga County officially lifted its order, citing the statewide rules.

One course in Onondaga County that’s near the Cayuga County border, Millstone Golf Course on Route 5 in Elbridge, opened up Sunday for the first time in roughly two weeks. Golfing is restricted to only people who walk the course, and 6 feet of social distancing is required for every person on the course.

Cayuga County Legislature Chair Aileen McNabb-Coleman issued a statement Sunday formally removing the temporary golf course closure order she had issued on April 9.

“Golfers may walk the course and carry their bags,” the statement said. “Golf carts will not be available as there will be no staff to sanitize them. Clubhouses and locker rooms will not be open. Landscapers will be allowed on the course as well as security personnel to ensure golfers are maintaining six feet of social distance.

Some courses in the county were already opening Sunday ahead of the county’s announcement. The Dutch Hollow Country Club in Owasco was welcoming golfers back in a message posted to its website:

“Great News of of 4/19/20: We are open again to walking golfers per state order. No carts as of now Hopefully soon.”

Fillmore Golf in Locke was also opened Sunday morning: “FGC is opening today at 10AM for walkers only,” its Facebook page said. “Come get some exercise and enjoy the outside. Have a great day!”

The golf course changes came as the state also loosened restrictions this weekend on private boatyards and marinas, allowing them to open with social distancing rules in place.

Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.

View Auburnpub.com article

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.

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European Tour boss hopeful of summer resumption

By Golf365

17 April 2020

Chief executive Keith Pelley is upbeat about the prospect of the European Tour resuming sometime in the summer despite announcing this year’s Scottish Open would be postponed as well as the cancellation of two other events.

While the PGA Tour plans to resume in June, its European counterpart has decided to scrap the BMW International Open due to be played from June 25-28 at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried in Munich because of coronavirus.

The Open de France, scheduled for the following week at Le Golf National, near Paris, will also not take place this year after the French government decided to ban all mass gatherings and events until mid-July.

Discussions are ongoing to salvage the Scottish Open, one of eight Rolex Series events announced at the start of the 2020 season, which was originally to be held at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick from July 9-12.

The event is traditionally a precursor to The Open – which would have taken place a week after but has already been mothballed due to the ongoing crisis.

With July 30 – the slated start of the British Masters – the earliest possible return for the European Tour, Pelley is hopeful the current crisis will ease, allowing for no further interruptions.

In a message on the European Tour’s website, Pelley said: “As important as golf is to all of us, public health and well-being continues to be our absolute priority.

“That is why we have announced the cancellation of the BMW International Open and the Open de France, as well as the postponement of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.

“My primary message is actually one of optimism because I am genuinely hopeful that from now on the information I send in relation to our 2020 schedule will be positive.

“We cannot emphatically commit to a start date because, as I have said many times, we will not resume until it is safe, and we are permitted to do so.

“We now have 14 weeks with no tournaments, but those three and a half months are also the time where the global situation may well begin to show signs of improvement.

“There are already discussions centring around the easing of restrictions in several countries and everyone is optimistic that these can continue.

“This window also gives us the opportunity to continue working behind the scenes on a variety of scheduling options which would allow us to provide you with a busy calendar of golf to enjoy when we do resume.”

Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.

View Golf365 article

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.

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PGA Tour to announce June restart to 2020 season

By Brian Wacker, GolfDigest

15 April 2020

PGA Tour officials are expected to announce this week their intention to resume the tour season, halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on June 11-14 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, multiple sources have told Golf Digest. It’s also expected that fans will not be allowed to attend that first tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. As the Tour looks to follow health and safety guidelines set by government and health officials, other early tournaments also are expected to be played without spectators.

The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on the Tour’s behalf. Tour officials discussed plans with the Players Advisory Council during a conference call on Tuesday.

Late last week, the Tour sent players a memo saying that it was targeting a return at Colonial. The memo cited the tournament’s original date on the tour calendar of May 21-24, but also said the Tour was evaluating options to “preserve the maximum number of events we can while giving us more time as the crisis evolves.” Sources previously told Golf Digest those options focused on moving the Charles Schwab Challenge to June. The RBC Canadian Open, originally scheduled for June 11-14, will not be played, sources have said, freeing up the date for another event.

After the Charles Schwab Challenge, the Tour has an opening on its calendar for a “Potential PGA Tour Tournament” from June 18-21, when the U.S. Open was to be held before the USGA announced its postponement to September. Scheduling conversations at the Tour remain ongoing and fluid, but according to multiple sources, the RBC Heritage, originally scheduled to be played this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, is likely to fill that slot.

From there, the latest schedule scenario being evaluated by the Tour, according sources with direct involvement in the discussions, includes:

June 25-28: Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.
Keeps original date

July 2-5: Rocket Mortgage Classic, Detroit Golf Club
Moves from May 28-31

July 9-12: John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Ill.
Keeps original date

July 16-19: Memorial Tournament, Muirfield Village G.C., Dublin, Ohio
Moves from June 4-7

July 23-26: 3M Open, TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minn.
Keeps original date

July 30-Aug. 2: WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, TPC Southwind, Memphis
Moves from July 2-5

July 30-Aug. 2: Barracuda Championship, Tahoe Mt. Club, Truckee, Calif.
Moves from July 2-5

According to a source, once play resumes, all tournaments with the potential exception of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude would feature fields ranging from 144 to 156 players in an effort to make up for lost playing opportunities.

The schedule then picks up from the Tour’s announcement last week regarding events in August and September:

Aug. 6-9: PGA Championship, TPC Harding Park, San Francisco
Aug. 13-16: Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield C.C., Greensboro, N.C.
Aug. 20-23: The Northern Trust, TPC Boston
Aug. 27-30: BMW Championship, Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club
Sept. 3-7: Tour Championship, East Lake G.C., Atlanta
Sept. 17-20: U.S. Open, Winged Foot G.C., Mamaroneck, N.Y.
Sept. 25-27: Ryder Cup, Whistling Straits, Haven, Wis.
Nov. 12-15: Masters, Augusta National G.C., Augusta, Ga.

The truncated schedule is predicated on guidance from health and governmental officials. Two weeks ago, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott expanded a previous order that required a 14-day quarantine for anyone flying into the state, adding several more cities and states, including Miami, Atlanta, Detroit and Chicago, as well as anywhere in California or Washington. How long that remains in place could have a substantial impact on whether any more changes to the schedule will have to occur as a precaution against the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom described the prospects of holding mass gatherings in the state any earlier than September as being “unlikely,” potentially impacting the play of the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in August. Earlier in the day, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh, interviewed on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, said that the association was preparing various contingencies for the PGA Championship, including holding the tournament without spectators or moving it from California.

“If the safest and/or the only way to is to do it without fans, we’re fully prepared to do that,” Waugh said. “We believe that having it as a television event is worth doing regardless of whether there’s fans there or not.”

Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.

View GolfDigest article

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.

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PGA Championship future sites through 2031

By Todd Kelly, Golfweek

14 April 2020

In 2019, the PGA Championship was moved up from August to May.

In 2020, the PGA will slide back on the calendar but not because of another schedule overhaul. Rather, the global coronavirus pandemic has forced changes across the board for golf tournaments.

On April 6, the PGA Championship was tentatively rescheduled for Aug. 6-9, while staying at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh indicated on April 14 that every effort will be made to stick to those dates, even if it means no fans on the grounds.

There are PGA Championships scheduled out to 2031, although venues for 2025, 2026 and 2030 are still to be determined.

Future locations

2020

TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, Aug. 6-9

2021

Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

2022

Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster, New Jersey

2023

Oak Hill Country Club, East Course, Pittsford, New York

2024

Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky

2027

Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

2028

The Olympic Club, Lake Course, San Francisco

2029

Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course, Springfield, New Jersey

2031

Congressional Country Club, Blue Course, Bethesda, Maryland

Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.

View Golfweek article

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.

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48% of US Golf courses are open for play (NGF Survey*).

By NGF

13 April 2020

As of week ending April 12, 48% of U.S. golf courses were open for play, up a bit vs. prior week (44%).

  • Based on phone surveys of 1,753 golf facilities, conducted April 7 – April 10, accurate to +/- 2%.
  • 4,565 unique facilities verified to date re: COVID-19

Note: There are tremendous variables in the local situations. We therefore acknowledge that the final decisions are down to the county level in most states.

As of April 13, 2020, 45 states have some kind of Stay-at-Home order in place for residents. There are currently

 

Google search data offers an unfiltered look into the human psyche – our fears, concerns, desires and everyday questions. For golfers, there’s a growing need for information on open local golf courses.

Despite restrictions on play, no state currently has an executive order that disallows minimum basic golf course maintenance.

The GCSAA and USGA recently released joint guidelines outlining the minimum, basic practices for golf course maintenance during the COVID-19 outbreak. Even if a course is closed, a minimum maintenance regimen will help keep turf healthy and “standing by” for when the facility is able to resume standard operations. Click link to access a PDF that details the suggested minimum maintenance practices.

Please share these tips, articles and insights, so that as many people as possible can benefit from #SafeGolf.

View Golf365 article

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.

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