Northwest Golf Adventures Magazine

CORONAVIRUS DIFFERENCE

Golfers up and down the West Coast are coming to grips with what could be months without golf to play or watch. The coronavirus pandemic has forced states to issue orders for residents to stay home to help fight the spread of the virus. Those orders have had a major impact on the golf community.

Golf courses in Washington state and California are completely shut down, including all practice areas and driving ranges. Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada are still allowing golfers to play, but with a variety of restrictions and modifications. Other states, like Utah, are still trying to decide what to do as their golf season gets ready to start.

What makes golf safe in those states still allowing it? In Oregon, the golf experience is a little different than under normal circumstances. Most courses are requiring online tee times and pre-payment for greens fees. Those who don’t have a restrictive check-in and payment process, allowing for social distancing (one guest at a time in the pro shop, etc) and limited interaction. On the course, cups are turned upside down or raised, and flags are to be left in the hole. Rakes and ball washers are gone and carts are restricted to single riders.

Turns out, it’s not that hard to stay away from other players on the golf course.

USGA Handicap Modifications

With much of the Pacific Northwest just starting to accept score posting - March 1st in most states - modifications had to be made. The USGA sent out a memo as to how the Rules of Golf and Rules of Handicapping apply in response to questions from golf industry officials.

The USGA had this to say:

Flagsticks - Courses may remove flagsticks as long as they provide detailed placement information to players. In most cases, the USGA recommends courses require the flagsticks be left in at all times. This has no impact on handicapping.

Bunkers and Rakes - If courses have them removed, players can smooth the sand with their feet. Foursomes can be asked to take a rake out with them. Some courses are playing bunkers as ground under repair and must decide whether or not to allow scores to be posted.

Not holing out - If courses place cups so that balls are not holed, players must use the ‘most likely score’ option when posting their scores for handicap purposes. This is at the players judgement.

NATIONAL CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

Professional tours have cancelled and postponed events, and players and caddies are hoping they’ll still get paid while on hiatus.

HELP FOR PLAYERS and CADDIES

Comedian Larry David launched a GoFundMe for golf caddies, and the response has been really good.

The co-creator of “Seinfeld” created the fundraiser for employees at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, who are losing income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“With the golf course closed indefinitely, the Rivera caddies need our help,” the GoFundMe page says. “Please contribute to help our caddies get thru this unprecedented time.”

The PGA Tour announced that players and caddies can receive a paycheck during the TOUR’s hiatus.

Players inside the top 150 will be paid based on their current FedEx Cup standings. Players outside the top 150 can receive advance pay advances.

Caddies can be paid through a distribution of $250,000 from the Valspar Caddie Hat program, as well as an increase of the balances for caddies under the caddie benevolent fund.