2nd Quarter 2020
California Capital News President’s Message
In This Issue •
President Message
•
CAG Report
•
UC Riverside Research Reports
•
Quick Links for Information regarding Covid 19
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Communicating COVID-19 Safety Precautions The Golf Industry is Making Concerning Play
Dear Members, I hope everyone; family, friends, business associates are healthy and safe. We are roughly 7 weeks into the pandemic. The GCSAA, USGA, PGA, and the California Alliance for Golf (CAG) have been working diligently supporting and promoting golf as a safe recreational endeavor so that the golf courses that are closed can begin operating again. We are now seeing some positive movements in certain regions in California where golf courses are in fact re-opening. Unfortunately, there have been incidents where superintendents have been hurt professionally by the pandemic. The GCSAA and PGA of America have programs in place to help those who have been impacted. We have included in our newsletter these resources that can assist those during these stressful times. We will continue to stand together in our industry. Staying safe and being healthy is the number one priority. Jim Ferrin, CGCS President, California Chapter of the GCSAA
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California Alliance for Golf Government Relations Update
By Craig Kessler, Director of Governmental Affairs, SCGA Kevin Fitzgerald, Asst. Director of Governmental Affairs, SCGA COVID-19
As we predicted in our last update, as the pandemic curve continues to go up, so do the number of golf course closures – some by directive, others by choice of ownership. Also rapidly going up are other forms of closure – playgrounds, ball fields, walking trails, wilderness areas, and beaches. Yes; golf is much easier to operate per the strict social distancing mandates of current directives, but that is not the dispositive point at this moment. Hold the thought and the moment. The “thought,” or more accurately the argument in favor of golf’s amenability to social distancing, will soon meet a moment that if golf plays its cards right now will accrue to the game’s great advantage in the near future. Waiting for a later moment may frustrate many of you convinced that golf is perfectly capable of disciplining its players and members to hew to those strict social distancing mandates. We know, because many of you have regaled us with directives from other American States that have permitted golf in their statewide directives.
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During this unusual time we wanted to bring to you all the research papers that Dr. Baird of the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at the University of California Riverside has been diligently working on. We have provided links to the full reports for your convenience. You will also be able to find these and all past reports on our website Californiagcsa.org
Identification of Wetting Agents for Water Conservation on Golf Course Fairways and Other Large Turf Areas in California By Mingying Xiang, Marco Schiavon, Pawel Orlinski, Chiara Ferrari, Luiz Monticelli, and Jim Baird Department of Botany and Plant Sciences University of California, Riverside
The Bottom Line: Eleven wetting agent treatments were tested against an untreated control to determine their ability to conserve water and enhance turf quality on ‘Tifway II’ hybrid bermudagrass irrigated at 65%, 55%, and 45% ETo in Riverside, CA under fairway conditions from May through October in 2018 and 2019. All treatments had positive effects on turf quality in comparison to control during the hot summer months. Results showed that bermudagrass could sustain sufficient quality throughout the summer when irrigated as low as 55% ETo if a wetting agent was applied. Identification of a ‘best’ treatment wasinconclusive, as 10 wetting agent treatments were ranked in the topperforming group according to green cover using digital image analysis (DIA). Higher soil volumetric water content (VWC) seemed to result in greater green cover among wetting agent treatments. Results in 2019 showed that wetting agents also had positive effects on increasing soil water distribution uniformity. Furthermore, according to the amount of proline discovered in fresh tissue samples, the effects of alleviating drought stress vary among wetting agents. TriCure AD applied at one-half (1/2x) of the label rate (3 oz/1,000 ft2) produced similar results compared to the 1x rate and grouped in the highest rankings for all products tested with statistically significant measurements except VWC in which it was slightly lower. Overall, products including ACA001, agents. TriCure AD applied at one-half (1/2x) of the label rate (3 oz/1,000 ft2) produced similar results compared to the 1x rate and grouped in the highest rankings for all products tested with statistically significant measurements except VWC in which it was slightly lower. Overall, products including ACA001, TriCure AD (1x and 1/2x rates), Aquimax Turf Lateral, Passage, and Hydro90+Symphony showed comparable effects to Revolution on deficit irrigated ‘Tifway II’ bermudagrass.
Click Here for Full Report How Do Warm-Season Grasses React to Deficit Irrigation in California? By Mingying Xiang, Marco Schiavon, Pawel Orlinski, Chiara Ferrari, Luiz Monticelli, and Jim Baird Department of Botany and Plant Sciences University of California, Riverside
Twenty warm-season turfgrasses comprising three species were irrigated at three reference evapotranspiration (ETo) replacement levels (60% ETo, 45% ETo, and 30% ETo) from June to October 2019 and evaluated for visual turfgrass quality and percent green cover using digital image analysis. Broad variation was observed among species and entries. Overall, bermudagrass maintained the best color and quality under deficit irrigation followed by zoysiagrass and then buffalograss. Most bermudagrass and zoysiagrass entries maintained >60% green cover at 60% ETo, while bermudagrass maintained acceptable quality during every month except September. Only UCR 17-8, a local bermudagrass genotype, maintained green cover of 60% or higher at 45% ETo replacement in most months, and Tahoma 31 had comparable green coverage from June to September at the same ETo replacement. Starting from September, green cover of all entries dropped below 20% at the 30% ETo replacement.
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California Capital News
Postemergence Control of English Daisy in Cool-Season Turf 2019 Report
Pawel Petelewicz and Jim Baird Department of Botany and Plant Sciences University of California, Riverside
The Bottom Line: Seventeen treatments containing commercial and experimental herbicides alone or in combination were tested against an untreated control for postemergence control of English daisy (Bellis perennis) in a mixed stand of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and annual bluegrass (Poa annua) maintained as golf course rough. Study was conducted at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Treatments were applied twice every 8 wks or 3 times every 4 wks starting May 2019. Both UCR 002 treatments and Sapphire at 1.5 pints/A, all applied 2 times on 8-wk intervals, resulted in rapid and the most effective target weed control. However, at the same time those treatments resulted in significant turf injury, which persisted for 4-6 wks following each application. Three applications of Pylex (1.0 oz/A) on 4-wk intervals provided statistically similar English daisy control without turf injury when applied alone or tank-mixed with Turflon Ester at 32 oz/A. Turflon Ester, either at 16 oz/A or 32 oz/A, improved performance of both Pylex and Tenacity herbicides, regardless of the total number of applications, while Drive XLR8 seemed to diminish efficacy of Pylex.
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UCR Turfgrass Breeding Program Improvement of Bermudagrass, Kikuyugrass, and Zoysiagrass for Winter Color Retention and Drought Tolerance Marta Pudzianowska, Adam Lukaszewski, Christian Bowman and Jim Baird Department of Botany and Plant Sciences University of California, Riverside
The UCR warm-season turfgrass breeding program has been focused on developing and testing new, improved genotypes of bermudagrass, kikuyugrass and zoysiagrass, for golf industry, athletic fields and homeowners. California has been experiencing drought for several years, affecting water availability and price. Extending the use of warm-season grasses, already better adapted to arid climates, and their further improvement for drought stress resistance can help tackle this issue. However, winter dormancy of warm-season grasses hampers replacement of cool-season with warmseason species, therefore developing new cultivars with improved color retention is also an important goal of our breeding efforts.
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Granular Preemergence Herbicides for Smooth Crabgrass Control in Bermudagrass Turf 2019 Report Pawel Petelewicz, Sandra Glegola, Brooke Gomez, Pawel Orlinski, and Jim Baird Department of Botany and Plant Sciences University of California, Riverside
The Bottom Line: Three commercially available granular herbicide products were tested alone against an untreated control for preemergence control of smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum) in bermudagrass turf maintained as a golf course fairway or athletic field. Study was conducted at the Turfgrass Research Facility in Riverside. Treatments were applied once in March or twice in April 2019. All herbicide treatments significantly suppressed smooth crabgrass emergence, providing satisfactory control (below 10% cover) until the beginning of June. Following that period, all treatments applied once at 150 lbs/A slowly started to surrender under the crabgrass pressure starting with FreeHand 1.75G followed by Specticle G, ending with Crew. By 22nd week after initial treatment (WAIT) crabgrass cover within plots treated with Crew, Specticle G and FreeHand 1.75G was 39%, 51% and 66%, respectively and differences between those treatments were significant. Ultimately, at final rating date, target weed cover within same plots was 59%, 52% and 70%, respectively although differences were not significant. Furthermore, Crew herbicide when applied either once at 200 lbs/A or twice at 150 lbs/A, performed better than if applied only once at 150 lbs/A. Those treatments withheld crabgrass encroachment at satisfactory levels for one month longer than Crew at 150 lbs/A, resulting in crabgrass suppression exceeding 50% when compared to untreated control.
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Management of Salinity and Rapid Blight Disease on Annual Bluegrass Putting Greens 2019 Report By Pawel Orlinski, Mingying Xiang, Marco Schiavon and Jim Baird Department of Botany and Plant Sciences University of California, Riverside
The Bottom Line: Seventeen commercial and experimental fungicide treatments were tested alone or in combination against an untreated control under two fertility regimes for their ability to alleviate salinity stress and potential development of rapid blight disease caused by Labyrinthula terrestris on an annual bluegrass turf maintained as a golf course putting green and irrigated with saline water (electrical conductivity = EC ≈ 2.0 dS/m). Study was conducted at the UCR Turfgrass Research Facility in Riverside. All treatments, including saline irrigation, were applied from July to November 2019. To minimize the potential impact of other pathogens on the study outcome, blanket fungicide applications with proven inactivity against rapid blight were applied throughout the study duration. Although signs of the target pathogen were confirmed in the study area, random occurrence of Labyrinthula in samples collected from treated plots, lack of typical disease symptoms and control from fungicides with known rapid blight activity, and relatively low levels of accumulated soil salinity (below 0.35 dS/m in average), led us to surmise that salinity stress was more likely responsible for turf stress and stand losses than rapid blight disease. Overall, regardless of the nature of the damage to annual bluegrass, no significant impact of fertility source (UMAXX 46-0-0 vs. Calcinit K 14-0-3) was observed for any of the evaluated parameters. However, all treatments containing potassium phosphite (Appear II) - either as a standalone product or tankmixed with acibenzolar-S-methyl and chlorothalonil (Daconil Action) or fluazinam (Secure Action) - resulted in improved turfgrass visual quality and color, and prevention of turf loss due to salinity stress and possible rapid blight disease.
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California Capital News
Fungicides for Control of Anthracnose and Summer Patch Diseases on Annual Bluegrass Putting Greens 2019 Report Pawel Petelewicz, Sandra Glegola, Brooke Gomez, Pawel Orlinski, and Jim Baird Department of Botany and Plant Sciences University of California, Riverside The Bottom Line: Twenty-two commercial and experimental fungicide treatments were tested alone or in combination against an untreated control for their ability to control foliar and basal rot anthracnose (Colletotrichum cereale) and summer patch (Magnaporthe poae) diseases preventatively on annual bluegrass (Poa annua) turf maintained as a golf course putting green. Study was conducted at the Turfgrass Research Facility in Riverside. Treatments were applied every 2 wks, starting from June 2019 for a total of 8 applications. Both anthracnose and summer patch diseases symptoms were observed during the study. However, anthracnose was the primary disease that caused turf damage. In general, UCR Program No. 5 (based on the rotation of Briskway at 0.5 oz/M, Daconil Action at 3.5 oz/M, Signature XTRA Stressgard at 5.3 oz/M, Affirm WDG at 1.0 oz/M, Insignia SC Intrinsic at 0.7 oz/M and Primo Maxx at 0.1 oz/M) was the best performing treatment in the 2019 study, keeping anthracnose disease cover under the 10% threshold and maintaining the highest visual quality of turf under the heaviest pathogen pressure, which occurred on August 27. Next in line were Bayer Programs No. 1 (rotation of Mirage Stressgard at 1.0 oz/M, Daconil Weatherstik at 3.5 oz/M, Signature XTRA Stressgard at 4.0 oz/M, Insignia SC Intrinsic at 0.7 oz/M and Primo Maxx at 0.1 oz/M) and No. 2 (with the addition of Exteris Stressgard at 4.0 oz/M), tank-mixes of Daconil Action (3.5 oz/M) and Primo Maxx (0.1 oz/M) with either Appear II (6.0 oz/M) or Secure Action (0.5 oz/M) and UCR Program No. 3 (rotation of Mirage Stressgard at 1.0 oz/M, Daconil Action at 3.5 oz/M, Signature XTRA Stressgard at 5.3 oz/M, Affirm WDG at 1.0 oz/ M, Lexicon Intrinsic at 0.47 oz/M and Primo Maxx at 0.1 oz/M) resulting in anthracnose cover below 15% and turf visual quality at or above minimally acceptable. While several other treatments evaluated in this experiment were statistically comparable to the above-mentioned treatments in terms of disease control, most of them were not able to provide acceptable visual turfgrass quality and therefore, were not considered successful.
Click Here for Full Report Water Use on Kurapia Groundcover By Pawel Orlinski, Mingying Xiang, Marco Schiavon and Jim Baird Department of Botany and Plant Sciences University of California, Riverside
Three irrigation regimes (30%, 45% and 60% ET0 replacement) and three irrigation frequencies were tested on Kurapia ground cover in a preliminary study between July and September 2019. While the best performing treatment was 60% ET0 replacement divided into two irrigation events a week, it was not significantly different from either 30% or 45% ET0 replacement with the same irrigation frequency. Surviving longer periods of drought is a known trait of warmseason species and a season-long study might show higher mean separation than was showed in these two months of study. None of irrigation treatments were enough to sustain high flowering of Kurapia, therefore different irrigation strategies need to be evaluated when flowering is preferable.
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UCR Turfgrass Breeding Program Improvement of Bermudagrass, Kikuyugrass, and Zoysiagrass for Winter Color Retention and Drought Tolerance Marta Pudzianowska, Adam Lukaszewski, Christian Bowman and Jim Baird Department of Botany and Plant Sciences University of California, Riverside
The UCR warm-season turfgrass breeding program has been focused on developing and testing new, improved genotypes of bermudagrass, kikuyugrass and zoysiagrass, for golf industry, athletic fields and homeowners. California has been experiencing drought for several years, affecting water availability and price. Extending the use of warm-season grasses, already better adapted to arid climates, and their further improvement for drought stress resistance can help tackle this issue. However, winter dormancy of warm-season grasses hampers replacement of cool-season with warmseason species, therefore developing new cultivars with improved color retention is also an important goal of our breeding efforts.
Project highlights: The primary location for developing and evaluating new genotypes is the University of California, Riverside (UCR). To find genotypes suitable for various regions of California, studies in Northern California and the Coachella Valley are also conducted. The UCR breeding program cooperates with other breeders in United States working on warmseason grasses and provides test sites in California for their new lines.
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2020 Research Protocol Salinity and Rapid Blight Management on Annual Bluegrass Putting Greens Investigators Mingying Xiang, Pawel Petelewicz, Pawel Orlinski, James H. Baird
Rationale for Research In California, salinity stress and associated rapid blight disease caused by Labyrinthula terrestris are most critical on annual bluegrass putting greens. For the past seven years, UCR has been testing products to help alleviate these stressors on bermudagrass and annual bluegrass turf (turfgrass.ucr.edu). Results have pointed toward nutrients/biostimulants as playing an integral role in salinity management. In addition, new fungicide active ingredients have been identified for rapid blight management. The UCR Turfgrass Research Facility in Riverside is equipped with field plots for salinity management research where two 5,000-gallon tanks are used to irrigate with saline water composed of the same ion composition of the Colorado River and adjustable to desired electrical conductivity (EC). Riverside is a representative climate for regional water and salinity management issues, with nearly 60 inches of annual reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and little or no natural precipitation from May thru October.
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RESOURCES REGULARLY UPDATED GCSAA Disaster Relief Fund Daily Update By State Advocacy Resources and Updates GCSAA COVID-19 Updatesgcsaa.org Ongoing Coronavirus News
GCM Online GUIDELINES, EXAMPLES AND TALKING POINTS
Minimum Maintenance Handout GCSAA in partnership with the USGA GCSAA COVID-19 Guidelines Handout Minimal Maintenance Examples If Play is Open Minimal Maintenance Examples If Play is Closed Message to Lawmakers to Keep Play Open Message to Lawmakers to Keep Maintenance Going When Play Has Closed
GCSAA TOWN HALL BRIEFINGS WATCH AND EARN PDI CREDITS April 13: Watch Recording
April 6: Watch Recording
March 30: Watch Recording March 23: Watch Recording
GCSAA WEBINARS COVID-19 and Turf Care Center Activities Gary Bogdanski Woodhill Country Club Action Plan for COVID-19 Rick Fredericksen, CGCS, Ryan Ebeling and Paul Kelly
Emergency Business and Communications Templates These documents are intended to be customized to meet your facility's specific needs. Letter for Essential Workers General Message to Employees (long) General Message to Employees (short) Communication Guide for Managers Pandemic Response Plan Travel Risk Acknowledgement Employee Questionnaire Disclosure Visitor Questionnaire Disclosure Diagnosed or Presumed Positive Message to Other Employees
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California Alliance for Golf Contnd from page 1 But as with so many other things, California is just on a faster track than they. These states have done nothing more than secure the same dispensation that golf was able to accomplish in virtually every Southern California jurisdiction last week when the cities and counties that issued draconian directives declaring “stay at home” policies and proscribing a whole host of activities and businesses opened the golf courses they owned, setting an example that permitted daily fee and private courses to follow suit content in the knowledge that the authors of the rules were construing the language of those rules to permit golf. That “dispensation” was accorded golf as part of a panoply of outdoor activities deemed capable of practicing the social distancing protocols also embedded in those rules. However, as newspapers and TV stations amply reported over the course of the next few days, citizens availing themselves of the “permitted” activities – walking/jogging trails, wilderness parks, ball fields, playgrounds, beaches and yes, golf courses – proved that in an urban environment what made eminent sense on paper about the capacity to practice social distancing didn’t work out in practice, which engendered a huge public backlash that led to the strict prohibition of ALL of these activities, including golf, by the very government agencies that had permitted these activities in their initial orders/directives. If you forgive the not entirely apt comparison, the above scenario might be described as follows. What golf secured in the court of law it soon after lost in the court of public opinion, which is the court elected leaders care most deeply about. Not the argument but the reaction to it based on a combination of lax execution and public resentment. And because golf did not lose the argument on the merits, it is positioned to be among the first activities that can be safely permitted once we are on the other side of the pandemic curve and policy makers begin to relax restrictions on certain activities. A pandemic is not like a hurricane or earthquake; there won’t be an “all clear” signal that allows everything to go back to the status quo ante. There will be a slow roll back to normality. If golf plays its messaging cards right and practices a combination of subtlety and forbearance while continuing to press its case re amenability to social distancing protocols, it should be able to make a powerful case that it is considerably better positioned to do so than the myriad open space recreational activities referenced above, not because it is superior in any sense, but because it is in fact and practice considerably more amenable. To the degree to which golf focuses more on those facts and continues to communicate them, it can position itself for the best possible outcome, which is going to be different in every jurisdiction. That is precisely what has happened today in Monterey. Well after Monterey County shut down “all private and public golf” in the county, its Health Department issued an opinion that its closure announcement did not preclude the use of golf course property as “open space.” That is, as long as members played using their own equipment (carts, clubs, etc.), did not require any assistance whatsoever from staff, otherwise hewed to ALL binding social distancing protocols, these activities were not the equivalent to the course “being open” and would not be in violation of the County Health Order. This wouldn’t seem to provide any opening for a daily fee course, which has to offer access to persons beyond “members,” strictly control their behavior, and somehow complete a financial transaction, all without human contact. We suggest this not as a specific example you should follow; SCGA’s stance throughout has been and will continue to be the dissemination of the information necessary to make fully informed choices, the choices being the province of each club or course so long as those choices are within applicable law or directive. But we do suggest this as an example of how golf might best prosecute its case that it is among the safest of outdoor recreational activities – a case that will allow the game to proceed when it is safe under certain conditions to do so as determined by the county authorities invested with the discretion to make that judgment. Subtlety, nuance, discretion, judgment, optics and respect for public sentiment – this is the stuff of golf’s best course. That and an overriding concern for the health and safety of staff, golfers and community. Aggressive advocacy not so much. ########### The House of Representatives still needs to pass the $2 trillion emergency relief/stimulus package the Senate passed late last night before the President can sign it into law. That is expected to happen tomorrow. No changes are expected, which is why everyone is now busy trying to figure out exactly what is in the 1,000-page beast. The World Golf Foundation’s (WGF) lobbying arm (We Are Golf) has three Washington lobbyists busy picking through the bill to see what of a golf specific nature is in there and plans to issue a comprehensive report that we will share as soon as we have it. There is one piece of good news they’ve already discovered. In this emergency relief package golf businesses are not categorically excluded as has often been past practice, most recently after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. This makes golf businesses eligible for the $367 billion in the package for small businesses (less than 50 employees). “Eligible” is not entitled, but one step at a time. With today’s announcement of 3.3 million unemployment insurance applications it would appear that last week’s dire predictions regarding short-term unemployment weren’t dire; they were spot on. Whether this presages a deep recession is anybody’s guess. But what it does all but guarantee is that California is going to burn through the $21 billion rainy day fund it took 6 years to acquire in a matter of weeks, even with the $10 billion the state anticipates receiving in direct federal assistance. And
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California Alliance for Golf Contnd from page 8 as you have read countless times in these reports, California’s tax receipts are heavily dependent on both the income and capital gains of its affluent citizens. When markets tank and recessions reign, the state’s tax receipts plummet considerably more than in most states. Throw in unfunded pension liabilities and the costs associated with fighting the COVID-19 crisis, and California’s budget situation could be on the edge of a rapid collapse, which will dredge up all sorts of ugliness that will affect governments and public services down to the most local of levels. It will be a while before the economic detritus shakes out. But it won’t be a question of whether business in general and the golf community in specific suffer, but only a question of how bad the damage will be. Even if the damage turns out to be less than many now predict, given that the already challenged municipal sector is appended to the very local governments sure to be strapped, the “existential” dangers we’ve been writing about are only going to become more acute. Now would be the time to begin trying to get out in front of that. Lost in all the current reporting is the matter of the 2020 legislative session. Like so many other things, 2020 is going to be a “lost year.” The legislature has already made clear that the vast majority of the 2,000 bills that were filed before the world changed will not be taken up this year. April 24 remains the date by which bills must pass out of committee to remain alive for the session, and that means that the only bills likely to pass out of committee are going to involve direct responses to the current crisis as well as other crises like fire and utility bankruptcies that were already in the hopper. With respect to the subject of our allconsuming passion, AB 5, we do expect that it will be taken up; however, expect the scope of the engagement to be less than we had anticipated a few short weeks ago. Whether that means our confidence in securing further protections for PGA Professionals in the “Business to Business for Professional Services” exception protocols needs to be taken down a notch is not yet knowable. ########### Finally, please know that our effort to provide you with information and analysis regarding COVID-19’s impact upon golf facilities is not made to distract you from what should be the overriding concern of everybody at this moment – health, safety, and community. Stay safe. Remain vigilant. Be ever mindful of family and community. And remember that these things always trump the exigencies of any moment.
COMMUNICATING COVID-19 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS THE GOLF INDUSTRY IS TAKING CONCERNING PLAY Many states around the country have allowed golf courses to remain open to the public for play while they implement policies to limit the spread of COVID-19. It is critical for GCSAA members to communicate to lawmakers the proactive steps being taken to provide a safe environment on the golf course for both maintenance staff and golfers alike. Golf courses are partnering with state and local governments during the COVID-19 pandemic • Governors, Mayors, and other leaders in government are currently under considerable pressure to protect the health and safety of the citizens in their states and cities. • We in the golf industry understand this difficult position and stand ready to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. • Golf course superintendents have provided leadership at their clubs and courses by establishing safety protocols in accordance with guidelines issued by the CDC and other regulatory bodies. There are two components to a golf course: Indoor Facilities & Outdoor Facilities • The clubhouse, pro shop and restaurant operation is just one small part of the footprint of a golf course. In states and cities where directives have called for restaurants and bars to limit food services to take-out and delivery only, golf courses have done the same. • The outdoor component (the golf course) functions quite differently than the indoor component and thus, should be treated differently. • Averaging 150 acres of open space, the opportunity for social distancing on a golf course is similar to other healthy activities, like taking a walk through one of our state parks or city trails. • Many governmental bodies, including the states of Washington and Michigan, recognize this fact and have allowed golf courses to remain open for play, giving participants a healthy and enjoyable experience while responsibly social distancing at the same time. • Whether utilizing a cart or walking, playing golf oxygenates the body, provides mental and physical stimulus, and offers a place to enjoy fresh air and the outdoors.
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Communicating Safety Precautions Contnd from page 8
Superintendents are proactively implementing necessary precautions at golf facilities • Superintendents are taking all necessary precautions to keep maintenance staff and golfers safe by taking into account all health advisories and recommendations by the CDC. • In fact, Superintendents are implementing healthy best practices for staff engaged in the management of the golf course, including: Increasing communication with owners, green committees, members, golfers, and staff regarding altered golf course management practices Taking temperature of staff members as they arrive Keeping 6 ft social distancing at all times throughout the day Staggering of staff starting times to reduce employee contact points Eliminating time clocks or assigning one individual the responsibility of punching employees in/out to reduce touch point Increased sanitizing of all workspaces and bathrooms Mandatory wearing of gloves at all times No sharing of utility vehicles Sanitizing all hand tools Removal of ball washers, rakes and water coolers from the golf course to minimize touch points Ensuring flagsticks are sanitized and remain in cups at all times Raising cups 1” or turning cups upside down to eliminate points of contact on the green Precautions for the golf course don’t stop there • The golf industry has developed specific operations protocols that support the directive of the CDC for both social distancing and environmental and sanitation management. • All major golf organizations are collaborating to share best practices within industry. • For employees, these protocols include, but are not limited to: o Educating staff on hygiene, sanitation, and food handling to learn about disease prevention and control. o Educating staff to recognize the symptoms of COVID-19 and to act responsibly if they detect or exhibit symptoms. o Requiring all staff to wear protective gloves. • Encouraging golfers and staff to refrain from handshakes. Other guest protocols include, but are not limited to: o Providing clear and professional signage informing guest of operational changes and encourage recommended sanitation practices. o Restricting access to most areas in the clubhouse to staff only. o Restricting clubhouse restaurant to provide only food and drinks to-go with “curbside service.” o Encouraging golfers and staff to refrain from handshakes and maintain 6ft distance. o No tournaments or social activities. o Removal of outdoor furniture to discourage gathering in any one place. o Increasing the time between tee times. o Mandatory single cart use. o Modifying the driving range hitting areas to ensure minimum 6ft separation between players. o Ensuring restrooms are more frequently cleaned and sanitized. o Ensuring golf carts and other rental equipment are properly sanitized using approved antimicrobial products before and after issuance to customers. How and when should I contact my elected officials? • The golf industry has been actively engaged with numerous executive and legislative offices at the federal, state, and local level regarding government directives related to COVID-19. • The We Are Golf coalition will be conveying these and similar points to many governor’s offices. • To learn more about what outreach has already taken place in your state and what the next steps for outreach may be, please contact Michael Lee, GCSAA Manager of Government Affairs at 816-663-2154 or mlee@gcsaa.org. • It is critical during this time that the golf industry maintain a unified message. Any outreach conducted should be in coordination with your chapter and allied golf associations in your state. • Work closely with your chapter executives and contract lobbyists who may be able to help you deliver the right message, at the right time, to the right decision maker in government. Additional Resources for Employers and Employees In addition to resources created by state departments of health which may vary from state to state, below are additional resources GCSAA members may find useful: GCSAA Resources: GCSAA COVID-19 Pandemic Online Resources CDC information for businesses: Interim guidance for business and employers Cleaning and disinfection recommendations
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Quick Links for Importa nt Informatio n CAL C HAMB ER The CARES Act Explained COVID-19 Business Loans Explained COVID-19 Workforce Reduction Guidance Federal COVID-19 Leaves: Key Points COVID-19: What Employers Are Asking
COVID-19 Federal Paid Leaves Explained
CALIFORNI A EDD Guide For Employers and Workers Impacted by COVID-19 Additional EDD Coronavirus Resources FEDER AL SM ALL BUSI NESS ADMI NI ST RAT ION
SBA Guidelines for Paycheck Protection Program Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: In addition to traditional SBA funding programs, the CARES Act established several new temporary programs to address the COVID-19 outbreak | Learn more. US House of Representatives Families First COVID-19 Constituent Service Resources Toolkit GCSAA Webinar: Town Hall #4 Meeting featuring Rhett Evans, Seth Waugh, Jay Karen and Jeff Morgan Link for members who would like points | Direct link Advise Congress to include 501(c)(7) organizations, which includes some private clubs and the employees who work for them, in the Paycheck Protection Program
OCCUPAT IONAL SAFET Y AND HEALT H ADM I NIST RAT ION Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus Poster ENGLISH | SPANISH
California GCSA
We’re on the Web Californiagcsa.org 2020 Board of Directors OFFICERS President, - Jim Ferrin CGCSTimber Creek and Sierra Pines GC Vice President— Kurtis Wolford Woodbridge Country Club Secretary Treasurer, Glenn Mathews, CGCS Visalia Country Club Past President, & Chair of the BMP CommitteeGary Ingram, CGCS– Metropolitan G.C.
DIRECTORS Vince Zellefrow El Camino C.C.
Jim Abate, CGCS PGA Tour Agronomy
Steve Showers Brookside C.C.
John Nachreiner Shady Canyon Golf Club
Jim Schmid The Lakes Country Club
Tyler Truman Sun City Palm Desert
Don Ebarb Marbella Country Club
AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVES Jim Culley Seed King
Pete Bowman BoTerra
GCSAA Field Staff Representative Jeff Jensen GCSAA Field Staff-Southwest
Executive Directors Irene Cline/Kimberly Milne, Executive Directors California GCSA, GCSA of Central California, & Sierra Nevada GCSA Phone: 559-298-6262 Fax: 559-298-6957 Email: Californiagcsa@aol.com Marc Connerly Executive Director GCSA Northern California, HiLo Desert, SoCal GCSA Phone: 916- 456-1320 Cell: (916) 214-6495 Fax: 916-456-7672 Email: info@golfcalifornia.org Sandy Cooper, Executive Director San Diego GCSA Phone: (760) 845-7045 Email: info@sdgcsa.com
Government Relations Committee Members Kevin Breen, CGCS LaRenconada C.C.
Kurtis Wolford Woodbridge C.C.
Jim Ferrin, CGCS Sun City Roseville
Stu Rowland Rancho La Quinta C. C.
Affiliated Associations California Alliance for Golf California Turfgrass & Landscape Foundation Jim Ferrin, CGCS Sun City Roseville G.C. Bruce Williams, CGCS