RHODE ISLAND GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

Hi everyone,

As the active handicap season for Rhode Island begins on April 1, we have recently learned what the updated COVID-19 rules will be for golf.

We wanted to prepare courses in advance, as these changes when implement would impact operations in the following ways:
 
Carts: No changes, maintain protocols related to players from different households wearing masks when they share a cart.
 
Flagsticks: may now be removed by players, courses must have a disinfectant plan, cups no longer need to be flipped or modified.
 
Common touch points including bunker rakes, ball washers, range balls, shared equipment, etc.: allowed to be used, must follow a disinfectant plan.
 
Courses are expected to remain compliant with all other general guidance for the public, in particular, mask wearing and cleaning of common touch points, as outlined in the Protect Your Household Guidance. Guidelines for retail businesses and the clubhouse can also be found in the attached document.  Click here to view document.
 
Let me know if you have any questions. We will follow up and provide an update if there are any other changes of note for golf courses and other related businesses.

Robert Ward
Executive Director
Rhode Island Golf Association

Hello everyone,

As we head into the start of the golf season, I want to update everyone on the status of COVID rules for golf.

Complete COVID rules and regulations can be found at reopeningri.com under the Recreational, Historical and Cultural Tab. Specific golf guidance is located on pages 5-6.

Clubhouse rules and regulations fall under restaurant rules which are located under the Restaurant tab.

The RIGA and Government Strategies are currently working with the Governor and his new administration to have golf specific rules updated. Our intent is to have the flagstick and bunker restrictions removed by April 1.

We will send out an update once new rules are communicated back to us.
For those of you that have Massachusetts ties, please visit mass.gov or massgolf.org for more information.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Robert Ward
Executive Director
Rhode Island Golf Association

Hello everyone,

Golf specific guidance has now been updated and posted as part of Phase III Guidelines for Recreational, Historical, Cultural, and Entertainment Establishments.

Dual cart riders are now permitted for all players. When players are from different households they must designate one person the driver and both wear face coverings while riding together.

Should you be hosting events where players arrive and depart around the same time, please keep in mind the social distancing and gathering size guidance for organizing your function, both indoors and outdoors.

Enjoy your 4th of July weekend.

Bob

Robert Ward
Executive Director
Rhode Island Golf Association

Hello Everyone,

I would like to apologize for the lack of communication the last couple of weeks, but the bottom line is we have had little to no communication with the Governor's Staff.   It's been extremely frustrating trying to get restrictions eased for our industry. 
 
Currently golf-specific activities are still operating under Phase II guidance. The golf industry Phase III plan was submitted four weeks ago and has not yet been approved. We also have sent in subsequent emails detailing the ease of restrictions in Conn., N.H., V.T and Maine. There have also been communications detailing golf regulations/restrictions in other parts of the country.
 
I can assure you that Government Strategies and the RIGA are working daily to try and get restrictions eased and clarified.
 
Here are the Phase III updates that have changed which are specific to other parts of running your business. As a reminder, all guidance can be found in greater detail at https://www.reopeningri.com/.
 
In Phase III, there is no golf-specific language. Clubs are however expected to follow the guidance for social gatherings, public events and outdoor recreation that are outlined in Phase III Picking-up-speed.
 
The Executive Order regarding face coverings has been extended to Aug. 3:

• Face coverings: Face coverings must be worn in public—both indoors and outdoors—whenever six feet of social distance cannot be maintained. Exceptions are made for children under two years of age and anyone whose health would be negatively impacted by wearing a face covering.  

Other changes for Phase III include:

• Social gatherings: Social gatherings can be no larger than 25 people indoors or 50 people outdoors. For social gatherings like weddings where there is a licensed caterer involved (which makes the setting more like a restaurant) gatherings can be as large as 50 people indoors or up to 100 people outdoors.

• Public events: Public events can be up to 125 people indoors or up to 250 people outdoors. Any organizers planning to host a group of more than 100 people will need to submit plans to Commerce RI.

• Indoor settings: All indoor settings operating at a square footage capacity can increase up to one person per 100 square feet, provided that everyone maintains six feet of social distance. All indoor settings currently operating at a percent capacity cap can still increase up to 66 percent capacity provided that everyone maintains six feet of social distance. This includes places like offices and restaurants. Seated venues can open at up to 66 percent capacity, and free-flowing venues can open at 100 square feet per person, provided that everyone maintains six feet of social distance.

• Travel: Rhode Island will implement a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone coming to Rhode Island from any state with five percent or greater positivity rate. (Positivity rates are calculated using the average daily positivity rate for the last seven days.) As an exception, people will not have to quarantine if they have had a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours. (If someone is tested after arriving in Rhode Island and gets a negative result, that person can stop quarantining.) The list of states with a percent positive rate of five percent or higher will be published today on RIDOH’s website and will be updated weekly. (Based on this reporting: https://coronavirus.jhuedu/testing/testing-positivity).

Other guidance documents have been updated for Phase III and are available for: Restaurants, Retail, Youth and Adult Sports, Offices, and Gyms.
 
Pools remain subject to the RI Department of Health's Emergency Regulations for Aquatic Venues
 
As soon as golf specific rules change for Phase III, an email communication will be sent out.
 
Regards,
 
Bob

Robert Ward
Executive Director
Rhode Island Golf Association

Hello everyone,

Golf guidance for Phase II was published this afternoon by the Executive Office of Commerce as part of Reopening R.I. Specific golf information is located under the Phase II outdoor recreational business tab. Specific golf information is located on the top of page four as this document is confusing to follow. Links for each aspect of our industry are located throughout this document as the golf industry has fallen into many different business categories.
 
This adds unnecessary confusion to an already frustrating process. Navigating multiple regulatory frameworks for operations (golf/recreation, restaurant, retail, gym, pool, beach, park, etc.) is not what we were looking for but will have to live with it until we push for change.

The RIGA and Government Strategies will be following up with the Executive Office of Commerce tomorrow to note the confusion and conflicting protocols that overlap. We hope to gain additional clarifications and relief for you all soon. This process has been very frustrating as our Phase II plan did include two-person golf carts but was declined by the Executive Office of Commerce that now oversees outdoor recreational businesses. It is the intention of the RIGA and Government Strategies to make every effort to have the golf cart restrictions eased before the start of phase III.  We have requested a meeting with the Director of Commerce by the end of the week.

A clarification for Out-of-State residents coming to R.I. to golf. The Governor's Executive Order was modified to note that unless traveling internationally or from a domestic place under a stay-at-home order, you can now do business in Rhode Island. This does allow Out-of-State residents to play golf as long as they don’t fall into the categories described above.
 
Golf specific changes for Phase II include:

• Groups of up to 15 persons may congregate together on property
• Putting and chipping areas must follow the 15-person social gathering rule
• Driving ranges/practice areas must space players six feet apart: all balls, baskets, and all other commonly-touched items must be cleaned and sanitized between uses
• Tee times are now at the discretion of each club, provided sufficient spacing between groups
• Caddies and forecaddies are permitted with social distancing, face coverings, hand sanitizer and cleaning of equipment

As these changes are frustrating to all of us involved, I hope to have better clarification on the changes and a modification for two-person carts soon.
 
Sorry for the delay of Phase II information as this was a trying week dealing with a new department.

Bob

Robert Ward
Executive Director
Rhode Island Golf Association

Hi everyone,

As we head toward the beginning of June, it's important to inform you all of the latest information regarding rules and regulations for COVID-19 in Rhode Island.

During the Governor's press conference today she announced the extension of Executive Order 20-36 to May 31, with an intention to formally enter Phase II on June 1. The domestic travel restrictions remain in place for the remainder of May but are expected to be lifted on June 1 (unless you are coming from a location under a stay at home order). 

Additional details regarding Phase I and II guidelines can be found at https://www.reopeningri.com/. Additional industry-specific items will be added next week. We remain in constant communication with the DBR regarding the Phase II golf protocols, advocating for additional relief for our industry and will keep you updated on next steps. Please keep in mind that many of the most difficult and frustrating restrictions are not golf specific, but part of the state's comprehensive reopening protocols for all of Rhode Island. 

Enjoy the weekend,

Bob

Robert Ward

Executive Director

Rhode Island Golf Association

Good Morning,

Here is the link to the latest revision of guidance for the golf industry.

Golf Industry Guidelines 5/7/20

Language in the last bullet point has been changed to state "shotgun style" events are prohibited.  Leagues and organized events can be run but you must use tee times.

Please be advised that these new guidelines go into effect when the Governor announces her phase I plan in re-opening RI.  They do not go into effect immediately.  She should announce today that phase I begins tomorrow.

A phase II plan for the golf industry has already been submitted to the DBR.
Hopefully we will have information on these guidelines soon.

Bob
 
Robert Ward
Executive Director
Rhode Island Golf Association

Good evening,
As Governor Raimondo prepares for Phase I reopening of Rhode Island, regulators have released guidance to prepare us for this transition. Here is the link for General Phase I Re-Opening RI Guidelines.

In addition, today the Department of Business Regulation released Phase I Golf Industry Regulations, which while subject to change, are anticipated to become effective on Saturday. Please know the RIGA and Government Strategies remain tirelessly engaged with regulators and government officials to advance the interests of the golf industry.

While we are still working on critical needs for our clubs, we are pleased to report some key advancements including: 10 minute tee times, push/pull and golf cart usage (single rider only; double if from the same household) and opening of practice areas, among others. It's important to go through each link thoroughly as operating the golf/pro shop operations follow retail guidance and the food/beverage operations fall under those for restaurants.

Unfortunately, Out-of-State Residents are still not allowed to play golf unless they are here on an extended stay and have completed 14 days of self-quarantine. We remain committed to further expanding this to permit transient out of state club members to play golf, and will keep everyone up to date as the process evolves.

Please also be advised that the current guidance includes a restriction prohibiting “organized tournaments and leagues.” We have expressed concern regarding this provision, and believe further clarification will follow soon on this point. We believe the intention is to prohibit shotgun style events. We will update you further as clarification is provided, but please note that strict social distancing and social gathering restrictions remain in place.

We are committed to getting our industry to a point where you can all have a productive and successful spring and summer golf season. We will continue to work to get additional relief, hopefully sooner than Phase II.

It's important to keep following current guidelines. We are all in this together and rely upon each other to maintain compliance.

I hope to send out a revised version of this email with updated news before Saturday.

Regards,
Bob

Robert Ward
Executive Director
Rhode Island Golf Association

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all safe and well.

I want to report that there is a lot of hard work going on to help the golf industry.  Hopefully we will be able to provide guidance in the next few days so we can all plan properly for May 9 or sooner.  We are currently working to have tee time intervals reduced, golf carts reinstated and practice areas open.

Effective immediately Rhode Island ADA disability tag holders now have access to a single person golf cart.  This work was accomplished after many hours of working with the DBR.

Here is the link to the updated DBR rules and regulations for the golf industry.  This rule applies for any Rhode Island resident who shows proof of a Blue ADA Disability Tag.  They are allowed to take a cart that will be sanitized before they play and must be sanitized immediately after they finish playing.

Bob

Robert Ward
Executive Director
Rhode Island Golf Association