Page 7 - Summer2020GTP
P. 7
GENERAL SECTION HEADER
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM TOURNAMENT
GOLF FOR BOTH PLAYERS AND FANS?
he COVID-19 coronavirus has certainly turned four events; not even players’ families will be
Tour world upside-down. Multiple businesses allowed on-site. It takes approximately 2,500
were forced to closed, including golf courses, people to make a PGA Tour event happen, but
when most American governors mandated that the Tour plans to try to run with around 1,000
“non-essential” businesses do so. A philosophical extra personnel at the venue. Virus testing will
point can be made that there are no businesses not be possible for everyone due to logistics, but
that are non-essential, because all businesses are screenings and questionnaires will be the norm.
essential to the owners that own them, employees Caddies will be required to clean the flagsticks
who depend on their paychecks and the and bunker rakes after they handle them, and
customers who rely on the products and services both players and caddies are expected to sanitize
those businesses provide. their hands after the playing of each hole. Players
Gatherings of over 10 people were also either are encouraged to pull the clubs out of the bag
discouraged or declared illegal as government and return them without the caddie touching
officials moved into action to try to stop the them. Players are also going to be the only ones
spread of the coronavirus. That effectively allowed to pick their ball out of the hole. Both
ended professional sports in the United States for players and caddies will be tested for the virus
a considerable period of time, including golf on before each event, and any player returning a
the PGA Tour. The first round of The Players was positive test will be forced to withdraw from the
completed in March when the Tour decided that tournament. Masks will also be provided for any
it was not feasible to continue play and wound player, caddie and essential personnel at the
up canceling the tournament. Other events were course.
either canceled or postponed, as well. A charter plane will also be made available to
After three months of being shut down, the players and caddies alike, and only those who test
PGA Tour will be up and running once again negative for the virus within 24 hours of departure
starting June 11 in Fort Worth, Texas, at Colonial will be allowed to board. Players and caddies are
Country Club. (At least that’s the plan at the expected to all stay at the same hotel, basically
time of this writing.) The experience will certainly sequestered there with no travel outside the
be different for both players and fans alike. For hotel except to the golf course. This includes
one, there actually will be no fans for the first Continued on page 05
04
SUMMER 2020 Golf Teaching Pro
