Golf Facility Reopening Guidance
Golf facilities across Pennsylvania and New Jersey opened on May 1 and 2, respectively, under restrictions put into place by state governors and agencies, and guidance issued by local and national Allied Golf Organizations. We understand that these policies have presented challenges to your operations, but we have been encouraged by the membership's compliance, which allowed your members, guests and customers to enjoy golf courses, while getting exercise and a mental break from the ongoing pandemic. Please keep in mind that the orders issued by each state must be followed by every PGA Professional; if a breach occurs, it jeopardizes all facilities and their ability to remain open.
Please be aware that while Back2Golf was issued by the Allied Golf Organizations and has been reviewed and is in alignment with the CDC, all facilities must follow their local, state or federal orders; government guidance takes priority. The most up-to-date information for each state can be found on our Golf Facility Reopening Guidance page...to review, click here.
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Additionally, please be aware of the recent state guidance and rule changes that were made in the past several days:
- Golf cars: The Pennsylvania Governor's Office updated its guidance for golf car usage procedures, now stipulating that "golf cars may be utilized, but must be single occupant only, unless the occupants share a residence." Delaware's Governor's Office is now allowing golf car use for one rider at a time, regardless of relationship, with proper cleaning between customers.
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance: Pennsylvania's Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is now fully operational. Self-employed workers, gig workers, and 1099-independent workers can now complete their weekly certification and receive benefits. Benefit payments under PUA are retroactive, for weeks of unemployment, partial employment, or inability to work due to COVID-19 reasons starting on or after January 27, 2020. To learn more, click here.
Golf Relief Fund: If you are a PGA Professional hurting financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic, please apply today for the Golf Emergency Relief Fund, which is in its second phase, at relief.golf.
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Section Tournaments Set to Resume in June
Barring any setbacks or unforeseen circumstances, the Philadelphia PGA Section will resume tournament play on Tuesday, June 2 at the Head Pro Championship at North Hills C.C. All other events currently scheduled are expected to take place as well. To register for an event, please click here.
The Tournament Committee has been hard at work to ensure the health and safety of our membership, staff and partners remains a top priority. Detailed safety guidelines for Section events will be released as we approach our first event. Please be aware that guidelines are subject to change once tournament play is resumed to take into account effectiveness as well as local, state and/or federal mandates.
Hard Card: The Philadelphia PGA Section's 2020 hard card is now available to view online...to review, click here.
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Sara Muldoon to be Featured on CBS Sports
Philadelphia PGA Section Member Sara Muldoon, 2019 PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Resort Category), 13 other PGA Professional award winners will be featured in a nationwide one-hour CBS Sports special, “My Golf Journey: A Celebration of PGA Professionals,” which airs on Saturday, May 9, at 2 p.m. ET. The program showcases the PGA Members that were honored during the 2019 season. To watch a preview of the program, click the image above.
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Webinar Video Archive
Since the COVID-19 quarantines commenced, Philadelphia PGA Section and its Education Committee has hosted 23 webinars / events, all of which were recorded and are now hosted on the Section's 2020 Webinar Archive page...to watch the videos, click here. The Section has a Doubles Golf and PGA Jr. League webinar scheduled for Monday, May 11 at 9:00 a.m...to register, click here. Thank you to everyone who has presented a webinar and to those who have participated each week.
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Local PGA Jr. Leagues Can Continue Locally
Although PGA REACH announced this week that the 2020 PGA Jr. League Championship and postseason have been canceled due to ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19, PGA Jr. League is committed to maximizing local playing opportunities in 2020 that adhere to national, state and local social distancing standards. PGA Jr. League local leagues will provide a path for kids to engage in youth sports under the leadership of PGA and LPGA coaches, in alignment with Opening Up America Again Guidelines and ongoing plans to reopen the game of golf in a phased approach. By combining summer and fall leagues, local leagues can maximize flexibility with schedules and structures by supporting play during the rest of the calendar year. PGA Jr. League is targeting June 1 as the earliest date to allow local leagues to resume activities, provided that the resumption of activities shall only be allowed in localities that are in Phase II of the Guidelines, based on state and local health authorities.
2020 Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships: The PGA of America also announced this week that the 2020 Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships have been canceled, due to ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19 and the challenges of operating 41 Section Championship events starting in May and having to be completed by the end of June. Despite the cancellation of the national level events, our Section still has an opportunity to conduct their own Section Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships when it is responsible to do so, based on the guidance of applicable state and local authorities—and without concern of being tied to a qualification deadline.
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Latest issue of the 1921 e-pub
In the latest issue of 1921, the official e-publication of the Philadelphia PGA Section, you will find stories about a Section PGA Member and his family working provide masks for those in need, a profile of our 2019 Teacher of the Year, John Dunigan, updates on PGA REACH Philadelphia's website and the Section's new Lesson Tee Facebook group, and a Centennial feature about the Section in the 1920s.
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PGA Education Opportunities
Specialized Professional Program: The PGA of America recently announced that through June 30, 2020, you may access the Specialized Professional Program (full content library) free of charge. If you previously enrolled in this program, library subscriptions are extended by 90 days to accommodate this free period. For access instructions, click here.
PGA.Coach: We strongly encourage you to complete free training with PGA.Coach. Learn more about the American Development Model, and how it can improve your coach-customer relationships, golfer retention, and value you bring as a PGA Professional. Once you’ve completed the training, you’ll have access to the PGA.Coach app, which features lesson planning, note taking and assessment tools. Start your journey toward modern coaching today at PGA.Coach.
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Membership Update
Please see below for the Section’s membership updates as of May 6. New facility or Section affiliations are listed immediately following the PGA Professional’s name, while prior affiliations are listed in parentheses. * denotes new PGA Professionals the Section; † denotes new PGA Associates to the Section; ‡ denotes changes within the same facility.
Half Century: Hugh Rilley
A-13: James Emery, Philmont C.C.; (Ford's Colony G.C.)*
A-14: Gary Bates, Gary Bates Golf Academy; (Golf Performance Institute)
A-6: Terry Hertzog, Merion G.C.; (C.C. of York)
A-8: Stephen Oberstadt, Hidden Creek G.C.; (Trump Nat'l. G.C. - Charlotte)*
B-8: Evan Mitchell, Whitford C.C.; (Blue Bell C.C.)
Transfers: Joel Aptacker, Eric Keeler
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