PGA of America

Phase 2: Restricted Programming

In Phase 2, smaller group activity (outings & league play) may resume. Normal golf groups, in addition to riding in golf carts, are also permitted. Please note that restrictions may apply and will vary by locality. See below for specific operational examples to safely implement restricted programming.

Note: Vulnerable individuals should continue to shelter in place. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where  distancing is not practical, they could carry the virus back home. Precautions should be taken to isolate from vulnerable residents.

For additional information and interim guidance, visit the CDC’s website here for planning, preparing and responding to COVID-19 in the workplace. For reopening guidance from the CDC, click here.

Golf Course Setup and Maintenance

For GCSAA guidelines for opening up your golf course during COVID-19, click here. For additional golf course maintenance best practices, click here.

  • Minimal course set up and moderate staff with staggered shifts as appropriate.
  • Holes will be filled or adapted to allow for easy ball retrieval.
  • Bunker rakes can be utilized if hands are sanitized immediately after use.
  • Trash removed by individual players.
  • Flags may be touched if hands are sanitized immediately after use.
  • No on course amenities.

On Course Restrooms

  • Enhanced cleaning protocol.

Guidelines For Play

  • Click here for the competitions addendum, which provides additional options for running a competition.
  • Normal golf groups are permitted.
  • Walking or riding in golf carts are permitted.
  • Smaller group activity (outings & league play) may be resumed with proper social distancing guidelines being followed.
  • Restrictions apply and will vary by locality.

Signage

  • Amplification of social distance messaging, signage and floor decals are required. 
  • Print these Back2Golf Social Distancing Guidelines posters for your facility. These can be displayed in the golf shop, locker room, first tee, clubhouse, on golf carts or wherever appropriate.

    • Click here to download 4.5’’ x 5.5’’ golf cart signs.
    • Click here to download 8.5’’ x 11’’ vertical posters.
    • Click here to download 8.5’’ x 11’’ horizontal posters.
    • Click here to download 8.5’’ x 14’’ vertical posters.
    • Click here to download 8.5’’ x 14’’ horizontal posters.
  • Visit CDC.gov here for communication materials for your facility.

Golf Shop/Retail Operations

  • Golf Shops may open should operate at limited capacity as to adhere to social distancing policies.
  • Remote check-in for golfers with all golf fees billed to a member account or payment via phone or online, if available, for another guest option.
  • Credit card payment can be an option if proper social distancing can be achieved.

Guest Supplies (Scorecards, Tees, Pencils)

  • Available in sanitized bags upon request.

Payment/Cash Handling

  • Cash can be accepted.
  • Online payments accepted.
  • Credit Cards may be used with proper social distancing and sanitation between transactions.

Practice Facility

  • Practice facilities may be open but are to practice strict social distancing.
  • Enhanced practice ball sanitation protocol.

Teaching and Coaching/Club Fitting

  • Golf instruction and club fitting conducted with adherence to strict social distancing guidelines.
  • Facial cloth covering is not mandated as long as social distancing is followed.
  • Recommended that family members stay away.
  • Small group clinics may be resumed based upon the practice facility space available to abide by the social distancing guidelines.
  • Click here for additional teaching and coaching best practices.

Cart Riding

  • Follow use of facial coverings and number of passengers mandated by the local health officials and government restrictions.
  • See Competitions Section below for additional competition-related guidance.
  • Click here for cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining your carts.

Club Storage and Bag Handling

  • Club storage can be provided.
  • Staff will assist under proper CDC guidelines.
  • Staff to continue to use personal protective equipment.

Caddies

  • Modified caddie service.
  • Can include walking and with appropriate social distancing measures being taken.

Golf Staffing

  • Moderate number of staff on site to facilitate operations.
  • Some staff allowed to remove protective gear.
  • Click here for additional CDC guidance on reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Clubhouse

  • Clubhouses may open but should operate at limited capacity adhering to social distancing, cleaning, and staffing safety protocols.
  • Restaurants and bars may operate with diminished standing-room occupancy, where applicable and appropriate.
  • Standalone gyms may continue to be open if they adhere to strict physical distancing, cleaning, and sanitation protocols (done every hour at a minimum).
  • Other facility amenities (locker room, tennis, pool, etc.) may open based on adherence to state and local health authority guidelines.
  • Click here for the Club Management Association of America’s reopening resources post-COVID-19.

Food and Beverage

  • Clubhouse food and beverage operations open at limited capacity adhering to proper social distancing, cleaning, and sanitizing protocols for food preparation and guest service (done every hour at a minimum).
  • Seating and standing-room capacity operates at reduced capacity according to local and state guidelines.
  • Click here for the National Restaurant Associations reopening guidance.

Halfway House

  • Halfway House is open for cashless service with proper social distancing, cleaning, and sanitation protocols in place (done every hour at a minimum).
  • All food items are individually wrapped and served to guests.
  • Beverages in cans or other closed containers only.
  • No self-service items are available.

Beverage Carts

  • Follow state ABC and local health authorities regulations to determine if beverage carts are allowed.  Understand the local requirements and definitions for “take out” food.  
  • Beverage Carts are in use for cashless service with proper social distancing, cleaning, and sanitation protocols in place (done every hour at a minimum).
  • All food items are individually wrapped and served to guests.
  • Beverages in cans or other closed containers only.
  • No self-service items are available.

Locker Rooms

  • Locker rooms are available for limited use (restrooms, changing clothes, and assigned locker use, etc.) according to local and state guidelines with proper social distancing, cleaning, and sanitation protocols in place, done every hour at a minimum.
  • No towels or amenities provided.
  • Showers not available.

Classes and Events

  • Click here for the competitions addendum, which provides additional options for running a competition.
  • Group play allowed at the facility. Groups no larger than 50 players may be held as long as tee times are used.
  • Shotguns may resume with proper staging and social distancing set.
  • Smaller group play allowed at the facility.
  • Shotguns allowed with strict social distancing and staging that eliminates the potential for large gatherings.
  • Carts are staged a minimum of ten feet apart.
  • Single riders in a cart or approved local exceptions (same family, same arrival car, etc) for two riders.
  • Facial coverings are recommended for all participants and staff where other social distancing measures are not possible.
  • Maximize pathways between participants to allow social distancing while preparing for play.
  • No gathering points for registration or awards ceremony.
  • Functions may be held with social distancing protocol and local F&B guidelines adhered to.
  • Any awards presentation should follow the local government guidelines at that time.
  • All common touch point items are pre placed on the golf cart (Scorecards, Pencils, Tees, etc.)
  • Practice facility follows local guidelines and strict social distancing that must be monitored by a staff member.
  • Arrivals of participants are not to be prior to 30 minutes before tee time (limit practice time).
  • Carts have a designated return point for participants that strictly monitors social distancing and avoids gatherings.
  • Organized clubhouse activities may resume with strict social distancing, food preparation, food service, sanitation, and cleaning protocols (done every hour at a minimum) in place adhering to state and local guidelines.
  • No buffets, family style, or other self-service food permitted.

Pool

  • Pools are limited to individual workouts with social distancing.

Tennis

  • Visit the USTA facility and programming recommendations for tennis by clicking here.

Rules

  • Rules of Golf apply with additional guidance and consideration for the Committee.
  • Temporary measures in place for the Rules of Handicapping and the acceptability of scores played under the Phase 2 guidance.
  • Click here for rules and handicapping guidance during the COVID-19 era.

Junior Golf, First Tee and Other Programs

  • Youth activities may resume with adherence to state and local gathering guidelines at an event (parents, coaches and kids all counted).
  • Click here for CDC assistance in making re-opening decisions regarding youth programs and camps during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Click here for the junior golf programming addendum, which includes guidelines and additional options for running organized junior golf events.
  • Click here to download the PGA Jr. League guidelines.
  • Click here to view the CDC’s considerations for youth sports.

Facility/Golf Course Sanitation

  • Enhanced cleaning.
  • Click here for sanitation and social distancing protocols from the CDC.