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COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 UPDATES

Social Distancing Guidelines – 5/11/20

Click Here to view the Tennessee PGA’s Social Distancing Guidelines.

May Tournaments Canceled – 5/1/20

Due to the COVID-19 phasing guidelines set by Knox County, the Tournament Committee and Staff have made the necessary decision to cancel the Visit Knoxville Pro-Am at Three Ridges Golf Course on May 18-19th.

We recognize that changes to the Tennessee PGA schedule will have effects on our Professionals and their families and we ask for your patience and understanding as we venture through this together.

If you have any questions regarding the Tournament Schedule, please contact:

Adam Greeno – agreeno@pgahq.com

Kyle Bachman – kbachman@pgahq.com

 

Allied Golf Organizations Back2Golf Three-Phased Approach – 4/29/20

As communities begin to re-open, golf can offer an outdoor recreational experience that provides many health and wellness benefits. The Allied Golf Organizations, in alignment with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), have developed a comprehensive plan that allows golf to be played responsibly while observing recommended social distancing guidelines.

This plan is based on the operational underpinnings in “Guidelines Opening Up America Again” published by the White House and the CDC. It includes a specific, three-phased approach to golf that aligns with the broader plan to re-open the economy. Each phase includes operational protocols when it comes to social distancing, the sanitation of physical facilities and the health of you and your staff.

Our industry understands there are various restrictions in different parts of the country and emphasize that all should be adhering to state and local guidelines to ensure our sport comes back in a healthy way. Below you will find the Operations Playbook that is designed to help open golf where it is currently closed and keep it open responsibly through each phase. Please note that the playbook will be updated on a real-time basis based on interim guidance from the CDC as it becomes available.

To download a PDF version of the Operations Playbook, click here.

For further information please visit pga.org.

May Tournaments Postponed -4/14/20

The TNPGA Officers, Tournament Committee and Staff have made the necessary decision to postpone the Visit Knoxville Pro-Am at Three Ridges and The City of Crossville Team Championship at Lake Tansi.

The Visit Knoxville Pro-Am will be rescheduled for May 18-19th and The City of Crossville Team Championship will be rescheduled for September 21st-22nd. The COVID-19 pandemic is an ever changing landscape and is impossible to predict. With this in mind, the Tournament Committee will evaluate tournaments two weeks prior to the start of each event and determine if it is in the best decision to conduct the event.

The Yamaha Assistant Match Play will also be postponed. The deadline to register will be extended through May and the match schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Players Club registration will remain open until one week prior to our first event.

If you have any questions regarding the Tournament Schedule please contact:

Adam Greeno – agreeno@pgahq.com

Kyle Bachman – kbachman@pgahq.com

 

Golf Emergency Relief Fund – 4/13/20

In response to the severe challenges impacting golf communities nationwide, the PGA of America announced today that they have established a brand new Golf Emergency Relief Fund. 

The fund is designed to provide short-term financial assistance to certain individuals working in the golf industry, including PGA of America Professionals, who are facing significant financial hardship right now, including those suffering as a result of COVID-19.

For this relief effort, the PGA of America has made a lead pledge of $5 million, plus a matching fund for gifts from third parties of up to $2.5 million. The initial contribution includes every member of the PGA’s executive leadership team voluntarily reducing their compensation. Personal donations have also been made from our Board of Directors. With matching, we hope the fund grows to over $10 million.

The effort is also being supported in various ways by a number of industry organizations, including the GCSAA, PGA TOUR, LPGA, USGA, NGCOA and AGM.

The fund is managed by E4E Relief, an independent third-party public charity, which will provide grants to certain industry workers, including golf association members, employees of local/state golf associations, caddies and certain professionals playing on developmental tours to help offset COVID-19 related financial hardships, such as living and medical expenses.

For more information on the fund and how to apply please click here

CARES Act PGA of America Virtual Town Hall – 4/7/20

As we all work through the significant challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic, we are trying to communicate to all PGA Professionals the resources that have been made available by the Federal Government through the CARES Act. We invite you to watch this one-hour PGA of America CARES Act Virtual Town Hall with Tony Fratto of Hamilton Place Strategies.

Please Click Here to watch the Town Hall.

Teaching & Coaching Webinars – 4/1/20

On Monday, April 6th at 10:00AM Central, we will be hosting our first of a series of teaching & coaching webinars. These webinars will be held every Monday through the month of April. This week will feature Kevin Walker, PGA of Belle Meade Country Club. His focus will be on his “Decision Tree” which helps determines what he works on with each of his given students. If you are interested in joining this webinar it will be done through Google Meet. A link for the webinar will be sent to TNPGA Members through email.

Future Webinar Dates & Speakers

4/13: Ben Pellicani, PGA – 2019 Middle TN Teacher of the Year
4/20: Chris Woods, PGA – 2019 Tri-Cities Teacher of the Year
4/27: Jake Reeves, PGA – 2019 Knoxville Teacher of the Year

 

Message from TNPGA Executive Director – 3/31/20

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting our lives in ways we could not have imagined. Most importantly, I hope you and your families are healthy and staying safe.

We are receiving quite a bit of email correspondence and phone calls from PGA Professionals on how the golf industry should respond to COVID-19. Many are advocating for keeping courses open with stringent health safety protocols in place. It is encouraging that so many around the country see the value of golf as a safe haven to get some exercise and take a break from the uncertainty and anxiety many of us are feeling.

Others believe just as strongly that out of an abundance of caution, and to do our part to stop the spread of coronavirus, courses should close.

As one member wrote, “It is the nature of our PGA members to deal with adversity and find a way to succeed.” That is so true. Your natural instinct is to serve your customers while growing your businesses. You also have a long track record of serving your communities, which is where the issue becomes more complicated.

The best recommendation we can give is to follow the guidance of the CDC, your local city officials, county officials, and our state officials, which is changing daily . Some have mandates in place based on the local and regional impact of coronavirus, others do not. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The most recent announcement that was made yesterday, Governor Lee’s Executive Order 22, can be found in its entirety here; https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/pub/execorders/exec-orders-lee22.pdf.

For those of you who choose to stay open, you can find resources on PGA.org here, or the Section website here, including specific tips for safe and responsible coaching sessions. If you work at a facility that has remained open and you are understandably uncomfortable about going into work, we suggest you speak to your supervisor.

You may be eligible for paid sick leave once the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) goes into effect on April 2.

We hope this information is helpful. PGA of America continues to follow up at PGA.org with updates, including insights regarding developments from Washington and how relevant legislation impacts our PGA Professionals and the golf industry.

Please reach out with any questions or comments. Thank you for all you are doing. We will get through this together.

Clayton Hromadka

Mobile | (615) 476-3692

Drive, Chip, & Putt Qualifying Season Canceled – 3/27/20

The 2020-21 Drive, Chip and Putt qualifying season, set to begin May 2, will be canceled, given the continued effect of COVID-19 on scheduling during the time period critical to the success of local qualifying. Ultimately, the Founding Partners determined cancellation was the most responsible measure to take in protecting the health of everyone involved in this national endeavor, which includes tens of thousands of participants, their families and all those essential to staging hundreds of qualifying events across all 50 states. For more information click here

April Tournaments Postponed – 3/24/20

The TNPGA Officers, Tournament Committee and Staff have made the difficult, but necessary decision to postpone all TNPGA events through the month of April. We have been closely monitoring the situation and consulting with PGAHQ as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to rise across the country. Out of an abundance of caution, as well as our desire to play an active role in helping mitigate the spread of Coronavirus across the U.S., we cannot justify holding events that involve a large gathering of people. Our PGA Members are the leaders at golfing facilities and while many of them remain open we realize the importance of their presence on property.

The Club Car Pro-Pro-Pro Scramble, Yamaha Pro-Assistant, and Club Car Pro-Official will be rescheduled for later this summer and fall.

The Yamaha Assistant Match Play will also be postponed. The deadline to register will be extended through April and the match schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Players Club registration will remain open until one week prior to our first event.

We recognize that changes to the Tennessee PGA schedule will have effects on our Professionals and their families and we ask for your patience and understanding as we venture through this together. The Tennessee PGA staff remains as optimistic and driven as possible to get all events rescheduled and for a full TNPGA Tournament Schedule to take place in 2020.

If you have any questions regarding the Tournament Schedule please contact:

Adam Greeno – agreeno@pgahq.com

Kyle Bachman – kbachman@pgahq.com

Educational Opportunities – 3/22/20

PGA.org Opportunities

  • PGA.Coach (www.PGA.Coach)
    • PGA.Coach is the ultimate coaching resource that teaches PGA Professionals about American Development Model, and how to apply the concepts to coaching golf.  Once you complete the 2-3 training course, you will have access to the App and all its resources meant to help you be a better teacher and coach.
  • PGA Job Preferences (https://account.pga.org/job-preferences)
    • It’s a good time to update your PGA Job Preferences.  It’s easy and takes no time at all.  This helps the PGA provide you with a list of targeted positions and career advancement services
  • Career Planning (https://pgacareerservices.mykajabi.com/offers/o4Yok3CP/checkout)
    • The goal of The Personal & Professional Development Model is to help you become the best possible version of yourself.  Through self-reflection, goal setting, honest assessments and planning, this program was created to help you create your own personal development plan for future success.
  • PGA Lifelong Learning (https://resources.pga.org/lifelong-learning/)
    • The PGA Specialized Program is an online educational curriculum that supports the goals of PGA Members who are committed to excellence and furthering their career. It delivers “on-demand” access to training when your schedule permits and reduces time and travel costs associated with traditional training.
  • PGA.org Resources (https://resources.pga.org/increase-revenue/)
    • Increase Revenue
      • Business Tool Kit
        • The Business Tool Kit has a variety of online courses like Online Revenue Management, Strategic Management Simulations, World Handicap System Tool Kits and more.  In addition, you can find the videos from past PGA Coaching Summits.
      • Playing the Game
        • USGA Rules of Golf Learning Tool
    • Additional Resources
      • Career Advancement
      • Career Services
        • Kevin Walls (Career Consultant) kwalls@pgahq.com is always available and a great resource for all TNPGA members
      • My Career
        • Revenue Scorecard and self-assessment tools
  • PGA.org
    • PGA.org is OUR website.  Spend some time simply navigating through the site and getting to know all the resources available to us.  There is something for everyone!

Vendor Opportunities
When we finally get to the golf season, our customers are going to be ready for golf.  This is a great time to spend familiarizing yourself with all the new products and services from many of our vendors.

Educational Resources: Below is a short list of links on the internet that were sourced by a teacher on our behalf. The TNPGA is not promoting any of these as being better than anything you are currently using, rather just providing links that could be useful for you at this time.

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