The PGA Tour, in preparation for its scheduled restart in a month, has produced a comprehensive and detailed plan for how it plans to begin play amid the coronavirus outbreak, starting with the Charles Schwab Challenge June 11-14 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
The 37-page document, which outlines strict health and safety regulations, was sent to players and other officials.
Chief in the plan is that COVID-19 testing will be required of players and caddies as a condition of competition. The testing protocols will include three methods — a questionnaire, thermal reading and nasal swab test. Players and caddies will be required to be screened pre-travel, upon arrival with all three methods and daily with a questionnaire and thermal reading.
The results from nasal swabs will take at least 24-48 hours, so players who are waiting for test results may practice or play on-site but will have no access to course facilities such as the clubhouse or locker room.
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, will be required to self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days with no subsequent symptoms, or two negative test results at least 24 hours apart. The Tour said it will provide support throughout the isolation period and travel home by car would be allowed if deemed safe.
Players or caddies who test positive will not be permitted to participate in the competition and any player who competes in a tournament, makes the cut but is then unable to finish due to a COVID-19 positive test will receive last place unofficial money.
The Tour’s first four events will be played without fans, but they will still include more than 1,000 people on site, including the players and caddies, tournament officials, Tour personnel and media.
The plans include tight control over player and caddie-restricted areas; clubhouse access, which will only be granted to those who have been cleared through testing; no family on-site and limited support personnel; disinfection of facilities; distribution of personal protective equipment, sanitary wipes and sanitizer; and restrictions on player and caddie movement within the city of the event.
In addition to players and caddies, PGA Tour staff (including rules and scoring officials); media officials; security and player relations, select ShotLink staff; select tournament staff, player and caddie services; and starters, clubhouse staff and independent trainers will all be tested — at the PGA Tour’s expense.
Everyone on the property, whether among those tested or not, will be required to complete a questionnaire as well as receive a temperature screening each day upon arrival.
Players’ families will not be allowed on-site, nor will agents or managers. Coaches and interpreters, meanwhile, will be allowed.
Each player will be limited to only one support staff member on the practice facility or inside the ropes during a practice round.
Players, caddies and essential staff will be housed in a designated host hotel to create a controlled environment; exceptions such as RVs, rental homes approved by the Tour, or a player staying in his own home would be permitted.
The Tour plans to provide charter flights between events for players and caddies, with up to 170 players and caddies allowed. All passengers would be required to submit to viral testing within 24 hours of departure and only passengers who test negative for the coronavirus will be allowed to board the flight.
Other activities usually a part of tournament weeks, such as pro-ams, are being canceled, as well as other sponsor and special events.
Players and caddies must make “every effort” to social distance on the course and players are encouraged to remove and replace their own golf clubs from the bag, remove their ball from the hole.
Caddies will be allowed to rake bunkers and touch flagsticks, but are instructed to clean both after use. Practice ranges and putting greens also will implement social-distancing methods. Scoring and starter areas will also be stripped down and provide similarly adequate spacing, while all on-course accessories such as flags and flagsticks, cup liners, rakes and other accessories will be disinfected before play. All tees and greens will also have sanitizer stations.
