Additional guidance has been posted about the safe return to play for individuals that have tested positive or been exposed to Covid-19:
RETURN TO PLAY AFTER COVID POSITIVE TEST OR EXPOSURE
- Players who have tested positive for COVID-19 may register for an event if they meet the following criteria:
- For symptomatic patients: 10 days after symptom onset, plus at least 3 additional days without symptoms (including without fever and without respiratory symptoms).
- For asymptomatic cases: 10 days after positive test for SARS-CoV-2.
- If you are showing symptoms or tested positive please follow the guidelines by the CDC here https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html
CLOSE CONTACT POLICY
- What counts as close contact?
- You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes
- You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
- You had direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged, or kissed them)
- You shared eating or drinking utensils
- They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
.
- Players who have come in contact with someone showing symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19 must withdraw and may reregister for an event if they meet the following criteria:
- Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19
- Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
- If possible, stay away others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19
For more information on Close Contact please see the CDC Guidelines here https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html
June 25, 2020
Following a review of tournament operations during the last month and additional recommendations from public health authorities, the PKBGT has amended the Player & Spectator policies as such, effective immediately. A complete copy of the policies can be downloaded here.
We want to reiterate to all participants and families that these guidelines are present to ensure a safe environment for all involved with our tournaments and compliance is required to maintain operations. PKBGT staff will enforce these guidelines to the best of our ability and players may be subject to penalties should they not comply.
o UPDATE (SPECTATORS) – At this time, we are allowing only players and 2 spectators per player to attend. This amount may be reduced should public policy gathering limits required at a particular locale/event. Families that are found to be in breach of this rule will be asked to leave the course and are subject to a ban from future events.
o UPDATE (PRE-ROUND PRACTICE)– At this time, players must refrain from arriving the course more than 45 minutes prior to your tee time. This may be adjusted site by site based on range size and course specific regulations. Players who are found to be practicing on site prior to this time limit will be in breach of the code of conduct and subject to penalty. This includes the driving range, putting or chipping green.
o UPDATE (MASKS & SHUTTLE AREAS) – At this time, players 12 & over are required to wear a face covering when receiving a shuttle from a volunteer shuttle driver. PKBGT has suspended the rule that players cannot ride in their family’s cart so that a player may be shuttled by their parent in a shuttle station. Players not wishing to wear a mask will be asked to walk instead of receiving the shuttle.
o UPDATE (POST ROUND PRACTICE) – Players must leave the premises after your round. Do not gather and congregate at the clubhouse, parking lot, or any other common areas. Practice areas will not be open after rounds. Players who practice on closed practice areas are in breach of Rule 5.5c and subject to penalty.
June 2, 2020
Following a review of safety protocols adopted on May 13 and the application of these guidelines during PKBGT events since our restart, the board of directors has approved the following edits to the protocols for events starting June 6th.
SPECTATOR LIMIT
- The spectator limit per player is amended to 2 spectators for events that are operating in municipalities who are in Phase 2 or above per public health guidelines. For events where gathering limits of 10 or more are not allowed in outdoor spaces, the 1 spectator per player limit will remain in effect.
- For Discovery division players in regional events, the caddie of the player is counted as 1 spectator.
An updated copy of these safety protocols can be downloaded here.
May 13, 2020
The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour has adopted the following protocols to better serve and protect our players, families, and staff. Along with our association partners, as we begin reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope that you understand the significance of being able to play golf tournaments and will adhere to the following protocols in order to keep our tournaments safe for players, volunteers, host club staffs and families. We ask that all players and spectators review these protocols before attending a PKBGT event. Additionally, PKBGT staff and officials will be following enhanced health screening and infrastructure cleaning protocols.
Items listed as “at this time” are necessary precautions for more stringent health guidelines in effect currently. All protocols are subject to change as restrictions are lifted.
BEFORE ARRIVING AT A PKBGT TOURNAMENT, PLEASE TAKE THESE PRECAUTIONS:
- If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home.
- If you are sick or at risk, please stay home.
- Wash your hands frequently. If you can’t wash them on the course, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your face, including your mouth, nose, lips or eyes.
- Please bring your own water, as water coolers won’t be supplied by the course.
- At this time, we are allowing only players and 1 spectator per player to attend.
PREPARING FOR YOUR TOURNAMENT
- Everyone must continue proper social distancing procedures, maintaining a minimum of six feet apart at all times. This includes your entire time at host facility: parking lot, putting green, practice area, on the golf course, in the scoring area, restrooms, clubhouse (if open), and golf shop (if open).
- At this time, players must refrain from arriving the course more than 45 minutes prior to your tee time. This may be adjusted site by site based on range size and course specific regulations.
- At this time, players (during practice round) or spectators that elect to use a golf cart must adhere to a single-rider per cart in order to maintain social distancing standards. Members of the same household may ride in a cart together.
- Please bring your own tees, pencils, snacks, traditional golf supplies, etc… The PKBGT will not provide these items on the starting tee.
- Hole Location sheets and a Notice to Players will be posted to the tournament webpage as well as emailed to participants to print out ahead of time.
- Players are responsible for your own water/hydration and should bring ample supply. Courses are not providing on-course water coolers.
- All PKBGT hosted food will be limited and will be in the form of box lunches provided by the host course.
- Bottled water stations provided by the PKBGT on the course will be administered by PKBGT staff wearing gloves and mask. No communal coolers will be available.
ARRIVING AT THE COURSE & STARTING YOUR ROUND
- Players should come to the driving range to check-in with PKBGT staff and maintain social distance.
- During your warm-up on the putting green, chipping green, and driving range, make sure you continue to practice social distancing guidelines
- Spectators are allowed. At this time, only 1 spectator per player may attend. Spectators should stay in your car until your players tee time and refrain from congregating before and after the round.
- PKBGT will provide each player a pre-printed scorecard of another member of their group to keep. Players will not exchange scorecards at any time before or after the round. A blank scorecard for the event will be provided online for players wishing to print their own.
- All Rules Sheets and Hole Locations Sheets (national events only) will be available online to view from your smartphone. Limited copies will be available in the starting area.
PLAYING YOUR ROUND / RULES OF PLAY
- If tournaments are played without bunker rakes, in all bunkers a player may: Lift the ball, smooth the area, and place it within club length, no closer to the hole. The ball must remain in the bunker. Please smooth the sand with your feet after your shot as you leave the bunker.
- Under the Rules of Golf, players are permitted to leave the flag stick in the hole while putting. At this time, all players MUST leave the flagstick in the hole. A player removing a flag and then playing a stroke to a flagless hole will be subject to the General Penalty.
- All players must still hole out. A ball must come to rest in cup with any part of the ball below the hole.
- In the event play is suspended, you are directed to evacuate to your car in the parking lot. Updates will be posted on the tournament page and emailed about resumption of play.
AFTER YOUR ROUND
- After your round, a large scoring area will be provided and a chance to verify your scores. Players WILL NOT exchange scorecards but will submit cards to PKBGT staff. Your scores will be reviewed with you and entered/signed by PKBGT staff. Your score is deemed returned once you verbally verify your scores with tournament staff and leave the scoring area.
- Refrain from traditional hug or handshake before or after your round, we recommend a friendly nod, a tip of your cap, or a simple wave as a form of greeting or sportsmanship.
- Membership & Player Gifts will be available in scoring area after round labeled by player.
- There will be no physical scoreboard. All scores will be posted online.
- Play-offs for first place will be handled as followed: National Series events will have an on-course play-off to determine a champion. Regional Series events will use the PKBGT scorecard tie-breaking system to determine a champion.
- At this time, a traditional award ceremony will not be held. Awards will be available for winners to take home.
- Players must leave the premises after your round. Do not gather and congregate at the clubhouse, parking lot, or any other common areas.
- Practice areas will not be open after rounds.
The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour will continue to act in the best interest of our members. Our top priority is the safety of our players, volunteers, spectators and host clubs personnel.
A copy of these safety protocols can be downloaded here.
###
About PKB Girls’ Golf Tour
Founded in 2007 by Girls Golf of America, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, as a local girls’ golf tour and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program in the Triad region of North Carolina. The tour began as a simple concept: create more effective competitive playing opportunities for girls. By utilizing innovative yardage-based divisions instead of the traditional age-based format, the tour focuses on developing tournament experiences at the players pace. In 2020, the PKBGT will feature over 1,000 members and operate over 110 tournaments in 10 states across the East Coast. PKBGT championship events rank as some of the top 100 ranked girls’ events in country. Learn more about the PKBGT at pkbgt.org.
Leave a Reply