2020 Season Start Postponed to no earlier than June 1, 2020
Fun and fellowship are our mission. However, the safety of our members, volunteers, and service vendors is our highest priority. We are not willing to risk the health and safety of anyone during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Executive Committee acting for your Board of Governors has established that Metro St. Louis Seniors Golf Association (MSLSGA) must postpone the start of our tournament season to no earlier than early June 1, 2020. We have started planning for a shortened season.
Why?
- We are in the highest risk category (60 to 90+ years old). Most would recover from an infection. HOWEVER, we would be directly exposing hundreds each week to possibly serious illness up to 10% to possible death. Many more would be exposes indirectly – family and friends at home.
- We must comply with Emergency Orders currently in place in Missouri and Illinois.
- We must comply with policies implemented by each golf course to protect their staff and players (and us).
- MSLSGA (all volunteers) do not have the capability to develop procedures and training for all members and volunteers to meet these new and rapidly changing requirements.
- COVID-19 infections in late March are still in an early stage and expected increase in number. Continuing changes to rules, regulations, and risks are expected.
MSLSGA has started working with courses for a shortened season. This includes our regular weekly tournaments, Special Events Tournaments and Metro Plus.
MSLSGA will continue to monitor the situation and as needed announce future changes via our website or email communications. We are now redesigning for a shortened 2020 season.
REFUNDS – Prepaid Events & Membership Dues:
For any prepaid events that are canceled, members will receive a refund per our refund policy. For Special Events, these events may be rescheduled if time allows. We will wait until June 1st, to make those adjustments. Metro Plus members will receive a separate email with additional options.
REFUNDS – MEMBERSHIP DUES
Members wishing to resign will receive a refund of member dues per our refund policy for either Division 1-5, Division 9, or Metro Plus dues. We hope that most members will stay on board for the 2020 season. We will evaluate changing in dues, or prize payout to adjust for any shortening of the tournament season. For Division 1-5, most of the dues are paid out as member benefits (flight prizes, CTP prizes, Hole-In-One, championship tournament, or handicap services).
Many golf courses are remaining open for now. Almost all of our scheduled courses have new written policies for safety for their staff and players. Gathering sizes (10 people or less) and social distancing (6 feet separation) and stringent hygiene are key components. Some are allowing one person per cart to maintain social distances. Some are requiring online payment only.
You as an individual may choose to play golf safely. However, it will be your responsibility to follow all requirements. View the course policies (course webpage or Facebook page). Contact the course to make sure you are informed.
Play only if YOU are satisfied it will be safe for all – you, friends, family and the course staff.
Larry Roth
President, Metro St Louis Seniors Golf Assn.
Lew, we made the decision after much thought. We have organized 12,000 rounds of golf for our 700 members. This becomes many thousands of opportunities for contact and transmissions between members, with course staff and by extension with family members at home. A sizable number of those infected are hospitalized for several days (ICU?). In our age and health demographics from 2 to 8% or those infected may die. This seems like a high risk for a few hours of diversion.
As an Association, we cannot morally or legally put our members at risk. We cannot force members to volunteer as Starters or Scorers. We cannot violate legal requirements of emergency orders. We cannot train volunteers to meet new and varied requirements in place at each course for hygiene, social distance, and gathering size.
We simply cannot run tournaments under the current conditions.
YOU ARE FREE AND WELCOME TO PLAY GOLF AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
You and anyone as individuals may continue to play golf. It is your personal decision to accept the risks and requirements.
As the pandemic proceeds, we may see even more restrictions to reduce infections that are designed to protect the most vulnerable demographics which includes you and me. We are not at the level of Italy, Spain, NY or CA, but that may be our future.
We want you and all of our members to get healthy and safe and have many more years of Fun and Fellowship Through Golf.