Newsletter

Good News!

The state of Illinois has announced opening of Illinois golf courses starting May 1, 2020.

However, there are very strict guidelines for operations. All is focused on “social distancing” to protect golfers and the service staff.

The course capacity will be very limited with only twosomes in a group and 15 minute separations. This limits capacity (max of 36 players on the course at any time). It may make reservations difficult.

No golf carts, essentially walkers only. You must either carry or bring your own pull cart. There MAY be opportunity for golf carts for handicap situations. Be sure you have handicap carts set up before you go. Expect only one person in a cart.

Ask about their refund policies. A no-show may be expensive.

See the Official Illinois Guidelines below.

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During these unprecedented times, we may find a need for sunlight, fresh air & exercise in an environment that still allows for the required social distancing.  We are happy to provide golfers that opportunity.

Things we are doing to ensure the safety of our golfers and staff include, but are not limited to:

·       Our Clubhouse will be closed except for a limited number of staff until further notice, take out from our snack bar is still available.

·       Disinfecting spray down of carts before and after each use.

·       Multiple cleaning practices will be taking place for our lower level open air bathrooms, door handles, and other public surfaces.

·       Staff hygiene policies have been increased to ensure regular hand washing and sanitizing.

·       All bunker rakes and ball washers have been removed to eliminate a contact point, please rake with your foot if possible.

·       Sanitary gloves will be utilized where appropriate.

·       All hole cups are raised, making good every putt that hits the cup deemed holed out.  DO NOT TOUCH THE FLAG POLES, LEAVE THEM IN PLACE.

·       We will be limiting the number of people on our putting green to maintain the appropriate social distancing.

·       We have increased our tee time separation to facilitate social distancing.

·       All rental club sales will be suspended.

·       Score cards and pencils will be provided upon request. 

·       Continuously monitoring the recommendation of all government agencies.

Additional recommendations include:

·       Social Distancing MUST BE practiced throughout our facility. (CDC recommends at least 6 feet).

·       We will have bottled water for purchase. No personal cups will be filled in the clubhouse.

·       Please arrive directly in advance of your tee time.  This will help with social distancing.

·       Please maintain social distancing while waiting for your tee time to be called.

·       Golf carts will be allowed, both bags can be on the cart, only one person allowed in a cart at a time, unless the other player lives in the same household.  The other player may walk or have the option of their own golf cart. 

·       Golfers who have experienced flu-like symptoms of any kind are requested to refrain from visiting.

Food Service:

In keeping with St. Louis County’s mandate, our Clubhouse snack bar is closed, but we are offering food and beverage, which are available for take out, so you can take it with you on the course

Originally the plan was to have the apparel store open from March 24^th thru March 31^st.  We had scheduled our company to have on display all the items you could choose from at the General Meeting.  As you know, the season is now delayed until at least June 1^st. 

I’ve spoken with ST Louis Sportswear; our apparel company and they are closed at least thru April 21^st as a non-essential business.  They’re physical address is located in the City of St Louis, therefore even if we open the store today, nothing would get started until at least that day.

The store will open again after the restrictions are lifted and a link will be provided in a similar post and send to the Division VP’s as well.  Stay safe out there. 

Michael Weinhaus’ family experience is profiled in St. Louis Post Dispatch. He was also courageous enough to share his experiences through Linkedin. Please take note of the speed and severity of the disease progression. Most likely transmission was through his mother’s school connections.
Michael Weinhaus
Golf Rules Official; USGA Rules of Golf Expert Certification; GolfQuis Ambassador
A warning that might save someone else from our experience. I am COVID-19 positive in an ICU unit. My wife is down the hall on a ventilator. The destruction to our family cannot be measured. Please take every precaution to isolate yourself. For those that are not, it will never end. Please be safe.

CLICK HERE for the Post Dispatch article.

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?

1. 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.
2. We must comply with Emergency Orders currently in place in Missouri and Illinois.
3. We must comply with policies implemented by each golf course to protect their staff and players (and us).
4. 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.
5. 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 1^st, 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.

St Louis County Executive, Sam Page has issued an executive order for seniors 60 years of age or older that no meeting may be held with more than 10 people.   Our General Meeting scheduled for March 24^th at 1:00 PM is canceled.  The Executive board, Treasurer, Secretary and the VP’s will meet to discuss the upcoming 18-Hole season, starting April 9^th.  At this time the season will start on time. I will relay additional information to Division 9 VP after we meet.

After our meeting you will hear from the VP’s on how to obtain information and handouts that are usually available at the Division tables at the General Meeting.  Your wallet schedule, discounts cards, membership business cards, updates on Special Events, Metro Plus changes will be relayed to you by email.  It’s extremely important and you stay tuned and if you have questions, please contact your Division VP, the Special Events Chair, Metro Plus chair with additional questions after they meet.  Look for updates by March 26^th. 

These are difficult times that we are facing.  We need to work together as a group and remember to watch out for your fellow member.  Once we start play, we need to request, if you are not feeling well, have a cough, other negative symptoms that you may pass on to your fellow Metro Seniors members, to not come that day. Let’s err on the side of caution.  Any information that needs to be passed on, please contact your Division VP and inform them immediately. 

I look forward to seeing all of you on the golf course real soon

Larry Roth

President Metro St Louis Seniors Golf Association   

Life is about changes and adapting to them as they presented to us.  I have heard from many concerned Metro Seniors members regarding the upcoming General meeting on March 24^th and with what going on, why do we need to have it.  Generally speaking, I am someone who doesn’t worry much and I don’t get worked up when the media creates a “frenzy” about a topic, but this covid-19 virus is potential damaging to all of us, seniors over 60 for the most part. 

I would tell everyone to error on the side of caution.  If you are feeling ill, worried about what you may catch from another Metro Senior member, of just feeling uncomfortable don’t come the meeting.  I have shortened it somewhat.  No longer will we have St Louis Sportswear displaying our apparel, or Pro-Am selling golf equipment, and I have also decided to remove the Rules presentation that we had scheduled.

I will be meeting with the Executive Board and the Division VP’s to go over possible changes we may need to implement at our weekly golfing tournaments starting in April, so please read those emails and if  a friend of yours is in the group needs help, please get the message to them if necessary. 

The meeting will go on as scheduled and shouldn’t last more than 30 minutes.  For those of you who have been members for more than 1 year, most of what we discuss you already know and we will be relaying the same info to you from your division representatives.  New members, if you do not feel safe, all the information will be sent out by email to everyone in each division, so please monitor.  The meeting is scheduled for 1:00 PM sharp and at this time, I see no reason not to have it. 

This is something none of us know completely what the next step is.  As we are updated, I will update you.

Respectively Submitted,

Larry Roth

President

Metro St Louis Seniors Golf Association

The Metro St Louis Seniors Golf Association will hold its Spring General Membership meeting at Kirkwood Recreational Center on March 24^th 2020, located at 111 S. Geyer Rd. Kirkwood, Mo 63122.  The meeting will start at 1:00 PM sharp but there is so much going on I’d suggest you arrive by noon.

St Louis Sportswear, Metro Seniors apparel company will be displaying all our items that are available to order and have by the 2^nd week of the Metro Senior golf season.  Logo shirts, hats, golf towels and other items will be on display with instruction on how to order them and how to get them immediately.  Payment for these items is ONLY by credit/debit card.  The “store” will be open until March 31^st at midnight just in case you forget to bring your credit/debit card with you.

Pro-Am Golf Center will have for sale golf items that we use every time we play.  Balls, shoes, hats, clubs, and other items will be for sale at their table.  They take cash, check or credit cards for payment. 

If you haven’t signed up for a Special event, there is a table dedicated just for these outings.  Stop by, sign up and get involved.  If this is your first year in Metro Plus, stop by the table and introduce yourself to the committee.  They will have some handouts just for Metro Plus members that may of interest you.   

Make sure you stop by your division table, especially if this is your first year in Metro Seniors.  Introduce yourself to the Division VP, sign up for a starter/scorer if you haven’t done so, and pick up your wallet schedule & your Discount cards.  These cards may be used for various discounts at golf courses and shops.  The complete list of all participants may be found on the Metro Senior website under Member Resources/Metro Senior Membership Discounts.

At your Division table this year are Metro Senior business cards.  In the meeting we will explain how each of you can help us get more members in Metro Seniors with these cards.  One of the best ways to promote Metro Seniors is by word of mouth.  This form of advertisement will hopefully help us to gain more members.

Have you had your photo taken?  We would love to put a name together with a face.  Each of your handicaps may be found on Our Golf Stats, our handicapping service we use.  If you need instruction on how to use this service, check with your division VP.  There is so much information on Our Golf Stats link once you learn how to use it, you will be coming back frequently.   With photos we will be developing social media pages to promote Metro Seniors.  Soon we will be developing pages, groups, and links, because you provided us your photo. 

Our 2020 Rules presentation will be a part of this year meeting.  All those items you are been either hearing or reading about will be discussed.  I’m sure there is something each of us can learn that we didn’t know.

I encourage all of you to attend our Spring General Membership meeting and hope I will see you there. 

First Tee will be accepting donations this year again. They will be present before the General Meeting of Metro Seniors on March 24th at the Kirkwood Recreational Center. Their van/truck will be outside the facility by 12:00 PM.

First Tee will be accepting golf balls, gently used golf clothing and shoes, Junior Golf clubs and bags, and Golf Clubs that are less than 7 years old an in good condition. They are especially looking for brands, such as Ping, Callaway, Nike, Titleist etc.

Most of the adult clubs they receive cannot be used by our kids, so First Tee is looking for clubs that have some value that they can ship to their partner Swing ‘Em Again. They in turn give us money for those clubs and we use those funds to purchase new sets for our young golfers.

If you have items that you are no longer using please donate to First Tee and bring them with you to the meeting.