ON COURSE ITEMS
1. All rakes and ball retrievers may be placed on the course, provided golfers/staff sanitize their hands PRIOR to and AFTER use.
2. Ball washers and drinking fountains to be covered up.
3. It is recommended that clubs position hand sanitizers at strategic places on the course.
4. Benches and bins to be removed, covered or sign-posted in such a way that players do not touch them.
5. All other removable items to be removed.
6. Nearest to the Pin, Longest Drive, Straightest Drive and similar competition boards/holders may be used, provided golfers/staff sanitize their hands PRIOR to and AFTER use.
HOLE AND FLAGSTICK
1. Flagsticks can be centred, attended or removed by a player, or a person on their behalf, provided all persons touching the flagstick sanitize their hands PRIOR TO and AFTER touching the flagstick.
2. Clubs should insert a hole liner/plate that restricts the ball from falling into the hole below the surface of the putting green, and so that the ball can be easily retrieved. There are various options in order to do this, such as turn the cup upside down, cut a pool noodle to the right height and wrap it around the bottom of the flagstick, or put in a plate that rests against the top of the cup liner.
PRACTICE AREAS
1. Practice areas, including practice nets, to be closed unless safe sanitizing practices can be guaranteed.
2. The following practices will be a necessity: wash range balls regularly, remove benches/seating and club cleaning facilities, control availability on the range, ensure three- to five-metres spaces between bays, sanitize range buckets after every use and use own towel.
BOOKINGS
(Refer to the GolfRSA Risk Mitigation Guidelines)
- Clubs/facilities to organise a system of booking and allocation of tee times that ensures safety of staff and golfers.
- The maximum number of golfers in a group per tee time to be confirmed by the club/facility and must be in accordance with the GolfRSA general guidelines and any government requirements.
ARRIVAL AND WAITING TO PLAY
(Refer to the GolfRSA Risk Mitigation Guidelines)
- The clubhouse/facility (ie. halfway house, restaurant, bar, conference/meeting facilities) are subject to compliance with the relevant government gazetted regulations/directions.
- The opening of Locker rooms and shower facilities are subject to the applicable Government Regulations/ Directions at the time. Should they be permitted to be open, then this is subject to regular sanitizing of the facilities, wearing of a face covering/mask, physical distancing of 1.5m, those showering bringing their own towels, and compliance with SA Government Regulations and Directions.
- Clubs/facilities to communicate in advance with golfers on physical distancing requirements that are being applied on arrival at the club/facility, for example not leaving cars until a certain time before their tee time.
- Clubs/facilities to have procedures in place to ensure physical distancing requirements in the area of the pro shop or starter’s building in advance of golfers teeing off.
- Trolleys, carts or other items available for hire, on condition of using safe sanitising practices.
- Facilities to have procedures in place for the practice putting green, for example giving priority of use to the players in the next group due to tee off, remove cups, or using a method of inserting the hole liner to
be used that means that all of the ball does not fall below the surface of the putting green and can be easily retrieved.
TEEING AREAS
- Remind golfers to keep 3m apart at teeing areas.
GENERAL
- Remind golfers to stay more than 3m apart when walking, searching for a ball or playing shots.
- Remind golfers not to touch stray balls.
- No sharing of scorecards. Electronic scoring is preferred.
BUNKERS
- Bunker rakes may be placed on the course, provided golfers sanitize their hands PRIOR to and AFTER use.
PUTTING GREEN
- Remind golfers to keep 3m apart on putting greens, only handle their own equipment such as clubs and balls.
FORMS OF PLAY AND SCORING
- Amateur Competitions may be played, provided all other Risk Mitigation requirements are in place.
- Foursomes/Greensomes may be played. It is recommended that:
- Each partner should use their own ball, which is only handled by that player for the playing of the hole. For example, the player teeing off from hole 1 is the only one that touches the ball from teeing off through to completion of the hole, subject to taking relief/preferred lies as set out below.
- When marking and replacing the ball on the green, this should be conducted by the partner the ball belongs to. Under this situation (or any other where the ball must be replaced) the original ball must be used and must not be substituted by another ball.
Note: Under the Rules of Golf, a partner is permitted to drop another ball in taking relief. - If Preferred Lies is in effect, the side may substitute the ball while taking relief, allowing the 2nd player to put their own ball in play.
BUNKERS
- Should clubs choose not to have bunker rakes in use, they can declare bunkers “waste areas” that are raked each morning and encourage members to smooth with their foot/club.
- Committees may elect to adopt the Local Rule below:
FLAGSTICK
- Flagstick may be centered, attended or removed by a player/person on their behalf, provided ALL persons sanitize their hands PRIOR TO and AFTER handling.
- Where required, a player/person on their behalf is permitted to centre the flagstick in a safe manner, which does not involve using the hand, even when wearing a glove or using a towel (for example, by using a club). Centring of the flagstick may be allowed while a player putts (eg. in windy conditions when the flagstick is leaning towards the player making the stroke).
- As a temporary provision, for the purpose of player safety, flagsticks that do not meet the specifications in Part 8 of the Equipment Rules, can be used.
HOLE AND ‘HOLED’
- The hole liner (or ‘cup’) is to be set in a way that all of the ball cannot be below the surface of the putting green, so the ball is considered holed if any part of it is below the surface of the putting green.
- To minimise the need to lift the ball from the hole, it is recommended that the Most Likely Score (MLS) Rule, Rule 3.3 of the Rules of Handicapping, be applied. This does not prevent a player in match play conceding a stroke that is outside this length or allowing a player to putt out should they elect to do so.
NOTE: Treating a ball as “holed” when it has bounced out of a hole is not in accordance with the Covid-19 Rules of Golf.
