2nd Quarter 2020
California Capital News President’s Message
In This Issue •
President Message
•
CAG Report
•
UC Riverside Research Reports
•
Quick Links for Information regarding Covid 19
•
Communicating COVID-19 Safety Precautions The Golf Industry is Making Concerning Play
Dear Members, I hope everyone; family, friends, business associates are healthy and safe. We are roughly 7 weeks into the pandemic. The GCSAA, USGA, PGA, and the California Alliance for Golf (CAG) have been working diligently supporting and promoting golf as a safe recreational endeavor so that the golf courses that are closed can begin operating again. We are now seeing some positive movements in certain regions in California where golf courses are in fact re-opening. Unfortunately, there have been incidents where superintendents have been hurt professionally by the pandemic. The GCSAA and PGA of America have programs in place to help those who have been impacted. We have included in our newsletter these resources that can assist those during these stressful times. We will continue to stand together in our industry. Staying safe and being healthy is the number one priority. Jim Ferrin, CGCS President, California Chapter of the GCSAA
• • • • • • •
California Alliance for Golf Government Relations Update
By Craig Kessler, Director of Governmental Affairs, SCGA Kevin Fitzgerald, Asst. Director of Governmental Affairs, SCGA COVID-19
As we predicted in our last update, as the pandemic curve continues to go up, so do the number of golf course closures – some by directive, others by choice of ownership. Also rapidly going up are other forms of closure – playgrounds, ball fields, walking trails, wilderness areas, and beaches. Yes; golf is much easier to operate per the strict social distancing mandates of current directives, but that is not the dispositive point at this moment. Hold the thought and the moment. The “thought,” or more accurately the argument in favor of golf’s amenability to social distancing, will soon meet a moment that if golf plays its cards right now will accrue to the game’s great advantage in the near future. Waiting for a later moment may frustrate many of you convinced that golf is perfectly capable of disciplining its players and members to hew to those strict social distancing mandates. We know, because many of you have regaled us with directives from other American States that have permitted golf in their statewide directives.
(Continued on page 8)