Local Knowledge

TGA COVID-19 STATEMENT [AS OF 04/01]

The Texas Golf Association has extended the suspension of all TGA-related events and activities through May 3, in accordance with Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order issued on March 31 to minimize social gatherings and in-person contact with non-household members through April 30. Our absolute top priority during this pandemic continues to be safeguarding the health and well-being of the entire TGA Family and all our fellow Texans.

We will continue to monitor all available guidance and regulations from the CDC along with other federal, state and local authorities to do what is in the best interests of those involved with our events and activities.

We hope that everyone remains healthy and safe during these unprecedented times. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and continued support, and we look forward to resuming competitive and recreational opportunities for our membership when it is safe to do so.

TAKE WHS ONLINE TRAINING SEMINAR

For Club Handicap Chairs and Administrators who are unable to get out and play golf and are stuck at home suffering from a touch of cabin fever, now would be a perfect time to learn more about the new World Handicap System (WHS) by taking the Online Training Seminar.

It consists of four video segments, with each segment made available after the previous one ends. After viewing all four segments, we encourage you to take the 20-question quiz. By successfully passing the quiz, you will be fulfilling a necessary requirement—your golf club will be shown as “authorized” to provide WHS Handicap Indexes.

To access the WHS Online Training Seminar, please click on the link below. (Note: Be sure to include the name of your golf club to fulfill the WHS education requirement and to ensure that your results are made immediately available to the TGA.)

WHS ONLINE TRAINING SEMINAR

WHS RESOURCES FOR CLUB ADMINISTRATORS

USGA RULES AND HANDICAPPING GUIDANCE DURING COVID-19

As part of the governance role, the USGA has released a GUIDANCE MEMO to help golf course operators, committees and golfers better understand how the Rules of Golf and Rules of Handicapping apply during the COVID-19 era.

The 2019 Rules of Golf were drafted to offer each Committee the flexibility to make decisions as to how golf is played at their course or in competition and the Committee Procedures section of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf (available online HERE) offers a significant amount of guidance and recommendations on how to address circumstances unique to each course or competition.

This flexibility will prove to be very helpful as Committees look to address many of the challenges they are facing within the current environment. While the Committee Procedures section is a tremendous resource and has much to offer, many of the current questions were not originally contemplated under the Rules of Golf and therefore there is no history or guidance provided.

To better address the questions that have come about because of these unique circumstances and the related challenges, additional guidance is available online HERE. This will continue to be updated by the USGA as additional questions are received.

DON’T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED [NGCOA]

Historically, companies that focus on marketing and advertising during economic downturns are among the first to revive when the economy improves. To that end, the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) has compiled marketing and customer service ideas you can implement while your clubhouse and/or golf course is slow or temporarily closed.

Utilizing marketing resources can help maintain relationships with your customers and develop new ones, and keep your golf course top-of-mind through these difficult days. (Note: these are just general recommendations; remember to always adhere to the CDC SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES and your state’s restrictions when making any business decisions). LEARN MORE

QUICK REFERENCE PLACEMAT

The World Handicap System is comprised of the Rules of Handicapping and the Course Rating System. The Rules of Handicapping replaces the USGA Handicap System, which has been in place since 1911, and the USGA Course Rating System has become the Course Rating System.The Quick Reference Placemat is an easy-to-follow, one-page guide that gives a brief overview of the key topic areas from which you can expect to receive the most questions from golfers. DOWNLOAD QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE