COVID-19 Update: 21 August

Since the return of Community Sport on July 1st, there has been an increased number of community transmitted COVID-19 cases in NSW.

As a result, the NSW Government has implemented a range of additional measures across industries and sectors where there is a high risk of community transmission, or where people may come into social contact with others who they do not usually mix with.

Following advice from the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, the NSW Office of Sport has issued updated COVID-19 guidelines relating to the continuation of community sport and recreational activities across New South Wales. The aim of the guidelines is to avoid inter-mingling and potential community transmission.

The CMO has directed the following recommendations be implemented by community sports organisations, including golf clubs, from Wednesday, August 19th.

Following further consultation with the NSW Department of Health and the Office of Sport, Golf NSW recommends the following measures:

• Inter-Club competitions outside of your local area/region should cease immediately
• Normal competition and social golf at a Club level may continue
• If participants are members of a Club not within their local area, they should consider whether it is necessary to participate in Club activities at this time
• It is a Club decision whether they place restrictions on visitors or members from outside their local area
• Events promoting travel from beyond the local area should be postponed, or cancelled e.g. Open events
• In regional NSW (i.e. outside Greater Sydney) existing competition structures should aim to minimise the need for overnight travel.
• Carpooling and shared transport arrangements should be avoided e.g. reconsider weekend tournaments targeting out of area visitors

Examples of inter-regional mixing include activities which bring together participants (including spectators and officials) from organisations in different regions of Sydney. From a rural area into a metro area and vice versa, and movement between different rural areas.

These measures are expected to be in place for six weeks.

As a result of these stricter measures, Golf NSW will be again obliged to defer several events while some other competitions have been cancelled.

Pennant Golf

Major Metropolitan Pennant

Due to the recommendations, Major Pennant Semi Finals, Relegation Contests and Finals will be rescheduled. If a semi or relegation contest has been played prior to this information (Wednesday 19 August 2020), the result of the contest will stand.

• Semi Finals & Relegation Contests – Home & Away format – Sunday 22 & 29 November.
• Finals – Riverside Oaks Golf Resort – Sunday 6 December

A draw will be circulated to clubs involved.

Eric Apperly Shield

Eric Apperly Semi Finals and Final will be rescheduled to the dates below. If the contests are unable to be played at this time, the competition will be cancelled for 2020.

• Semi Finals – Glenmore Heritage Valley Golf Club – Sunday 8 November
• Final – Twin Creeks Golf & Country Club – Sunday 15 November

A draw will be circulated to clubs involved.

Warren & Gibson Trophies

Golf NSW regrets to announce the cancellation of the Warren & Gibson Trophies for 2020.

With two preliminary rounds, quarter finals, semi finals and finals remaining, rescheduling of the rounds in the current climate of tee time pressure at clubs would not be possible.

Tournaments Updates

NSW Sand Greens Fourball

The NSW Sand Greens Fourball Championship will not be held on 12 and 13 September. Any players currently entered for the tournament will be contacted directly and receive a full refund.

Further updates to tournaments will be made in the following timeframes.

• Medal Competition: Week ending 11 September.
• NSW Sand Greens Championship: Week ending 11 September.
• SRIXON Mid Amateur Championship: Week ending 18 September.
• Country Championship: Week ending 25 September.
• NSW Senior Amateur Championship: Week ending 16 October.

Keno Let’s Play Ambrose

Due to club qualifying for the Keno Let’s Play Ambrose being in local communities, an abbreviated format is being considered. Given the nature of the event, Golf NSW hopes to still be able to deliver an exciting competition to players and clubs, whilst reducing the travel involved.

Further details about this event will be communicated directly to club officials.

NSW Open and Regional Qualifying Events

Further information on the 2020 Men’s NSW Open will be communicated in the next week.

Vardon, Jean Derrin and Senior Order of Merit

A decision regarding these year-long events will be made in the coming weeks. No events are currently having the scores attributed.

RELATED LINKS:

Golf NSW COVID-19 July Frequently Asked Questions (Updated August 21st): Click HERE

NSW Government COVID-19 Website CLICK HERE

The latest “Minimising the Risk of Covid-19 Transmission in Community Sports” update from the NSW Department of Health and Chief Health Officer can be found HERE.