April 10th 2020

STAY CONNECTED

NENY.PGA.COM

** COVID-19 Golf Course Ops *Non-Essential in New York
as of Thursday, April 9th **

NEW Guidance Issued from the ESD Now Lists Golf Courses as Non-Essential

As of Thursday, April 9th at 8am the Empire State Development issued revised guidance which states specifically that golf courses are not *essential businesses* for purpose of the Governor's Pause order.

The NENY PGA Section leadership urges all golf course business operations to stop to be in compliance with the new revisions.

The closing of golf courses shall be effective through April 29th or until heard otherwise from the NY Governor.

CLICK HERE to view the ESD Guidance Page
Please refer to Item #13 for the inclusion of Golf Courses as non-essential business listed under Recreation.

As of the time of this wrtiing, this is the only known information at hand. However, as The NENY PGA Section leadership attempts to gain more of an understanding in regard to walking member play/course access we would caution facilities of any action to provide access to the course, especially in relation to the known financial penalities and fines that could be imposed (both on the player and to the club directly).

We advise each club lo seek your own legal counsel/advice as well as perhaps check with your local authorities in the interpretation of any access to a golf course by members.

Members on the Move

We're pleased to welcome Larry Markowski, PGA back to the NENY PGA Section. Larry was previously a member of the NENY PGA when he was the head professional at Winding Brook Golf Course but retired and transferred to a life member classfiication and moved to the North Florida PGA Section area about four years ago. He recently relocated back to the NENY PGA Section and we would like to wish him a gracious return. Please take a moment to send Larry a welcome message larrymarkowski@lcspatriots.com

NENY PGA Section Event/Tourney Schedule CHANGES/Updates
As COVID-19 continues to impact operations these are the latest updates and changes to the NENY PGA Section schedule. Our Tournament Committee as well as our Player Development/Jr. Committee have created a rotating 2-week schedule to meet and discuss future events.

CANCELLED EVENTS:
* Assistants Spring Meeting at Colonie G&CC (April 16)
* Pro Classic #1 at Pinehaven CC (April 20)
* Spring Meeting & Triple Play Pro Pro (April 27)
* PAT at College Golf Course at Delhi (May 1)
* Double H Pro Am at Sagamore GC (May 8)
*NY State Junior Championship at Leatherstocking GC (May 9-10)

CHANGED EVENTS
*Associates Prez Cup – bumped back with a rescheduled date TBA
*Pro Classic #2 at Wyantenuck CC – moved from May 4 to May 11

Next Scheduled ** NENY PGA Section Member Discussion - NY State Golf Course Listed as Non-Essential **

Tuesday, April 14th
10am-11am

Topic Updates:

• Membership Open Forum/Discussion regarding latest update regarding golf course inclusion as non-essential business and how private facilities are addressing member play/course access

NENY PGA Section will send out email invitations for our 4th Town Hall Video Conference directly to our members. You are encouraged to log in via the link provided so that we can track our members who attend the webinar. We will provide 1 MSR Credit for the Webinars but the only method to do this is to "know and track" if a member uses the Google Meet link provided. Calling in via telephone will not allow for MSR Credit.

REMINDERS:

*Google Hangouts Meet does require a Google/G-mail account. Simply set one up if you don't have one. The video conference can be done via a computer or other hand held device (phone, tablet, IPAD, etc.) but needs a camera. If you are using a hand held device, you are asked to download the "Hangouts Meet" App - as the video conferencing works far better in the app.

*PLEASE be sure to mute your microphone or speaker (if on a phone) as it will be a necessity with a large group to have ZERO background noise

*Please contact any staff member for assistance if you need it to get connected to with the Hangout Meets resource

NENY PGA Junior Golf Programming
Message & Plan, COVID-19

Our NENY PGA Player Development Committee met recently and developed a game plan of a rotating 2 week schedule to meet and assess regarding PGA Junior Programming.

We've communicated it to our entire database of junior golfers and parents but please know that you can also in turn send this out to your own membership and families as additional communciations. The udpate covers all of the junior programs from Drive, Chp & Putt, PGA Junior League to our own Section Junior Tour Series.

To download and view the complete message please see the link below.

NENY PGA Jr. League Captain - Google MEETS

On Wed, April 16th from 1pm-2pm

Next Wednesday, NENY PGA Section staff along with Brian Bain, PGA Regional League Manager will be hosting a Google MEETS Hangout for all of our NENY PGA Junior League Captains. We understand it is an incredibly difficult time and with a lot of unkowns at this time - a Jr. League Chat will help provide some insights about the program.

Please be on the look out for a direct link/invitation. IF you are new to PGA Junior League and are interested in having a team this year - you are advised to contact Christian Torres, at 518-791-6548 for more information or for an invitation to the meeting.

NENY PGA Special Award Member Spotlight

We're excited to share the first NENY PGA Special Award Member Spotlight features.

Our staff is stll hard at work promoting our members and the game. The Awards Spotlight is one of the newest features we're happy to push out and promote so take a peek at our first two!

Be sure to follow our NENY PGA FaceBook page just search and like - Northeastern New York PGA.

Complimentary PGA Education - Special Certification Library Access

Recently announced, through June 30, 2020, PGA members can access the PGA Life Long Learning - Education towards Specialized Professional Program (full content library) absolutely FREE of charge. If you previously enrolled in this program, library subscriptions are extended by 90 days to accommodate this free period. If this is of interest to you and with some potential downtime, please be sure to check into this resource.

PGA CARES Act Town Hall Highlights Available Resources

As we all work through the significant challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic, we are trying to communicate to all PGA Professionals the resources that have been made available by the Federal Government through the CARES Act. We invite you to watch this one-hour PGA of America CARES Act Virtual Town Hall (also broken down question-by-question) with Tony Fratto of Hamilton Place Strategies.

Action Request from Membership to Write Letters To Congressman - Exclusion of 501c7 (Golf Clubs)

The PGA is requesting action from you and your club leaders regarding the fact that the CARES Act recently passed to offer financial assistance and relief left out 501C7's so golf club operations are not eligible. These loans of up to $10 million would enable clubs to help maintain operations (payroll, mortgage, rent, utilities, and certain debt payments).

We encourage you to join others in the industry by contacting your state Senators and Representatives through CMAA’s grassroots networke all work through the significant challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy
& safe Easter holiday!

NENY PGA Section Staff Continues to Work Remotely:

Tracie Warner, Executive Director, twarner@pgahq.com, Cell: 518-470-7033

Doug Evans, Tournament Director/Asst. ED, devans@pgahq.com; Cell 518-248-1973

Christian Torres, Director of Player Development, ctorres@pgahq.com, 518-791-6548