St Augustine, Florida, United States: The golf industry continues its collaboration to lead the responsible return of golf, announcing an update and addendums to the Back2Golf Operations Playbook (version 3.0).

The updated playbook and addendums provide recommendations that guide the industry as it re-establishes amateur competitive events and junior programming, which are part of Back2Golf’s Phase II.

With input from leading industry organisations including the United States Golf Association (USGA), PGA of America, American Junior Golf Association and First Tee, the addendum provides guidelines for Phase II, which include limiting gatherings to no more than 50 people, prohibiting physical contact of any kind, requirements of cloth facial coverings and other protocols related to registration areas, practice areas, food and beverage operations, equipment, restrooms, on-course play and departures.

“Golf is more than a game – it is a community, and this effort is one of the most recent examples of how we can all work together and provide the best support to our industry,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “Back2Golf has helped our Allied Golf Associations and member facilities get back to work, provide continuity from State to State, and ultimately welcome back golfers to the course in a way that provides connection and great care for all.”

Greg McLaughlin, CEO of World Golf Foundation and First Tee, added: “As different regions of the country re-engage at separate paces, our goal is to ensure we are equipped with the appropriate tactics to responsibly operate amateur competitions and junior programmes.

“Our focus is on the well-being of all involved – whether you’re working at a course, playing in competition or signing your child up for programmes, we want to ensure the industry has collaborative, responsible guidance.”

Back2Golf Operations Playbook v3.0 was designed by the industry’s leading organisations as a general operational framework, while course owners, administrators, programme and event providers and golfers are encouraged to observe State, county and local government health protocols first and foremost.

All organisations, facilities and staff should continue to follow sanitisation and social distancing guidelines outlined by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Announced in early May, Back2Golf is driven by key stakeholders of WE ARE GOLF, a division of the World Golf Foundation created in 2010 to spearhead initiatives on behalf of the game.

Supporting organisations include, USGA, PGA Tour, LPGA, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), Club Management Association of America (CMAA) and the PGA of America, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

The industry-wide Back2Golf initiative has been primarily focused on ensuring golf courses that have remained operational or recently re-opened, do so responsibly to protect golfers, employees and all members of the community. Each organisation has distributed ‘Back2Golf Guidelines’ and the corresponding ‘Operations Playbook’ to its respective audiences to implement and administer.

Back2Golf is a living, breathing initiative and interim guidance from CDC and/or feedback from the golf community will result in additional modifications to the Operations Playbook. Changes will be communicated through the various industry organisations via their websites and outreach to members.