FWGA Newsletter June 2020

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Message from the President They’re opening the courses! WooHoo! We’re here! I feel like my family has been on a 14-hour car ride. “Are we there yet?” Summer vacation is starting and I am so happy! But I can’t just run and do a cannonball into the pool. This is more a long walk into the ocean until the water gets chest high. The water is a

little cold and my steps are more cautious. In Phase 1 of the “Back2Golf” guidelines, individual play is allowed for groups of 4, so we are resuming our Casual Play schedule. This is the “get your bathing suit on part” if you’ll allow me to continue the analogy. The courses will have different rules. Some may ask for single riders only. If you’re a hostess, consider time of day or walkability of courses. If you are scheduled as a hostess, and you are not ready for all this, please simply let your coordinator know. Tournaments require even more coordination. Therese, Director of Tournaments, has been doing a tremendous amount of background work and is having many discussions with the courses. Some of our previous tournaments are rescheduled for next year, and others cancelled. We could really use your input as we move forward. Tournaments involve financial commitments. We’re sending a survey to gauge our member’s readiness to participate in tournaments. We respect our members whose passion for the game has them golfing several times a week. And we equally respect those not ready to get back, and those happy to just have their feet in the water.

New NCGA Newsletter

The NCGA has produced a new newsletter for members. The May-June 2020 newsletter is one page with active links to more in depth information. The NCGA Newsletters have their own page on the ForeWomenGolf.org website under the Club Resources tab. Go to

this page to read the new NCGA Newsletter or catch up on prior issues.

Jen Shaull FWGA President

FWGA Tournament Survey Please complete the FWGA Tournament Survey to help us evaluate the ongoing viability of our scheduled tournaments for the rest of the 2020 season. Please follow the link to the survey in the email. The survey can also be completed on the ForeWomenGolf.org

website under the Tournaments tab FWGA Tournament Survey. Please complete the survey as soon as possible so we have enough time to make decisions on the upcoming tournaments.

We are in Phase 1 of the

Playbook Golf courses are following the “Back2Golf Playbook” guidance provided by the PGA to safely reopen. The playbook is divided into 3 phases. We are currently in Phase 1. Phase 1 golf course modifications:

1. Individual Play is allowed for groups of 4. 2. Strict adherence to Social Distancing at all times. 3. Allow players to walk the course or single cart riders. 4. Restricted golf course set up (elevated cup, no rakes, etc.) 5. Clubhouse, golf shop and other amenities closed. 6. All league, clinic, camps and organized activities suspended.

Phase 1 & 2 Safety Guidelines for Players

Stay home if you have a fever or feel sick.

Maintain 6 feet Social Distance and wear a mask at all times. Players may remove their mask after the 1st hole as long as social distancing is maintained during the round.

Avoid large gatherings on the first tee, driving range, parking lot, restrooms or after the round. Gatherings of more than 10 people are not allowed.

Don’t touch anything. This applies to other balls on the course, tees on the ground, flagstick, the cup, ball washers, doorknobs, trashcans, etc. Be prepared to pack out your trash. Cash not accepted – only credit cards.

Always mark your ball clearly. Markings should identify your ball on approach. This will prevent a player from accidentally touching another player’s ball.

Wear a face mask when taking a lesson, near the pro shop, in the pro shop, gathering at the first tee, in the restroom, on the range, on the putting green and in the parking lot.

No handshakes or high fives.

Bring hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes with you on the course. Wash your hands often; especially after the round. Don’t touch your face.

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Phase 2 of the Playbook

The next phase is Phase 2. We do not know when Phase 2 will start for all golf courses in our area. Phase 2 golf course modifications:

1. Gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people. 2. Strict adherence to Social Distancing at all times. 3. Immediate family or approved pairings may ride in properly

sanitized carts. 4. Normal golf groups are permitted. 5. Restricted golf course set up (elevated cup, no rakes, etc.) 6. Clubhouse, golf shop and other amenities may open with modifications. 7. Smaller group activity (outings & league play) may be resumed if kept under 50 people with

proper social distancing guidelines being followed. The NCGA will begin their Phase 2 on June 6th. Many golf courses in the Sacramento area might follow suit. Many courses in the Bay Area counties will not.

Tip of the Week Visit the new Tip of the Week page on the website at ForeWomenGolf.org Clinics Tip of the Week. The Tip of the Week is provided by Christina Ricci. She is an LPGA Class A Instructor.

Most Improved Golfer – February 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020

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We are currently in Phase 1 of the PGA’s Back2Golf Playbook. In Phase 1, individual play is allowed for groups of 4; but, league play, organized golf groups and tournaments are not. Those activities are allowed with certain restrictions in Phase 2.

The NCGA is resuming some of their events and tournaments on June 6th. Even though the NCGA is moving forward with some of their tournaments, the golf courses in our area are following the guidelines of their respective county health officials. Contra Costa County has not given the golf courses the go ahead to begin Phase 2 and may not until the end of June or early July.

For us, our casual play program is considered “individual play”. Using our existing system of hostesses for each event, hostesses can start reserving a single casual play tee time for 4 players starting June 1st. We ask that hostesses do not make the reservation in the name of Fore Women Golf (it will be rejected by the golf course). When members check in, they should give the name of the hostess. (We really already do this.)

We would like players to respond to each event at least two days prior to the event rather than one as before.

We will use our new application, Punchbowl to manage the invitations and RSVPs for each event, just like we did before with Whoozin. Hostesses will

FWGA Casual Play

reserve a tee time and email the details to the Casual Play Coordinator to have the event set up in Punchbowl.

We will be able to reserve two tee times when Phase 2 is permitted by the Contra Costa Health Officials. Solano and Alameda Counties might be different. If you are making a tee time in these counties, ask if they are currently in Phase 2. If they are not, just reserve one tee time for four players in your name.

All players must adhere to all the rules established at the individual courses with respect to social distancing, cart sharing, masks, etc. These rules may vary course to course and could change. It is the player's responsibility to understand the rules the individual courses and take the necessary action to play safely.

For your safety, please follow the COVID19 Safety Guide on the FWGA website. Go to ForeWomenGolf.org Club Resources COVID19 Safety Guide.

We want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during these challenging times. We will expand Casual Play Golf as soon as the local guidelines permit.

Yvonne Perkins

Now is a good time to become familiar with our new invitation application – Punchbowl. On the FWGA website under the Casual Play tab FWGA Casual Play Schedule, half way down the page, there are two videos to help you learn our new casual play invitation program. Be sure to watch the Punchbowl Account Set Up video first.

Many of these online invitation programs make their money through advertising; consequently, their goal is to email promotional information to everyone that uses their service.

Please follow the setup guidelines in the video to minimize this advertising intrusion. The FWGA Membership Account is a paid account that eliminates advertising; but, you will still see the promotions when you go through the set up process.

As a first-year tournament chair, this pandemic has made it an extremely difficult start. Since mid-March, there has been a daily watch to see if the tournaments are

FWGA 2020 Tournament Schedule

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going to take place. The questions keep popping up. Is the course open? If so, can we play or even have a tournament? What does that tournament look like? Walking? Single rider? Will the members play with restrictions? The questions continue. Phase 1 of this pandemic has canceled golf for three courses: Eagle Vines, Yocha Dehe, and Rancho Solano.

Courses started opening on May 4th for individual play only with very strict guidelines. County by county different courses are moving into Phase 2. We canceled Blue Rock Springs scheduled for 6/20. Boundary Oak, scheduled 7/18, is still in Phase 1 which will not allow tournaments. With all this uncertainty, we need your help! We will be sending out a survey to get your input on the rest of the tournament season. Please help us by completing it as soon as you can. The Board is here to serve you, and we want to make sure that we are doing what the membership wants. So please complete the survey. I am hopeful to see you on the links soon!! Take care and be safe!!

Therese Johnson

PWGA 2020 Tournament Schedule

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The PWGA is thrilled to know we are ready to play! The PWGA gives us a great opportunity to play new courses and meet new friends. A partial calendar of events for the year is listed below. Each type of tournament has a different sign up procedure. Visit the PWGA Tournament Schedule Page on the FWGA website at

http://www.ForeWomenGolf.org Tournaments PWGA

Tournament Schedule. This page has a link to the PWGA tournament page on the NCGA website and a contact form for our tournament rep, Denise Qualls. Each Legacy Tournament has a link to their respective info and registration page on the NCGA website. The Play Day links to a

flyer with details and registration instructions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions and I look forward to seeing you at one of these events.

Denise Qualls