May 15, 2020

NSGA Membership Update

NS Government announces, golf clubs in Nova Scotia permitted to open with restrictions

The NSGA, our member clubs and our Allied Golf Associations worked very hard to create a plan that has been implemented so that golf courses can re-open here in Nova Scotia.We are very pleased with the outcome of this process, and we thank each of you for your patience during this difficult time.

As expected, this update comes with a few restrictions. Along with the opening of courses, Dr. Strang also announced the guidelines that golf clubs and golfers alike will have to be followed when teeing it up.

As of 3 pm today, golf courses around the province will be allowed to open effective immediately. The announcement was made during Friday, May 15, 2020 press conference with Premier Stephen MacNeil, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Strang.

Our golfers need to be prepared of the many protocols in place to ensure the health and safety of our golfers, our golf course staff and our communities. As a golfer it is your responsibility to know and understand these rules. For a complete list of protocols please visit https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/outdoor-activities/#golf. 

If you have questions about golfing under these new Covid-19 safety protocols please contact your home club or the course where you are planning to play. It is important we all do our part to ensure that physical distancing is maintained, and we all adhere to the golf specific public health guidelines. 

2020 NSGA Men’s Fourball Championship – Cancelled

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Nova Scotia Golf Association regrets to announce the cancellation of the Men’s Fourball Championship, scheduled to take place on June 13-14 at Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club.

This decision was made to ensure the safety of our competitors, staff and volunteers overseeing the event. It is also compounded by, at the time of the decision (4-week prior), the uncertainty of the opening date for courses in Nova Scotia. We would like to thank all of the competitors that have pre-registered in support of the event. 

Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club is pleased to be the host for next year’s Men’s Fourball Championship, taking place on June 12-13, 2021. 

NSGA Championship Schedule

As of today, Friday, May 5th, we are still accepting registrations or all remaining NSGA Championships.

We would like to thank TaylorMade for their continued support for the 2020 Championship Season. This year all competitors will receive a welcome gift from Taylormade upon checking in before your first round at the registration desk.

We would also like to thank Halifax Jaguar Land Rover for sponsoring a hole-in-one prize at each of our 2020 competitions. During Amateur events, participants will have a chance to win a new car, and during the Junior Championship, participants will have the chance to win a $50,000 education fund.

To register, please visit: http://nsga.ns.ca/competitions/

If you have any questions please contact Bryce at bryce@nsga.ns.ca.

Please note: We will be collecting competitors payment information at the time of registration, as per usual. All competitors will then be put into “eligibility pending,” until we are certain the championship is happening (4 weeks prior to event).

A notice to competitors will be circulated a minimum of 21-days prior to the event, on the status of the championship. Credit card payments will not be processed until the event is confirmed, and not until the 21-days prior.

NSGA Player Handicap Webinars

Each Tuesday evening for the month of May the NSGA will be hosting Player focused World Handicap System Webinars. If you are interested in attending one of these webinars, please contact Anne (anne@nsga.ns.ca), so we can forward you the link. A copy of the Rules of Handicapping can be found online here, or you may purchase a copy of the book through Golf Canada’s online store.

These webinars are open to anyone wishing to gain a better understanding the new World Handicap System. Please see the full webinar schedule below:

• Tuesday, May 19 – 7pm-8pm
• Tuesday, May 26 – 7pm-8pm

NSGA Virtual Coffee House

Continuing through May, the NSGA will be hosting a Virtual Coffee House on Wednesdays from 11am-12pm. It will be an open forum for members to ask questions on championships, handicapping, rules, or to just chat about golf with people who love the game. To join us in the Virtual Coffee Room, please click here on Wednesday’s at 11am. All are welcome.

Please note: this page will be updated the 1st and 15th of each month. Older updates will be linked below.

• NSGA Member Update – May 1, 2020
• NSGA Member Update – April 15, 2020
• NSGA Member Update – April 2, 2020
• NSGA Member Update – March 30, 2020

• NSGA Virtual Coffee House – Wednesdays from 11am-12pm
• Sport Nova Scotia – Tips for Staying Healthy & Happy at Home
• Nova Scotia Golf Course Work Safety Plan (coming soon)

• NS Government – Reopening the Province
• NS Government – COVID-19 Outdoor Activities
• Nova Scotia – Closures, Cancellation and Service Changes
• Nova Scotia Health Protection Act, 2004
• Nova Scotia – Guide to the Health Protection Act & Regulations
• Nova Scotia – COVID-19 Resource Page
• Nova Scotia Government Youtube – each day at 3pm, the Nova Scotia Government live updates the public on COVID-19 in our province.

• Nova Scotia Health Authority – Coronavirus Disease
• NS Health Authority – Do’s & Don’ts:
  • For wearing GLOVES
  • For wearing MASK & FACE PROTECTION
  • For putting on personal protective equipment
• NS Health Authority – COVID-19 FAQ’s

• Nova Scotia – COVID-19 Self Assessment

• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
• Government of Canada – Coronavirus Disease
• COVID-19 – Self Assessment

• Golf Canada COVID-19 Resource Page
• COVID-19 Rules & Handicapping FAQs (April 9, 2020)

• NGCOA – COVID-19 Resources & Programs
• Global News – “Golf Canada asks players to stay home…”

• PGA of Canada Webinar – COVID-19: Avoiding the Rough – Planning for What’s Now and What’s Next (Ask an Expert)
• USGA COVID-19 FAQ
• USGA Resource Page

The impact of COVID-19 continues to be the defining narrative in Canadian golf media. Below is a collection of relevant articles about the ongoing impact of the virus on Canadian golf.

May:

• Canadian golf courses aware of responsibility accompanying re-opening (Sportsnet, May 14, 2020)
• Ontario government allows golf courses to open starting May 16 (Golf Canada, May 14, 2020)
• Golf season to kickoff May 20th in Québec (Golf Canada, May 13, 2020)
• Provincial breakdown of golf restrictions during COVID-19 (The Weather Network, May 12, 2020)
• Go on and golf (Macleans Magazine, May 11, 2020)
• Golf courses aiming for ‘touchless experience’ as they begin to open across Canada (CBC News, May 8, 2020)
• Opening of courses a breath of fresh air for Manitoba golfers (Winnipeg Sun, May 4, 2020)
• Some Alberta golf courses open, but things look different thanks to COVID-19 (CTV News Edmonton, May 2, 2020)
• Ford: Golf courses can begin preparations in Ontario (TSN, May 1, 2020)
• Hands-free golf invention answers putting problem (TSN, May 1, 2020)

April:

• Golf industry crossing its fingers as province expected to announce easing of restrictions for some recreational activities (CTV Calgary, April 27, 2020)
• Alberta golf courses allowed to open this weekend (Calgary Sun, April 30, 2020)
• Golf courses to open in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan (TSN, April 27, 2020)
• COVID-19: With weather cooperating, Alberta golf courses hope waiting game is almost over (Calgary Sun, April 26, 2020)
• RULES OF ENGAGEMENT: Ontario players antsy while they swing away in B.C. (The Lush Life, April 24, 2020)
• Golf courses across P.E.I. to implement special measures once chief public health officer says they can open (The Guardian, April 24, 2020)
• New Brunswick Golf Courses set to Re-Open (Golf New Brunswick, April 24, 2020)
• Golf courses named in phase one of Saskatchewan “re-open” (Golf Saskatchewan, April 23, 2020)
• Teeing off during the COVID-19 pandemic (CITYNews Montreal, April 22, 2020)
• Greater Victoria golf courses open with many restrictions (Times Colonist, April 22, 2020)
• Game on (or soon to be) for B.C. golfers as clubs bring in COVID-19 restrictions (CBC News, April 21, 2020)
• Golf industry finding ways to give back (TSN, April 20, 2020)
• Some Vancouver-area golf courses reopening with health officials’ blessing (CTV News, April 20, 2020)
• New Golf Saskatchewan President Don Kunkel Discusses Golf Courses Opening In That Province (IONO.FM, April 20, 2020)
• ‘It’s like walking through a park’: Some Canadian golfers itching to get back on the course (The Globe & Mail, April 20, 2020)
• Monday musings; Anti-golfers still haven’t made a case (Edmonton Sun, April 20, 2020)
• Leggatt Weighs in on PGA TOUR return (SCOREGolf, April 17, 2020)
• Golf Canada CEO talks cancelled RBC Canadian Open and getting back to golf (Toronto Sun, April 16, 2020)
• Reactions to the cancellation of the 2020 RBC Canadian Open (Golf Canada, April 16, 2020)
• Voices: Tournament Director Bryan Crawford Discusses RBC Canadian Open Being Cancelled (Golf News Now, April 16, 2020)
• Alberta needs to re-examine ban on golf courses (Edmonton Sum, April 16, 2020)
• 5 Ways to Help Your Golf Course From Home (SCOREGolf, April 13, 2020)
• Golf courses aim to be among first wave of Quebec businesses to reopen (CBC News, April 10, 2020)
• When Golf Goes Viral (The Lush Life, April 10, 2020)
• Alberta golf courses hopeful for for permission to open during pandemic (Calgary Herald, April 10, 2020)
• Golf courses still out of bounds for Albertans says Dr. Hinshaw (CTV News, Calgary, April 9, 2020)
• Intruders Are Liable To Become More Commonplace As Pandemic Continues (Golf News Now, April 7, 2020)
• Keeping Golf Courses Safe and Green a Challenge (TSN, April 3, 2020)
• A Solitary Game (SCOREGolf, April 2, 2020)
• NGCOA Provides Helpful Links to Government Programs for Businesses and Individuals (Golf News Now, April 2, 2020)
• Corey Conners making the most of time at home during social distancing (Golf Canada, April 1, 2020)

March:

• Tokyo Olympics rescheduled for July 23 – Aug. 8 in 2021 (Golf Canada, March 30, 2020)
• Better Safe Than Sorry (SCOREGolf, March 30, 2020)
• Canada’s sports organizations eager to unite country when pandemic passes (Golf Canada, March 30, 2020)
• Tips on working at home from Team Canada’s psychologist (Golf Canada, March 30, 2020)
• We’re All in This Together (PostMedia, March 29, 2020)
• Past Pandemics Change the Future for the Better (Healthing.ca, March 29, 2020)
• Pro Calls Out Colleagues to Help Food Bank in Time of Need (Golf News Now, March 26, 2020)
• Possible COVID-19 Shutdown has Edmonton Golf Courses Worried (Edmonton Journal, March 26, 2020)
• Golf Courses Urged to Close Amid COVID-19 Pandemic (TSN, March 24, 2020)
• What to Do About Golf (SCOREGolf, March 23, 2020)
• Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum Asks Golfers to Stay Home During Pandemic (Canadian Press, March 22, 2020)
• For the Love of the Game (SCOREGolf, March 16, 2020)