Good Morning Friends,

We hope this finds you healthy, happy, and ready for the upcoming golf season.

As you know some courses opened on the weekend and though there will always be a hiccup or two, the overwhelming response was positive. We received rave reviews for our thoughtful application of AB Health protocols.

You could almost hear a collective sigh of relief from the public as we helped return Albertans to some form of normalcy.

We are grateful to Premier Kenney and the Alberta Government for giving us the go ahead.

We want to share with you some of the experiences and best practices from operators who have opened in the hopes of helping those of you who are planning to open in the days ahead.

We also want to remind you of the Alberta Government protocol, which was established as a baseline for courses to follow to ensure proper social distancing and the respecting of Alberta Health Services COVID-19 protocol.

We know that bylaw officers and Alberta Health inspectors showed up at many of the courses to make sure they were following proper protocols. You should be aware of this and take the necessary steps to prepare.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can two people share a cart if they arrived at the course together? The answer is NO. Unless your drivers’ licenses have the same home address, you cannot share a power cart. Health Inspectors were checking ID at one course and fortunately there were no tickets issued as they were following the rules.

Can we have a beer cart? NO. Curbside pickup is allowed for food and beverages and outside shacks are permitted so long as there is no area to sit down. It is pickup.

Can we open club houses or pro shops limiting entry to a few people at a time? NO. Club houses and Pro Shops are ordered closed by the province and will be part of the phase one opening which is tentatively slated for May 14 th .

Can driving ranges open? Yes. Physical distancing rules apply. You must follow the provincial protocols as set out by Alberta Health Services. For golf courses this includes the current procedure in place where players may only arrive at the course 15 minutes ahead of their tee time.
 
Should we have a greeter or attendant in the parking lot? YES. This practice has worked extremely well at courses with setting the tone for golfers and explaining to them the rules before they ever get onto the actual course.
We want to remind you of the spirit of the game and the confidence the Alberta Government has shown us by allowing us to open. Common sense goes a long way, so remain vigilant in upholding Alberta Health protocols, and ensure safe physical distancing and personal hygiene.
Links to Protocol Documents
If you are unsure about something, it would be best to err on the side of caution. The province does not want to micro-manage our industry and we are expected to respect the new protocols.

Do not hesitate to call us if you have a question. We will do our best to help, but remember, at NAGA-AB, we are not responsible for enforcing the rules. This is the responsibility of Alberta Health so if you have any questions you would like directly answered by health officials, feel free to look up your specific service location on the Alberta Health Services website.

Again, the first few days of golf have been an extraordinary success. We are doing our part to be part of the solution and help Albertans return to some level of normalcy. Remember to ensure proper physical distance and adhere to the safety protocol put out by Alberta Health Services. Have fun and stay safe. 

Sincerely,
Robert Rousselle
Executive Director, PGA of Alberta
President - NAGA Alberta
cc:
Erica Beck, Regional Director, NGCOA Canada
Phil Berube, CEO, Alberta Golf
Scott Hippe, President, CSCM – Alberta Chapter
Terri Solodan, Executive Director, AGSA