dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

I have recently received many emails and phone calls concerning what the direction Metro Seniors is taken to ensure the safety of all the members in each weekly tournament, Special Events and Metro Plus golf outings for the remainder of the year. 

2020 will go down as a difficult year in Metro Seniors golf.  The climate is changing almost weekly, so what we tell you now, in a week from now may not apply.  We negotiated in May, in good faith, for all our events in June to be single cart only. When the governor of Missouri opened the state up on June 15^th, all bets were off and courses could use their own judgement on how they wanted to operate.  Our agreements/contracts were no longer applicable, and if we wanted to play at the courses we had to adjust or the courses would move on.

The golf industry as a whole has seen a tremendous upswing in participation and many country clubs have membership levels they haven’t seen in many years.  We no longer have, hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball, to attend as fans and everyone is looking for a release…an outlet.  Public courses during the week, usually their slow period, are having 250-300 golfers playing daily.  The demand for tee times are high, therefore there are many that will play by whatever the rules the course sets, regardless if scientists say this is not safe.  Its business!  Online tee times are the future and if the demand is high the price will increase significantly.    Believe me when I say this “once the prices goes up, it’s never coming back down.” The computer tracks everything.  The higher the demand, the higher the price will be.

There are some courses that are still conservative in their approach and are allowing single carts out at no additional fee, but some that are allowing single carts some are charging an additional fee for this, that is significantly higher.  Soon all the courses will get rid of their rental carts which are costing them a lot and implement rules requiring 2 in a cart.

The pandemic is far from over, and I will not get political. Many believe the best policy is to error on the side of caution.  When making decisions on golf rules they did not confer with me.  Everyone will approach it differently.  I get it, believe me.  My wife is very high risk, so I must be safe, so I do not bring home anything that she may get.  It’s a choice.  If you want to play, you need to find someone who is comfortable with you and vice versa and play/ride with them cautiously, pay the rate if available for a single cart (some places are not offering this) or do not play that week, Special event, Metro Plus outing. 

On June 23^rd the entire board met for the first time since January.  A long and spirited meeting where the theme by the end of it was “Change.”  For the remainder of the year we will continue with assigned tee times, and until Illinois and Missouri mirror in the rules and regulations, we will play by the same pin and bunkers rules we have been using since June 1^st.  No one knows when that will be, and it may be sooner than some of us want.  A committee of many members is looking into a future registration process to be presented to the board in August with implementation for next year.  We may go back to doing things the old way.  We just don’t know.

Look for continuing changes in your weekly tournaments and when the rules are relaxed enough, we will allow CTTP’s again.  Stay in touch with your VP’s for they will be informing you of additional changes as we find out, and pass that info on to them. 

This week is an off week for all of us.  No golf on Thursday and Friday in observance of July 4^th week.  This has been the policy for years.  Promise me you will all be safe out there.  Enjoy the holiday but please don’t do anything foolish.  I want to see all of back playing golf starting week July 6^th.

Larry Roth President Metro St Louis Seniors Golf Assn

The Metro Seniors apparel store is now open with many new items. There was a glitch in the system that has now been fixed. The store will remain open thru June 15th. The link to the Metro Seniors apparel store may be found on the Metro Seniors website, in Member Resources, by clicking on Metro Seniors Apparel highlighted in blue.

https://sga2020.itemorder.com/sale

Starting Monday June 1^st for 15 days the Metro Seniors Apparel store will be open again.  Items that are ordered during this period will be delivered around July 1^st (shortly thereafter) or may be picked up at the St Louis Sportswear location starting July 6^th.

There will be several new items including a pull up mask with Metro Seniors logo.  Masks will be in Black or Red.  After the store closes on June 16^th it will remain closed until September 1^st. 

Everyone has been impressed with the clothing and hats.  Order yours June 1^st.

Did you order your Metro Seniors apparel thru St Louis Sportswear?  If you did and have not picked it up, St Louis Sportswear will be open starting Monday May 18^th from 9:30 AM till 4:00 PM daily for you to pick up your items you ordered.

St Louis Sportswear is located at 3615 Ridgewood St. Louis, MO. 63116.

If you didn’t get a chance to order Metro Senior apparel, the Online apparel store will be open starting June 1^st for 15 days.  Items ordered during this period will be available for pick-up or delivery starting July 1^st. 

On June 1^st we will post the link’s address in another post. 

Playing golf is what most of us have been looking forward to.  Metro St Louis Seniors Golf Association will start weekly play June 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th depending on your division.  Many things have changed so it’s very important to read all the emails you will receiving from your Division VP.  This year more than ever they will totally be in charge of the weekly events.  Email is our way of communicating with everyone, so please be diligent and look often!

Social Distancing is the “New” rule and until these rules change, we are obligated to adhere to these rules.  We will have additional volunteers this year to make sure we are in compliance. Please make sure you follow the directions of these volunteers.  All members must adhere to all the changes we have instituted.  Violations of these rules may result in immediate termination of membership from all Metro Seniors operations without refunds.

For this year no one can arrive at the course early and wait in line for a tee time, regardless if you have a foursome, threesome, twosome or as a single.  All members must obtain a tee time thru their Division VP.  This is the only process you can use.

The complete tee time reservation process will be explained in detail from your Division VP.  Each division’s process will mirror the other division.  You should expect this shortly.

If you have been playing in Division 9 you will need to contact John Reinhardt by email at stlthunder@gmail.com He will send you all information so you may register and play on Wednesdays.  Division 9 will start play the first week in June.

The first 3 Special Events have been canceled.  Refunds for those who paid, will be issued in the next 30/60 days.  The remaining are still on.  We will address them by July 1^st.

For those in the Metro Plus league, an email will be sent to you shortly regarding the season.  Metro Plus will start in early June. 

These are difficult times and difficult choices sometimes must be made.  We will make sure our league is operated safely, within the guidelines set out by our local and state government, at the same time providing the best Senior league in the St. Louis area. If you wish a refund for this year, refunds will be issued based on the policy manual on our website and must be requested by June 1, 2020. Please send your requests to your VP only!

I hope to see many of you on the golf course this year.  If we don’t know each other please introduce yourself to me.  If your questions go unanswered you may always email me at larry@lgr-sri.com

Larry Roth

President Metro St Louis Seniors Golf Assn.

Good News!

The state of Illinois has announced opening of Illinois golf courses starting May 1, 2020.

However, there are very strict guidelines for operations. All is focused on “social distancing” to protect golfers and the service staff.

The course capacity will be very limited with only twosomes in a group and 15 minute separations. This limits capacity (max of 36 players on the course at any time). It may make reservations difficult.

No golf carts, essentially walkers only. You must either carry or bring your own pull cart. There MAY be opportunity for golf carts for handicap situations. Be sure you have handicap carts set up before you go. Expect only one person in a cart.

Ask about their refund policies. A no-show may be expensive.

See the Official Illinois Guidelines below.

[gview file=”https://www.golfstlseniors.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-MP-Schedule-1.pdff”}

During these unprecedented times, we may find a need for sunlight, fresh air & exercise in an environment that still allows for the required social distancing.  We are happy to provide golfers that opportunity.

Things we are doing to ensure the safety of our golfers and staff include, but are not limited to:

·       Our Clubhouse will be closed except for a limited number of staff until further notice, take out from our snack bar is still available.

·       Disinfecting spray down of carts before and after each use.

·       Multiple cleaning practices will be taking place for our lower level open air bathrooms, door handles, and other public surfaces.

·       Staff hygiene policies have been increased to ensure regular hand washing and sanitizing.

·       All bunker rakes and ball washers have been removed to eliminate a contact point, please rake with your foot if possible.

·       Sanitary gloves will be utilized where appropriate.

·       All hole cups are raised, making good every putt that hits the cup deemed holed out.  DO NOT TOUCH THE FLAG POLES, LEAVE THEM IN PLACE.

·       We will be limiting the number of people on our putting green to maintain the appropriate social distancing.

·       We have increased our tee time separation to facilitate social distancing.

·       All rental club sales will be suspended.

·       Score cards and pencils will be provided upon request. 

·       Continuously monitoring the recommendation of all government agencies.

Additional recommendations include:

·       Social Distancing MUST BE practiced throughout our facility. (CDC recommends at least 6 feet).

·       We will have bottled water for purchase. No personal cups will be filled in the clubhouse.

·       Please arrive directly in advance of your tee time.  This will help with social distancing.

·       Please maintain social distancing while waiting for your tee time to be called.

·       Golf carts will be allowed, both bags can be on the cart, only one person allowed in a cart at a time, unless the other player lives in the same household.  The other player may walk or have the option of their own golf cart. 

·       Golfers who have experienced flu-like symptoms of any kind are requested to refrain from visiting.

Food Service:

In keeping with St. Louis County’s mandate, our Clubhouse snack bar is closed, but we are offering food and beverage, which are available for take out, so you can take it with you on the course

Originally the plan was to have the apparel store open from March 24^th thru March 31^st.  We had scheduled our company to have on display all the items you could choose from at the General Meeting.  As you know, the season is now delayed until at least June 1^st. 

I’ve spoken with ST Louis Sportswear; our apparel company and they are closed at least thru April 21^st as a non-essential business.  They’re physical address is located in the City of St Louis, therefore even if we open the store today, nothing would get started until at least that day.

The store will open again after the restrictions are lifted and a link will be provided in a similar post and send to the Division VP’s as well.  Stay safe out there. 

Michael Weinhaus’ family experience is profiled in St. Louis Post Dispatch. He was also courageous enough to share his experiences through Linkedin. Please take note of the speed and severity of the disease progression. Most likely transmission was through his mother’s school connections.
Michael Weinhaus
Golf Rules Official; USGA Rules of Golf Expert Certification; GolfQuis Ambassador
A warning that might save someone else from our experience. I am COVID-19 positive in an ICU unit. My wife is down the hall on a ventilator. The destruction to our family cannot be measured. Please take every precaution to isolate yourself. For those that are not, it will never end. Please be safe.

CLICK HERE for the Post Dispatch article.