Sutton Creek Golf Course

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR MEMBERS AND GUESTS

SUTTON CREEK SAFE PLAY GUIDELINES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING PROVINCE OF ONTARIO GUIDELINES)

 Welcome to the 2020 Golf season. It is well documented that the absolute best practice to contain the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home and limit visits to public places for the essentials. Our priority is the health and safety of our members, guests, staff and community through these challenging times.

In preparation for the 2020 season, we have carefully watched the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have monitored closely the recommendations and precautionary measures of the World Health Organization, Health Canada, and our provincial health officials. While we acknowledge that the absolute best practice is to stay home, given the nature of the sport of golf amidst wide open spaces, and with rigid protocols in place, the game can continue to be played, keeping both golfers and employees safe from the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. It must also be acknowledged that golf offers health benefits that must not be overlooked. World Golf Foundation studies have shown that playing golf improves life expectancy and quality of life, as well as physical and mental health.

Sutton Creek Golf Club is committed to the ongoing safety of golfers and our staff. As a result, several precautionary measures have been put in place to ensure everyone stays safe in and around Sutton Creek. Safety will rely on the full cooperation of golfers and our team members from the time we arrive at the facility until the time we leave. We have implemented several safety measures including:

• practicing physical distancing
• reducing the number of touch points & rigorous cleaning of remaining touch points
• training staff on enhanced cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing procedures
• requiring the cooperation of golfers through adherence to our policies and procedures.

While we do hope that our environment will return to normal soon, this will be the new normal for now. We acknowledge that every golfer will make their own decision as to whether it is in their best interest to golf during these times or not. However, should you choose to join us, we will welcome you and require your full cooperation with regards to the measures that have been implemented for everyone’s safety. Please contact Cory LaJeunesse or Jeff Collingridge (519-726-6900) should you have any questions or concerns.

General Messaging to Golfers and their Guests

If you have underlying medical conditions, it is recommended that you not visit our facility.
If you have traveled outside of Canada, you are not permitted at our facility until you have self-isolated for a minimum of 14 days.
If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, please do not come to our facility. Call your doctor or local public health unit. Please stay home and, when in doubt, get tested. If you live in a household with someone who has COVID-19 or is showing symptoms of COVID-19, please do not come to our facility.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING IS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES (minimum 6ft apart). NO handshaking, NO hugging etc. from arrival until departure. Failure to observe physical distancing risks the closure of the facility, and as such, you will be asked to leave the premises and may be suspended from future play.

THE CLUBHOUSE, LOCKER ROOMS AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE FACILITIES, OTHER THAN TAKE AWAY ITEMS, ARE CLOSED.

The washrooms located on the west patio and at the hut will be open and will be disinfected frequently. 
Please bring your own sanitizer for personal use. Hand sanitizer stations is available in the golf shop.
Please bring your own water bottle and refreshments as there will be no water coolers on the course.
Do not handle each other’s golf balls, tees, ball markers etc.
Please be sure to make your guests aware of the rules for play at Sutton Creek.

THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE TEMPORARY AND WILL EVOLVE AS INSTRUCTED BY THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT POLICIES

Tee Time Policy

Tee time intervals will be 8 minutes intervals to permit for physical distancing and maintenance of pace of play. Reservations can be made including twosomes, threesomes, or foursomes.
Golfers without a reserved tee time will not be permitted on the course. Book online or by phone. Players wishing to join a tee time must contact the registered group for permission to join them. Please be respectful of other players concerns during the COVID-19 period.
Tee times will become available 7 days in advance.

Carts

Power carts will be available for single rider use only, unless you share the same household and have proof of same physical address. Note that all power carts will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each use.
We have a limited number of power carts available. Power carts should be booked online at time of registration to ensure booking.  Tee times without a cart reservation may not be guaranteed a cart.
No golf carts allowed after 4 pm for 18 holes and 6 pm for 9 holes to allow for cleaning and disinfecting.
Pull carts will be available, for a nominal fee, to members and guests. Note that all pull carts will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each use.

Check-In Policy

Please do not arrive at the golf course any earlier than 20 minutes prior to your tee time.  Park your vehicle, change your shoes in the parking lot, and prepare your clubs. Remain by your vehicle.

All players will be responsible to handle their own equipment from arrival to departure

Avoid congregating in the parking lot and adhere to physical distancing.  Proceed to the staging area 20 minutes or less before your tee time.

Bag services, club storage and club rentals will not be provided to eliminate touch points where the virus might be transmitted.

Green Fees can be purchased online or in the golf shop. Payment by credit cards, debit are accepted in the golf shop, tap preferred.  While we would like to not deal with cash payments, we will accept cash if needed.
Items may be purchased through the golf shop.  If you require golf balls, gloves, beverages etc. golfers can simply put their request in with one of the greeters on duty.
Score cards and pencils will be available in the golf shop and distributed individually.

PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING ALWAYS (minimum 6 ft. apart), from greetings upon arrival, in and around practice areas, the tee, putting greens, and at the conclusion of the round. Consider only one player on the tee box at a time and continuous putting.

Practice Facility Policy

Practice range & Putting Green are now open, please remember to maintain physical distancing (6 ft)

On-Course Measures

Putt with flagstick in, avoiding flag contact. Cups will be elevated so the ball does not drop in the hole (government mandate).
Bunker rakes will not be available. Bunkers are to be played as Ground Under Repair at this time. Remove your golf ball, smooth out bunker with your foot or golf club upon exiting bunker. Drop ball no nearer the hole and proceed to play
Ball washers will not be available at this time.
Sand/seed containers will not be provided, please repair divots as best you can.
On course drinking water will not be available. Please ensure you have enough refreshments to keep hydrated.
Bring your own towel as towels will not be provided.
Golf groups will not be permitted to play through.
Snacks & Beverages are available in the golf shop.

All golfers are asked to hold onto their garbage to bring home or dispose of at the receptacles at the main clubhouse.  All garbage receptacles have been removed from the golf course for the health and safety of our staff.

WEATHER DELAY: Upon hearing a prolonged blast of the horn, all golfers are asked to immediately leave the golf course and bring their belongings to their vehicles and wait until it is safe to resume play.  If pay cannot be safely resumed, groups will be called in an organized fashion to receive rainchecks for the unplayed portion of their round.

After Round Policy

Please return your power cart or pull cart to the designated cart drop off area.
Please COMPLETELY empty your cart of all personal belongings and GARBAGE.
Following play exit the course as promptly as possible and avoid socializing in the parking lot.

Posting of Scores

All posting of scores must be done online using your home computer or Golf Canada, GG golf mobile apps.
Players are responsible for posting or ensuring posting of all his/her acceptable scores for rounds played at Sutton Creek and at other properly rated and sloped courses during the active season: April 15 to October 31st.
The handicap committee will continue to monitor and impose penalty scores if a player fails to post an acceptable score as required.

Tournaments, Leagues

All tournaments and leagues have been postponed for the near future.  As we receive more information from Government officials, we will readdress our policies in regards to tournaments and leagues

Golf Shop

While the golf shop remains closed to consumer traffic during COVID-19 guidelines we have taken steps to make sure you have access to all the items you require. An online golf shop has been created so you can view all your golfing needs from the comfort of your home or office.

Golfer Adherence

All policies will be enforced and anyone not in compliance will be asked to leave the premises and may be suspended from future play.