Covid-19: Resources for Golf Courses

Keeping your golf course operational during these difficult times presents many challenges. With confirmed cases of COVID-19 rising rapidly and new governmental restrictions coming into effect almost daily, it is more important than ever to keep yourself informed on how new policies affect your business and what programs are available to provide assistance.

We know that this might be a difficult time for you and that your course may be forced to close anytime due to government restrictions, so we wanted to aggregate all pertinent information into a single, convenient location. Below you will find links to resources that will help you make informed decisions on the best course of action for your facility. These resources range from government websites with up-to-date information on current policies to aid programs available to businesses that are struggling during these unprecedented times.

The most important thing is to ensure that you keep your staff and golfers healthy by taking the proper measures. Rather than panicking, now is the time to prepare and take appropriate action by keeping yourself informed and adjusting your plan appropriately.

This post will be updated periodically as new information becomes available so, be sure to check back to stay up-to-date on how your facility may be impacted and what you can do.

General

Center for Systems Sciences and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University – Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases

This is an interactive map that shows the breakdown of cases by country and state. It gives the user the ability to zoom in to their exact area and see how affected they are. This can help course operators make informed decisions on the best course of action for their particular area.

You can check out this resource here.

Golf and the Coronavirus: how to play with confidence, according to an expert

This article by Nick Piastowsky discusses how to protect yourself and stay healthy while playing golf in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This well researched piece brings in information from medical professionals who say that golf is one of the things you can do right now, as long as you are taking the proper precautions.

You can read Nick’s full article here.

NGCOA – Coronavirus, COVID-19

The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) has put together their own list of resources to help golf courses get through this challenging period. It details everything from economic relief to golf course maintenance and everything in between.

To check out their list of resources, click here

NGF – COVID-19

The National Golf Federation (NGF) has an entire page dedicated to everything around golf and COVID-19. It includes information on which states are mandated to close their clubs, how players are reacting in terms of rounds booked and what people are saying on social media among many other important details.

You can get all the information here

United States – Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a governmental agency that is the leading public health institute in the United States. They have put together a guide on how to properly clean and disinfect public facilities where individuals who have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 may have been. This in-depth guide provides guidance on the best practices in order to clean surfaces and fabrics.

You can read the whole guide here.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers 

The CDC is the best source of information for protecting yourself and others against COVID-19. In this article, they detail the necessary precautions for employers to take in regards to their employees. It discusses what to tell your employees who are ill, who have just returned from travel and what to do if one of your employees contracts COVID-19. It is important for any of the above situations to be handled properly to avoid spread and exposure.

You can view this resource here.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), another United States governmental agency prepared a document on what exactly COVID-19 is, how it affects businesses and identifies how much of a risk it is to your business. It then details how to protect your staff depending on what risk level your business is classified as.

Depending on the exact specifications of your facility, it is likely that your course is classified as a low to medium risk business.

You can view the full resource here.

Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19

The United States government has put together a list of information regarding COVID-19. They have put everything in one place including travel advisories, benefits, grants and more during this difficult period.

View the governments list of resources here

United States – Financial Assistance

United States Small Business Administration – SBA disaster Assistance in Response to Coronavirus

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) is a government agency that provides assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses. Their article details the eligible areas for a loan during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as how to apply for the loan. These loans are low interest and can provide golf facilities with the necessary funds to ensure their survival during this difficult time.

You can see the full list of eligible areas here.

United States Small Business Administration – Local Support

With offices across the United States, the Small Business Administration (SBA) surely has an office in your location. Use this interactive map to find local SBA offices to help you get support during COVID-19.

View the map here

City of Sacramento 

If your course is in the City of Sacramento, you may be eligible for an interest-free loan of up to $25,000. This money can go towards offsetting the cost of staff or any other expenses your facility may incur over the course of the next few weeks and months.

To find out if you’re eligible, click here.

Canada – Resources 

Government of Canada – Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19):  Resources for Canadian Businesses

The Canadian Government has provided considerations for businesses that are impacted by COVID-19. While some don’t necessarily apply to the golfing space, others are pertinent to all businesses, including golf facilities. They provide resources on how to support your employees and how to prepare for financial implications for your business until the situation is under control.

You can take a look at all of their resources here.

Canada – Financial Assistance

Business Development Bank of Canada – COVID-19 Support

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is offering loans of up to $100,000 to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The money obtained from this loan can be applied to almost any business expense that you might incur because of COVID-19. In order to qualify you must be a Canadian business with good credit that has been generating revenues for the past 24 months.

To learn more about this loan, click here

Government of Canada – Support to Business

The Government of Canada has implemented a number of changes to aid Canadian businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are supporting businesses through the Canada account, they are helping businesses keep their employees with subsidies for salaries and they are pushing the tax filing deadline until August 31st, 2020.

To learn more about how the government of Canada is helping businesses, click here