Dear All

Thank you for entering The NHS London Open 2020 at West Essex GC on Thurs 23 Jul. The draw has now been posted.

We are glad that we have now been given the green light by the Government to return to Professional tournament golf at this time, and next Thursday’s event will be the first PGA East event back since lockdown, and the first PGA OOM tournament back.

Please see below and also the other information on the Tournament Information Page on BlueGolf and the PGA App as to the running of the day as it will be different from ‘normal’ tournaments. These rules, conditions and provisions are in place to aid the keeping you, PGA staff, club staff and all members of West Essex as safe as possible.

Tournament Information Page: https://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi20/event/pgagbi20408/index.htm

Should you be feeling or anyone you have had contact with be feeling or suffering with the symptoms of coronavirus please do not travel to the event and isolate following the government guidelines and rules.

Any members who advise The PGA that they are withdrawing due to symptoms of coronavirus will be issued with a refund of entry fee and will not need to provide a medical certificate as per normal withdrawal procedures. Players withdrawing on such grounds will not be able to take part in any other PGA events for a minimum of 14 days after the date of initial withdrawal.

• Players are asked to arrive no earlier than 40 minutes before their tee time - should you arrive earlier, please remain in your car until nearer the 40 minute timeslot.
• Please use the main car park parking in alternate spaces to start and then filling in the gaps.
• Players should ‘Check In’ through the PGA App on their arrival at the club or make themselves known to the PGA staff at the clubhouse.
• No caddies or spectators will be allowed.
• Play will be in 2 balls at 10 minute intervals. Please respect the social distancing guidelines within your group - when teeing off, please adopt a one person on the tee only policy. Remember to only touch your own equipment.
• All players must follow all one way systems as implemented by the club.
• Toilet facilities will be open in the clubhouse.
• Gordon Goldie at Chingford Golf Range has offered use of their facility to competitors before their arrival at WEGC.
• Players may use the practice net 30 minutes before their tee-time for up 10 minutes. Maximum 2 players in the area of the practice at any one time.
• Players may use the putting green 20 minutes before their tee-time for up 10 minutes. Maximum 2 players on the putting green at any one time.
• Please use your own balls and only touch your own equipment whilst practicing.
• Players should then make their way to the 1st tee 10 minutes before their tee-time, when the group in front has left the teeing area.
• There will be no official starter on the tee but a member of PGA staff will advise groups to move onto the tee to begin play in order to keep pace of play.
• Once on the course please do not use any on course furniture, this includes all on course bins and ball washers. Please respect the course and greens staff and take all your rubbish away with you.
• Should you complete a hole and the group in front not have vacated the next tee please wait away from the tee until safe to approach the teeing area.
• Flagsticks must not be removed or touch with the hand. WEGC have a device in each hole cup to avoid the ball dropping all the way to the bottom of the hole - the ball is deemed holed if any part of it is below the surface of the putting green.
• There will be no printed information available such as rules sheets, pin positions, prize fund breakdown etc. These are available through the TIP on BlueGolf and via the PGA BlueGolf App.
• Scoring will be via the PGA BlueGolf App - you will receive a text link to login into the App the day prior to the event. In the event that a whole group is unable to use the App, there will be WEGC scorecards available on the 1st tee - one player should keep the scores of all players in the group and report the scores back to the PGA staff after the round.
• Upon completion of the round, players should confirm their scores verbally with their playing partners and then with PGA staff at the Clubhouse. Verbally confirming your own score with PGA staff will considered the official point of return of your scorecard. There is no requirement to return any physical scorecards.
• Players are encouraged to leave the premises as soon as practically possible after play.
• Social Media - there no issue with any social media on the day but please think about social distancing and gathering issues in any images before you post anything publicly. Please use - @WestEssexGC, @PGA_East, @PGASouth and #nhslondonopen.

We look forward to seeing you next week but if there is anything you require, in the meantime, then please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Stay safe and take care.

Sam & Gordon

Sam Smith - Regional Manager, The PGA in England (South)
Gordon Campbell - Regional Manager, The PGA in England (East)

This is a joint co-sanctioned tournament for East Region and South Region Members and Assistants and is an 18 Hole Individual Professional Only event.

There will be an approximate 50:50 split of competitors from each Region, subject to the final field size and number of entries at the closing date.