What is the Golf Emergency Relief Fund?
In response to the severe challenges impacting golf communities nationwide, the Golf Emergency Relief Fund has been established to provide short-term financial assistance to certain individuals facing significant financial hardship with an initial focus on those impacted by COVID-19.
This relief effort was initiated through a lead pledge by the PGA of America. The effort is also being supported in various ways by other industry organizations. Managed by E4E Relief, the fund will provide grants to industry professionals, inclusive of golf association members, employees of local/state golf associations, caddies and certain professionals playing on developmental tours to help offset financial hardships, such as living and medical expenses.
What types of assistance are available?
The first phase of the fund will distribute two tiers of funding with $500 grants for basic needs and up to $1,500 grants for critical needs with applications being reviewed, approved and grants disbursed by E4E on a rolling first-come, first-served basis. A second phase, currently scheduled to rollout after the completion of Phase 1, will have a longer application process and distribute grants of up to $3,500 as reviewed and approved by E4E on a rolling first-come, first-served basis. Individuals receiving grants through the first phase will be eligible to apply for grants in the second phase but the maximum amount an individual can receive in aggregate from the first and second phase is $3,500.
Basic expenses include food, clothing and childcare and critical expenses include housing, utilities, medical/funeral, and needs resulting from loss of spouse income.
What is the deadline for my application?
The relief fund is limited and will be dispersed as applications are approved. We encourage eligible applicants who need support to apply as soon as possible.
Program Eligibility
We’re here to help. The first step is to determine if you qualify for assistance from the Golf Emergency Relief Fund. Questions to ask yourself include:
1) Am I an individual in one of the following groups?
- PGA of America Professionals (includes Members, Students and Associates)
- LPGA Professionals (includes Members and Students/Apprentices)
- Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Members
- Employed or contracted as a caddie of one of the following caddie companies
(qualifying employers and their subsidiaries) Caddienow, Caddiemaster, 4C Caddies, Premier Caddies, ClubUp, CaddieU, Circuit Caddie and Caddy King - Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) members
- Players in developmental tours operated by the PGA TOUR
(Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR China Series) - Players in developmental tours operated by the LPGA (Symetra Tour)
- Employees of United States Golf Association (USGA) authorized allied golf associations
- Employees of PGA of America Sections
- National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Members
2) Have I been significantly impacted by a hardship understanding that the current focus is around those individuals impacted by COVID-19?
3) Am I currently in significant need without other means or savings to account for basic and critical expenses? (note: basic expenses include food, clothing and childcare and critical expenses include housing, utilities, medical/funeral, and needs resulting from loss of spouse income)
If you have answered ‘yes’ to all three questions, you are eligible to apply for a Golf Emergency Relief Fund grant which will have multiple phases. Please note – your eligibility will be verified through our authentication process.
How to Apply
Go to golf.e4erelief.org
Step 1 Click the apply button – Create an online account or log in (if you have already created an account) to access the application page, complete the application with the requested information.
Step 2 Submit your application – Complete the requested information and upload the required supporting document and submit for review.
Step 3 Stay tuned – A grant specialist will review your application and contact you if more information is required.
What Happens Next?
Once your application is received you will receive a notification confirming your application has been submitted. If additional information is necessary to move forward you will receive an email outlining what documentation our team needs. Upon receipt of all supporting documentation, a grant specialist will review and make a decision regarding your request. If approved, a grant distribution will be made based on your payment preference selected in the application. Check back daily to see the progress of your application as it moves through the review process.
If approved, how quickly will funds be disbursed?
For Phase 1, if approved, grants will be disbursed in around 2 weeks after approval. For Phase 2, the approval and disbursement process will be a longer time period and take 6-8 weeks upon submission and approval of all materials.
Why do you need to know my financial position?
For all grants supporting long-term relief and recovery, it is required by the Internal Revenue Service that E4E assesses your financial need.
Who reviews my application?
Trained staff at E4E will review your application. Decisions will be made by E4E and will be based upon completeness of your application, the demonstrated need and available resources.
How will I receive assistance?
If approved, a grant distribution will be made based on your payment preference selected in the application. Check back daily to see the progress of your application as it moves through the review process.
What if I have insurance?
The fund cannot provide assistance for losses already covered by insurance.
What if I am a professional in the golf industry but not a member of one of the groups listed?
Although we have tried to make this an inclusive effort to professionals in the industry, due to limitations of funding and verification we are unfortunately not able to further broaden the eligibility at this time.
What if I am a professional in the golf industry and a member of one of the groups listed, but not a US resident?
Unfortunately, due to a number of limitations at this time, we are unable to open the fund up to non-US residents. We would recommend you reach out to organizations based in the country you reside to see what support programs may exist.