As many of you are now aware, the State of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services and Governor Mike Parson announced a new Stay-At-Home Order, effective immediately. The Order, designed to stop the spread of the Coronavirus & COVID-19, contains precautions and measures relevant to all Missouri facilities and businesses as it enforces social distancing requirements. Orders previously in place by St. Charles County, St. Louis County and the surrounding counties echo the Order now set in place for the entire State of Missouri. We at the Gateway PGA Section want to make our Members aware of several of the provisions that apply to the facilities within our Section boundaries and within Missouri.

The Order specifies that individuals are instructed to avoid leaving their homes or places of residence. However, individuals are being allowed to leave their residence to access food, prescriptions, healthcare or to engage in outdoor activity. Social distancing MUST be practiced at all times during all activities. The Order does not prohibit your from engaging in outdoor activity and no more than 10 individuals all permitted to gather at the same time.

Participating in golf is not specifically mentioned within the Order but it is our understanding that golf falls within the lines of “outdoor activity” or “outdoor recreation.” It is absolutely imperative that extreme caution and resolve be taken while participating in golf, conducting the business of golf or operating under the Order.

Many facilities have put in place a “one-player-per-cart” rule or have implemented frequent cleaning of carts and limiting or prohibiting access to the facilities on property. Please keep and solidify those rules to keep the spirit of this Order and limit possible violations of the Order dealing with social distancing or the limitations on gatherings. Club restaurants can continue to offer curbside and take-out orders to your members.

Please reference Section 1, Section 2 and the paragraph(s) following Section 10 in the attached copy of the Order as they specifically apply to the letter above.

Throughout this pandemic the Gateway Section wishes you the best and offers our support through consistent updates and clarification. We urge all of our Members and corresponding facilities to please adhere to this Order and all other rules set in place by our local and Federal governments.

Please operate as if a magnifying glass is upon us. Now is the time to show why our game and business is important and powerful.

As always, if you have an questions, comments and concerns or need clarification of this order, please contact our Gateway PGA Section leadership or your local Government officials.

Thank you,
Gateway PGA