Seminole Golf Club figures to be one of the crown jewels of Sunday’s TaylorMade Driving Relief skins game, but for more reasons than you’d think.
Not only is the legendary course (No. 34 on GOLF’s Top 100 Courses in the World list) set to be enjoyed by television audiences for the very first time, it also will serve as the litmus test for live golf’s feasibility in the age of social distancing.
With that in mind, the PGA Tour has worked in concert with Seminole Golf Club and TaylorMade to help ensure the highest level of player safety is maintained throughout the match. Here are the safety precautions in place for Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff.
Seminole Skins Match Safety Precautions
1. Players will carry their own bags: No caddies allowed at Seminole on Sunday. All four players have been equipped with state-of-the-art carry bags, which they themselves will be responsible for lugging around the course for the entirety of the round.
2. Only around 50 people will witness the event in person: Golf events typically rely upon hundreds of people to run smoothly, from camera crews to rules officials to players and their families. The goal for Sunday’s match is to keep the number to fewer than 50, which means production crews, broadcasters and other officials will be forced to conduct their jobs remotely.
3. Everyone will be tested: All players and officials associated with Sunday’s event have already undergone Covid-19 testing using kits provided by LetsGetChecked. All parties will also be required to undergo further screening (including temperature checks and questionnaires) before they are allowed on site.
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4. Social Distancing will be strictly enforced: Everyone on site is required to follow strict social distancing rules, frequently washing hands.
5. Players are discouraged from touching one another: This includes handshakes, fist bumps, elbow bumps, etc.
6. The course will be sanitized: Crews will disinfect flags, flagsticks, cups, and cup liners before play begins. Rules officials will be responsible for handling the flagstick during play.
7. No rakes allowed: There will be no rakes on the course.
8. The clubhouse is rolling out safety measures: All people on property will be provided with PPE, sanitizing wipes and sanitizer. They will be asked to use PPE in instances when social distancing measures cannot be taken.