COVID-19 | Women's Metropolitan Golf Association

COVID- 19 Update #3 – July 7, 2020 – Stroke Play Championship at Sleepy Hollow

Dear Members:

Prior to our Stroke Play Championship at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, a situation evolved that necessitated the WMGA to cancel the tournament. Specifically, the evening prior to the tournament, we were informed of the potential cancellation of food service, and we promptly notified tournament participants via Golf Genius email and text messaging.

Subsequently, less than three hours prior to the start of the tournament, we learned that the underlying reason was that a food service staff member had exhibited COVID-19 symptoms, but the test results were not yet back Again, we immediately informed the tournament participants, via text and email, for them to make their own decisions regarding play as we sought more details. Upon our arrival at the club, the management explained that they followed protocol and isolated the individual and people they felt had been in contact with that individual, and they stated they believed that the golf component was isolated.

However, as we could not fully ensure everyone’s safety, especially during these tenuous times when protocols are changing daily, we could not in good conscience put the health and safety of our staff, members and their families and extended communities in jeopardy. Therefore, the Committee decided to cancel the tournament and Golf Genius texts and emails were sent to the participants.

It is unfortunate to have to take these measures, but the seriousness of COVID-19 does not allow for indecision. Canceling this tournament, as painful as it was, does not compare to the contact tracing, testing and quarantine that may have transpired once the test results are known.

As our tournament season continues, we must be mindful that the pandemic is still evolving especially given recent “hot spot and flare-ups” across the country. While we have implemented new tournament procedures required by social distancing protocol, we are aware that we will have to continue to revise protocols as needed. Also, we will continue to utilize the Golf Genius text and email systems to update our participants.

We will be following our standard Tournament Rainout procedure if we can reschedule and will share those details once they become available. If you need to contact us, please continue to send communications via e-mail: office@wmga.com.

We greatly appreciate your understanding and patience. Thank you for your loyalty and, most importantly, please be safe.

Sincerely,

Lori Ann Cerullo
President
Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523
president@wmga.com

COVID- 19 Update #4 – May 19, 2020 – June Events and POY

To Our Members,

We hope that you and your families are safe and well. Based on the current mandates and the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the following decisions:

Canceled:

19th WMGA/MGA Met Amateur Championship that was to be held on June 8th at the Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, New York.
80th Junior Intercity Team Matches – Enos Cup scheduled to be held on June 25th and 26th at Wyantenuck Country Club in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Player of the Year honors for both Class A and B.

Rescheduled:

91st Myra D. Paterson Invitational scheduled to be held on May 19th at Brookville Country Club has been rescheduled for September 9th.
95th Golf Illustrated Invitational scheduled to be held on May 13th at Trump National Golf Club – Bedminster is still being rescheduled. We will provide a date as soon as possible.

On as Scheduled:

One Day Stroke Play in New Jersey on June 2nd at Lake Mohawk Golf Club in Sparta, New Jersey. Registration will open on May 20th at noon. Limited to 32 players.

We will open online tournament registration for future events as we receive confirmation from our host clubs. Accommodations will be made for the COVID-19 protocol and this information can be found on Golf Genius.

The WMGA office remains closed with our staff working remotely. If you need to contact us, we would prefer to receive communications via email: office@wmga.com. Please be patient as we do our best to respond as timely as possible.

We will continue to monitor and provide updates as conditions evolve. Thank you again for your patience and understanding. Please be safe.

Sincerely,

Lori Ann Cerullo

President
Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523
president@wmga.com

COVID-19 Update #3 – April 15, 2020 – May Invitationals

Dear Members:

We hope that you and your families are safe and well. Based on the current mandates and the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the following decisions regarding our May events:

We had to cancel the 117th Griscom Cup scheduled to be held on May 27th and 28th at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York.
We are postponing the 95th Golf Illustrated Invitational scheduled to be held on May 13th at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster and the 91st Myra D. Paterson Invitational scheduled to be held on May 19th at Brookville Country Club.
We are postponing our online tournament registration for our events until further notice.

We did not make these decisions lightly as the health and well-being of our players, staff and communities are paramount. The Griscom Cup, a competition steeped in tradition between the New York based WMGA, the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia (WGAP) and the Boston based Mass Golf has been played since 1898 with the rare cancellations during WWI, WWII and 1984 due to heavy rains. We were all looking forward to this premier women’s elite golf competition but all three organizations agreed that the most prudent option was to cancel.

Currently, we are assessing various alternative dates for the Golf Illustrated and the Myra D. Paterson Invitationals.

We will continue to monitor and provide updates as conditions evolve. While we all enjoy and miss the thrill of competitive golf, right now there are other priorities to focus on. Thank you again for your patience and understanding. Please be safe.

Sincerely,

Lori Ann Cerullo
President
Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523
president@wmga.com

COVID-19 Update #2 – March 24, 2020 – Team Matches

Dear Members:

Even a week ago, none of us could have realized how quickly our world would change. Last Tuesday, we asked our Met Reps, Series and Team Captains to help us assess the feasibility of conducting the Team Matches by informing us of each club’s operational status. We want to thank those for their help. However, considering recent events and additional restrictions, it is now clear that conducting Team Matches is simply not feasible. Therefore, the WMGA Board has decided to cancel the 2020 Team Matches.

At this time, it is premature to make decisions on our remaining tournament schedule. We are assessing alternatives for our May Invitationals, and we are remaining hopeful that we will be able to conduct summer tournaments.

We will continue to monitor course closures or other restrictions pertaining to COVID-19 and will keep you informed of changes and updates as they occur.

As our office remains closed and staff works remotely, please continue to send communications via e-mail: teammatches@wmga.com.

Thank you for your patience, loyalty and understanding. Most importantly, please be safe.

Lori Ann Cerullo
President
Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523
president@wmga.com

COVID-19 Update #1 – March 16, 2020 – General

To our Members:

We truly hope that you are well during this turbulent and difficult time. Our number one priority is the health and safety of our members and staff. Like you, the WMGA Board is monitoring the situation as best we can by reviewing information and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), state [New York, New Jersey and Connecticut] and local government policies and procedures.

To that end, we hope you can appreciate our need to maintain as much flexibility as possible as this unfolds.

April 1st Tournament Registration: We have decided to postpone the April 1st date for opening online tournament registration for events scheduled to begin on June 2nd.
Met Rep Meetings-April 14th-16th: We have decided to restructure the planned Met Rep Meetings to webinar meetings with details to follow.
April 23rd Golf Clinic at Rye Golf Club: We have decided to postpone.
2020 Team Matches: With the uncertainty and fluidity of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, we are holding off making any final decisions on Team Matches until we see what transpires over the next week. It seems most likely that Federal, State, County and local mandates will determine our options going forward, so planning for alternative formats seems premature. If there are further developments before then, we will share them with you in as timely a manner as possible.
Invitationals: The Griscom Cup, the Golf Illustrated and the Myra D. Paterson invitationals are currently on hold as we await more information.
Course Rating Seminar: Will be scheduled at a later date.
Updates: Our website will have an emergency link with updated information containing developments as they evolve.

The WMGA office has been temporarily closed but our staff is working remotely. While we forwarded our office phone lines to staff cell phones, we would prefer to receive communications via e-mail: srelyea@wmga.com. Please be patient as we do our best to respond as timely as possible.

We will continue to monitor these circumstances and provide updates as conditions evolve. This is an extraordinary situation, and we are acting proactively and on the side of caution. Thank you again for your patience and understanding as we navigate this dynamic and complex situation.

Lori Ann Cerullo
President
Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523
president@wmga.com