As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, more clubs are experiencing employees and members testing positive. While directing the actions of employees is much more feasible (such as requiring them to get tested, keeping them off club property and requiring 14 day isolation), doing so for members is far more complicated.

How do you keep members who have been exposed to the virus to stay away from the club? Good question. The complicated nature of the COVID-19 situation has been and continues to be that everyone has a different outlook about the virus, the risk it presents and how it should be handled.

Has your club established and communicated an official “club stance” on the virus? If not, it might be worth doing. With the support of your board/owners, sending a communication to members to inform them of the ramifications of exposed members choosing to come on club property may be most effective. After all, if the club can’t provide a safe working environment for employees or a safe environment for member families, it may be forced to shut down temporarily.

Consider adopting and communicating something similar to the following.

Our club’s policy regarding COVID-19:  If you or anyone in your household has been sick, shown symptoms of COVID-19, are awaiting test results or if you or anyone in your household has come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please do not come on club property.  Specifically, if you or a member of your household have been notified that someone you have been in contact with recently  has tested positive for COVID-19, we ask that you please stay off club property (including the golf course) until you have received confirmation of negative test results. If you choose not to be tested, please refrain from being on club property, including the golf course, for at least 14 days.